Doctoral fellow

ABOUT GHENT UNIVERSITY

Ghent University is a world of its own. Employing more than 15.000 people, it is actively involved in education and research, management and administration, as well as technical and social service provision on a daily basis. It is one of the largest, most exciting employers in the area and offers great career opportunities.
With its 11 faculties and more than 85 departments offering state-of-the-art study programmes grounded in research in a wide range of academic fields, Ghent University is a logical choice for its staff and students.

The host lab at UGent focuses on reconstructing environmental conditions and the evolution of life from ancient Palaeozoic times to the current Anthropocene. The group currently includes a motivated cohort of PhD students, MSc students and postdocs working on diverse topics within the fields of (micro)paleontology, paleoclimate and the paleoenvironment which will constitute a rich and exciting working environment for the successful candidate.

https://www.ugent.be/we/geologie/en/research/organization/palaeontology-and-palaeo-environments
https://www.instagram.com/palaeo_ugent/

YOUR TASKS

We are looking for a PhD candidate in the North Atlantic Current dynamics in past warm climates project.

In this project, you will develop and apply new tools to reconstruct ocean surface currents and contribute to one of the major challenges in oceanography: the stability of the meridional overturning circulation in the North Atlantic ocean, often referred to as the "AMOC". This is a known tipping-point in the climate system, yet the behaviour of the surface currents in warmer-than-present climates remains largely unknown.

To gain insight into the position, strength and variability of the surface currents in the North Atlantic you will use a range of sediment-based tools and apply these to past warm climates (Miocene–Eocene). From these sediments you will extract organic microfossils (marine dinocysts) to study their species composition and biogeography and use this to reconstruct the position of ocean currents. In subsequent steps your task will be to establish the strength and variability of the surface currents using (for example) lipid-biomarker sea surface temperature reconstructions and, time-permitting, isotope geochemistry of dinoflagellate cysts.

Integrated with existing climate-model simulations, you will use these new lines of evidence to gain a unique mechanistic and dynamic understanding of the functioning of ocean currents in warm climates.

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

We are looking for an ambitious candidate who has (or is about to receive) a Master’s degree in Earth Sciences (preferred) or closely related topic.

• An exceptional motivation to learn about and contribute to various aspects of paleoclimate and paleoenvironment research including (but not limited to!) topics used in the described project 
• Excellent written & communication skills 
• Excellent laboratory and analytical skills 
• Experience with microfossils, geochemical tools and practical (laboratory) skills relevant to Cenozoic marine sediments are considered advantageous 
• Motivation to transfer your knowledge and skills, for example during MSc-level courses, BSc and MSc research projects 

WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU

• The successful candidate will be trained in various analytical techniques, which includes optical microscopy, organic and inorganic geochemical analyses. In addition to these hands-on skills, the candidate will also learn to integrate their laboratory data with diverse range of data and evidence from the literature, gaining in-depth knowledge of a range of key tools used in paleoclimate and paleoenvironmental research. The candidate will be part of an international team and learn to build their own broad (inter)national network and collaborations. In addition to research skills, the successful candidate will have opportunities to gain experience in teaching, presenting and mentorship.
• We offer a full-time position as a doctoral fellow, consisting of an initial period of 12 months, which - after a positive evaluation, will be extended to a total maximum of 48 months. 
• Your contract will ideally start in summer or early autumn 2026. 
• The fellowship amount is 100% of the net salary of an AAP member in equal family circumstances. The individual fellowship amount is determined by Team Personnel Administration based on family status and seniority. A grant that meets the conditions and criteria of the regulations for doctoral fellowships is considered free of personal income tax. For more information please see: https://www.ugent.be/en/work/talent/welcoming-new-staff/salaryscales 
• All Ghent University staff members enjoy a number of benefits, such as a wide range of training and education opportunities, 36 days of holiday leave (on an annual basis for a full-time job) supplemented by annual fixed bridge days, bicycle allowance and eco vouchers. For more information please see: https://www.ugent.be/en/work/talent/considering 

INTERESTED?

Please send (1) your cv, (2) a motivation letter (maximum two pages), (3) a copy of your MSc (equivalent) diploma (if already in your possession) and (4) contact details for 2 potential referees (referee letters are not required at this stage) to joost.frieling@ugent.be by 9/6/2026 at the latest. For more information about this vacancy, please contact prof. dr. Joost Frieling (joost.frieling@ugent.be).

Please note that we reserve the right to reject applications that are incomplete and to accept applications beyond the deadline if no candidate has been selected yet. Interviews will be scheduled as soon as possible, and will typically be conducted through videoconferencing.

Ghent University maintains an equal opportunities and diversity policy, everyone is encouraged to apply for this position.