Postdoctoral researcher on Marine Carbon Dioxide Removal (mCDR:MRV)

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Testo originale dell'annuncio (in inglese)

The Department of Earth Sciences is looking for a highly motivated postdoctoral researcher candidate with a background in Earth, Environmental or Marine Sciences or other appropriate fields. You will work on the project: “ Measurement and reporting for responsible marine CO2 removal (MAR-CO2) ”. Your job Marine carbon dioxide removal (mCDR) is becoming an internationally recognised strategy as a way to mitigate climate change by increasing the ocean’s capacity to store anthropogenic CO2 emissions. Several strategies such as (1) direct ocean carbon capture, and (2) ocean alkalinity enhancement, manipulate ocean carbonate chemistry via electrochemical methods or alkalinity addition (enhanced rock weathering or via alkaline fluids), respectively. Both methods are beginning early pilot trail stages throughout European coastal waters; however, scientific research is lacking with respect to assessing the biological and ecological impacts of these mCDR approaches. This EU-funded project is in collaboration with an international consortium of researchers and industry partners that will assess mCDR via monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV). Specifically, as the new postdoctoral researcher you will integrate ecological MRV (eMRV) approaches, that are essential for the deployment of mCDR strategies, via the assessment of ecological functions, biodiversity impacts, and potential consequences for human health effects. You will help design, implement, and conduct in situ observation studies with partnered pilot sites (in the Baltic, Mediterranean, and Atlantic) complemented with laboratory experiments to build an eMRV framework supplementing traditional MRV. Observational approaches include deployment of passive chemical samplers, quantifying organic matter export, examining eDNA functional responses, and monitoring shifts in POC and biogenic silica. Laboratory studies will target the response of benthic fluxes associated with changes in overlying seawater based on pilot site mCDR strategy.