"Postdoctoral Research Associate (PDRA)"

The Role and Department

A 22-month fixed term full time Postdoctoral Research Associate (PDRA) position is available in the Department of Geography at Durham University. The successful candidate will join the project 'NSFGEO-NERC Collaborative Research: Paleogeodesy at the Alaska-Aleutian Subduction Zone - Reconstructing Earthquake Deformation and Rupture Boundaries in Time and Space'. The project is led at Durham by Dr. Simon Engelhart and is funded by the UK Natural Environment Research Council.

As a PDRA on this project, the successful applicant will be required to undertake field-based research across two field seasons along the Alaska-Aleutian subduction zone and to develop reconstructions of past relative sea-level (land level) changes over the past few thousand years using diatoms as the main proxy, alongside other stratigraphic methods. These new records of past relative sea-level (land level) changes will be compared to existing records to reconstruct the patterns, timing, and magnitude of strain accumulation and release during past Alaska-Aleutian subduction zone earthquakes. The main responsibilities will be to develop new modern and fossil diatom datasets from Alaska-Aleutian coastal marshes and statistical and chronological models that allow reconstruction of the magnitude and timing of past relative sea-level (land level) changes at the Alaska-Aleutian subduction zone. A further responsibility will be to prepare data, figures, and text for publication and to communicate the interim and final findings of the research at collaborator workshops and international science meetings.

This is a great opportunity to work as part of a friendly international team on a cutting-edge project. The PDRA will have access to outstanding resources including laboratory and microscope facilities and travel funding for conferences and collaboration.

The successful candidate will have extensive experience in developing relative sea level and/or palaeoenvironmental reconstructions using diatom data and application of quantitative methods. Previous experience working in remote coastal environments would be an advantage.

The post is for a fixed term of 22 months. The project is time-limited and will end on 31/03/2028. Candidates will ideally be in role by April 1st 2026 and must be available for summer fieldwork in 2026 (an ~3 week field season between June and August).