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Doctoral position in Oceanography
The Department of Marine Science (https://www.gu.se/marina-vetenskaper) at the University of Gothenburg has with its broad scientific competence area and its unique infrastructure the most complete environment for marine science and marine education in Sweden. Only a few similar organisations exist in Europe. Through advanced research infrastructure and the clear connection to societies needs and challenges, the department contributes to new solutions for the global challenges surrounding the ocean.
The Department of Marine Science conducts science, education and innovation related to the sea and its resources. The operation is conducted in Gothenburg, at the research stations Kristineberg Center for Marine Science and Innovation and Tjärnö Marine Laboratory, as well as on the research vessel Skagerak. The department has an interdisciplinary width that includes marine biology, marine chemistry, marine geology, marine conservation and oceanography, and the research area spans geographically from coast to world ocean. Our scientists and students often have prominent roles in international expeditions, from Antarctica, Arctic, and the great world seas, but also work in our newly built laboratories with advanced equipment and complex analyses methods. The department also has a broad education palette, including a bachelor’s program, three master´s programs and a Ph. D. education in the marine domain.
General information about being a doctoral student at the University of Gothenburg can be found on the university's doctoral student pages.
https://www.gu.se/en/doctoral-studies
Subject area description
Understanding the occurrence of trace oxygen filaments in oxygen minimum zones using autonomous underwater gliders and novel sensors
This PhD studentship at the interface of physical and biogeochemical oceanography is part of the ERC Synergy project RECLESS (Recycling versus loss in the marine nitrogen cycle: controls, feedbacks, and the impact of expanding low oxygen regions). RECLESS aims to predict how ongoing ocean deoxygenation impacts microbial nitrogen transformations and thereby the future availability of nitrogen to support oceanic primary production and carbon sequestration. The project involves researchers from the universities of Gothenburg, Vienna, and Southern Denmark as well as Carnegie Science, and synergistically integrates innovative oceanographic, biogeochemical, ecophysiological, and model-based investigations.
High-sensitivity oxygen sensors have demonstrated that oxygen in the core of oceanic oxygen minimum zones (OMZs) is depleted below a detection limit of ~10 nM indicating that these waters are functionally anoxic. However, oxygen may still influence nitrogen cycling in these waters in cryptic ways, fundamentally challenging our understanding of how the balance between nitrogen recycling and loss is controlled. Oxygen can intrude transiently, at the hundred meter to kilometers scale through physical phenomena like eddies and filaments, which are on scales not yet resolved by satellite and global models, and their transient nature makes them hard to capture with point observations. Hence, the frequency and magnitude of such oxygen inputs remain unknown.
This studentship will quantify oxygen ventilation in OMZs at high spatial and temporal resolution using a novel ultra-sensitive oxygen sensor on underwater gliders and research cruises across multiple OMZs. This will put us in a unique position to reveal the impact, frequency, and magnitude of oxygen intrusions within OMZs.
The doctoral student will sit within the FLOW Lab and the Bristow Lab, working with other students and researchers in these groups as well as across RECLESS institutions. The University of Gothenburg’s Department of Marine Science also has a large and thriving PhD student community, while Gothenburg, its surroundings and the benefits of this employment offer an exceptional quality of life.
The PhD supervisory team will consist of Dr. Bastien Queste and Dr. Laura Bristow.
Doctoral studies comprises four years of full-time study, and leads to a doctoral degree. The PhD education should include courses of at least 60 higher education credits, distributed over the study period and planned together with the supervisor and the examiner.
As part of your employment as a doctoral student, you may have departmental duties corresponding to up to 20 % of full-time employment, distributed throughout your study period, and result in a corresponding extension of the studies. Departmental duties usually consist of teaching at first- and second-cycle levels, but may also include research and administration. The employment is extended by the corresponding time.
Duties
The successful candidate will contribute to our understanding of the underlying physical processes that create trace oxygen intrusions within OMZs. More specifically, the PhD student will:
Scientific
- Analyse trace oxygen data alongside other measured ocean properties (g. ocean currents, mixing, nutrients, particulate carbon) to describe the size and variability of trace oxygen intrusions that remain invisible to standard oxygen sensors with poorer detection limits.
- Identify and investigate the processes which lead to the emergence of trace oxygen intrusions.
- Quantify the life-cycle and duration of trace oxygen intrusions to understand their ecosystem impacts within OMZs.
- The doctoral student is expected to show independence, initiative and critical thinking during their studies.
Technical
- Participate in international research cruises (g. tropical Pacific, Baltic Sea, Indian Ocean)
- Assemble, quality control and process the successive trace oxygen SeaExplorer glider datasets.
- Assemble, quality control and process ship-based CTD and trace oxygen datasets.
- Learn to fabricate and calibrate optical oxygen sensors for use across platforms.
Community and outreach
- The doctoral student will be expected to publish in internationally recognised peer-reviewed journals and present their work internationally at conferences.
- The doctoral student is expected to engage with the RECLESS community and participate in early career activities.
- Communication of science and results through outreach activities is encouraged.
Eligibility
Doctoral education requires general eligibility and, where appropriate, specific eligibility as set out in the general syllabus for the subject.
The general eligibility requirements for doctoral studies are:
- having completed a degree at second-cycle level, or
- the fulfilment of course requirements totalling at least 240 credits, of which at least 60 credits must be at second-cycle level, or
- the acquisition of equivalent knowledge in some other way, either in Sweden or abroad.
To meet the specific entry requirements for third-cycle studies, applicants must:
- have a master’s degree in a relevant* subject area in the natural sciences,
- have completed studies for at least 60 higher education credits at a second-cycle level in relevant subject areas in the natural sciences, or
- have completed a corresponding programme of relevance to the planned third-cycle programme, in Sweden or in another country, or have equivalent qualifications.
*Relevant subject for the planned third-cycle education is oceanography or related field (physics, data analysis).
Assessment criteria
The selection of applicants who meet the basic and specific eligibility requirements will be based on the ability to assimilate the doctoral studies.
The following is considered essential:
- Background in physical oceanography and interest in biogeochemistry.
- Demonstrated verbal and written communication skills in English.
- Experience with scientific programming skills (Python or similar) is essential.
The following is considered advantageous:
- Ability to process and analyse large datasets is highly desirable.
- Experience with glider, or similar, data is desirable.
Admission and employment
Once you have been admitted to doctoral studies, you will be employed as a doctoral student at the University of Gothenburg.
The provisions for employment as a doctoral student can be found in ordinance SFS 1993:100.
Initial employment as a doctoral student may apply for a maximum of one year, and may be renewed by a maximum of two years at a time.
A doctoral student may be employed as a doctoral student for a maximum of eight years, but the total period of employment may not be longer than the equivalent of full-time education at doctoral level for four years.
Type of employment: Fixed term employment, 4 years.
Extent: Full time, 100%.
Location: Until further notice at the Department of Marine Sciences at Gothenburg.
First day of employment: Upon agreement, but Jan 1 2026 at the latest.
The University applies a local agreement on salaries for doctoral students.
Please note, doctoral studies at the Department of Marine Sciences require physical presence to conduct the studies. If the admitted applicant needs a residence permit for higher education to pursue studies in Sweden, the Department of Marine Sciences has the right to revoke the admission decision if the applicant cannot present a valid residence permit no later than at the start of the studies.
Contact information
If you have any questions about the position, please contact:
Dr. Laura Bristow – Associate professor, [email protected]
Dr. Bastien Queste – www.flow-lab.org – Associate professor, [email protected]
If you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact:
Sofie Emanuelsson – Human resources officer, [email protected]
Unions
Union representatives at the University of Gothenburg can be found here:
https://www.gu.se/om-universitetet/jobba-hos-oss/hjalp-for-sokande
Application
You can apply to be admitted to doctoral education via the University of Gothenburg’s recruitment portal.
It is your responsibility to ensure that the application is complete as per this notice, and that the University receives it by the final application deadline. All documents in the application should be submitted in English.
The application should contain:
- A degree certificate or similar
- A CV
- An example of a significant piece of writing (e.g. manuscript, MSc thesis)
- A statement of interest (1 to 2 pages)
Applications must be received by: 2025-05-23
Information for International Applicants
Choosing a career in a foreign country is a big step. Thus, to give you a general idea of what we and Gothenburg have to offer in terms of benefits and life in general for you and your family/spouse/partner please visit:
https://www.gu.se/en/about-the-university/welcome-services
https://www.movetogothenburg.com/
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