Funding programme: Ayudas para contratos predoctorales para la formación de doctores (antiguas FPI)
PhD Advisors: Eva Calvo and Carles Pelejero
The offer
We offer a predoctoral contract for doctoral training funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities, associated with the project MASCOT: “Mediterranean Atlantic Seawater Contrasts of pH and other CO₂-system parameters Over Time: a view from paleoreconstructions” (PID2024-161246NB-I00).
The PhD thesis will be carried out within the Marine Biogeochemistry, Atmosphere and Climate Group at ICM.
The project
The main objective is to gather quantitative information on the evolution of seawater chemistry—particularly pH—and its relationship with variations in atmospheric CO₂, climate, and ocean circulation in the Mediterranean region across different geological timescales.
Through the analysis of boron isotopes and trace elements in fossil foraminifera, as well as specific organic biomarkers, the PhD candidate will reconstruct these and other environmental parameters during past abrupt climate events spanning hundreds to thousands of years. The student will also participate in the implementation of benthic foraminifera cultures, aimed at refining boron-isotope calibrations.
This project offers the opportunity to be trained in cutting-edge analytical techniques—including MC-ICP-MS and LA-MC-ICP-MS—and to collaborate with research groups in the United Kingdom (University of Southampton), Italy (Sapienza University), and the University of Barcelona.
Candidates
- Degree in Chemistry, Geology, Environmental Sciences, Marine Sciences, Biology or a related discipline.
- Master's degree, required to enroll in a PhD program.
- Strong written and oral communication in English.
- Availability to undertake research stays abroad.
- Experience and/or interest in paleoceanography, paleoclimatology, and chemical/geochemical analyses.
Starting date: first semester 2026
Application procedure
Interested candidates contact Eva Calvo (ecalvo@icm.csic.es) & Carles Pelejero (carles.pelejero@icrea.cat) before December 20th 2025.