Dr. Graeme T. Swindles, Prof. Julia Lee-Thorp, and Dr. Randolph Donahue

Division of Archaeological, Geographical and Environmental Sciences (AGES)

School of Life Sciences

University of Bradford

 

The magnitude and timing of rapid warming in the Holocene has been the subject of considerable recent interest, particularly in the context of future climate change. This project will focus on the generation of high-resolution palaeoclimate data from lakes and peatlands in Northern Britain and Ireland, spanning the period 11-6 ka BP.  Northern Britain and Ireland are dominated by prevailing westerly airflow and are extremely sensitive to any changes in the strength of the thermohaline or atmospheric circulation.

 

This project will investigate the nature and stability of millennial-centennial scale climate at this time and the terrestrial response to abrupt climate changes such as the 8.2 ka BP event.  The data will be chronologically constrained and correlated precisely using high-resolution chronological methods including tephrochronology and 14C wiggle matching to examine the regional coherency of climate change over this time period.  The data will be compared to records from other archives such as speleothems, high latitude ice cores and marine records.  The causes of the climate changes will be evaluated in terms of oceanic and atmospheric circulation and solar variability.  The data will provide a robust environmental base for examining human responses to climate change during the Mesolithic occupation of the British Isles.  The work fits in with emerging research foci within the Division and will have implications for ongoing archaeological work in Ireland, Scotland and Northern England.

 

Division of AGES

 

The Division has excellent research facilities including a state-of-the-art Stable Light Isotope Laboratory, X-ray, SEM, GCMS, and access to laser-ablation ICP-MS and a Bio-imaging Suite in the Analytical Centre, a dedicated laboratory for palaeoecology and tephrochronology, as well as a large human skeletal collection in the Biological Anthropology Research Centre.

 

Further information on current research interests can be found at:

 

Please contact:

 

 

Division of AGES, University of Bradford, Phoenix Building SW, Bradford BD7 1DP

Tel: 01274 234213; Fax: 01274 235190.

 

Quote the above title in your application.

 

Qualifications required:

 

All applicants should have, or expect to gain, a Master’s degree or equivalent in a relevant subject area. Candidates must also fulfill the eligibility requirements of the respective research councils.

 

Applicants should submit:

 

• A covering letter indicating: 1) your interest in the Division; 2) in the selected project; and 3) how you would approach the proposed research

• A University of Bradford MPhil/PhD application form

• A curriculum vitae (2 pages max.)

• A transcript of marks from previous degree(s)

• Letters from 2 referees (can be sent directly to the address shown above)

 

If your degree result is not yet known, please inform us as soon as it becomes available.

 

Each studentship includes a stipend of approximately £12,600, tuition fees, and research expenses for three years.

 

The deadline for submission of applications is Wednesday 14 May 2008.

 

Outcomes: All applicants will be informed of the outcome of their application by 29 June 2008. Where appropriate, interviews will be held.