PhD position in Greenland Paleoceanography and Ice Sheet Melt

Are you interested in how the Greenland Ice Sheet and surrounding ocean have changed in the past, and what this can tell us about their response to a warming climate? We are looking for a PhD fellow to reconstruct past changes in Greenland Ice Sheet melt and ocean conditions using marine sediment records. This 3-year PhD position is part of the research project Past2Risk ‘Abrupt Atlantic overturning disruptions in warm climates: empirical constraints on future risk’ at GEUS in Copenhagen, with an expected start date of 01-01-2027.

About the position

The Greenland Ice Sheet and the surrounding ocean are closely connected. Ocean conditions influence glacier retreat and melting, while freshwater released from Greenland enters the North Atlantic, where it can affect large-scale ocean circulation. Marine sediments from Greenland fjords provide records of past glacier activity and local ocean conditions, allowing us to investigate how the ice sheet and ocean have varied and interacted beyond the relatively short observational period.

As a PhD fellow, you will develop high-resolution reconstructions of Greenland Ice Sheet melt and ocean variability during the Common Era and Holocene. You will work with marine sediment cores from Greenland fjords and use a combination of sedimentological proxies, microfossils and biomarkers to reconstruct changes in glacier discharge, ocean currents and water-mass conditions.

An important part of the project will be to move from qualitative records towards quantitative reconstructions of glacier change. For the most recent period, sediment records will be linked with modern observations, including PROMICE data, providing a bridge between present-day glacier monitoring and longer records of Greenland Ice Sheet variability.

Who are you?

You have an MSc degree in geoscience. You are highly motivated to investigate Greenland Ice Sheet and North Atlantic climate variability and have a strong interest in paleoclimate, marine geology and/or paleoceanography. Experience with one or more of the following would be an advantage: marine sedimentology and sediment-core analysis, geochronology, Greenland glaciology, statistical analysis of proxy data.

You should have good analytical and problem-solving skills and be motivated to develop quantitative approaches that connect geological records of past Greenland Ice Sheet change with modern observations and broader ocean and climate processes.

You enjoy working both independently and as part of an international research team and are interested in communicating and collaborating across disciplines, including marine geology, glaciology, oceanography and climate modelling. Excellent English communication skills are required.

Meet your new colleagues

You will become part of the Department of Glaciology and Climate. Our department studies both current and past changes of the Greenland Ice Sheet and the ocean surrounding it. Besides doing research, we provide advice to government agencies and the private sector and supervise university students. The department has an international staff of approximately 30 researchers, PhD students and postdoctoral fellows. We have a strong focus on multidisciplinary collaboration across the department and conduct department seminars and other activities to foster this. We also prioritize social activities to welcome and integrate new employees into our informal and friendly working environment.

You will join the interdisciplinary Past2Risk research team and work closely with researchers reconstructing deep-water overflow variability near the Faroe Islands and downstream ocean and climate changes around Denmark, as well as researchers working with statistical early-warning methods and Earth system modelling. Together, these components will investigate how Greenland freshwater forcing has influenced AMOC stability during past warm climates and what this can tell us about future risks.

A working environment with a focus on professional development and well-being

There are many good reasons why you should choose a working life at GEUS.

We are a diverse staff of about 300 committed employees. Trust and flexibility are keywords. The working environment is lively, informal and international. Our tasks are versatile and there are plenty of opportunities for you to influence the development of your task portfolio.

We prioritise professional development, among other things by offering access to courses and other relevant activities. Socialising is also very important at GEUS, and we have a rich social life with a staff club, an art association and more.

At GEUS, we prioritise the well-being of every single employee. We prioritise that the Heads of Departments are close to the employees, and we have flexible working hours that allow you to organise your life so that there is time for what matters to you. If you need to work from home occasionally, that is also possible.

Furthermore, we have a gym with associated physiotherapists.       

Salary and terms of employment

Salary and terms of employment are in accordance with the relevant trade union agreement.

The appointment presupposes that the student will be enrolled at the PhD Graduate Programme of Life, Earth and Environmental Sciences at the University of Copenhagen. The employment period is 3 years, the working week is 37 hours.

The appointment area is the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Utilities and its institutions.

The Ministry of Climate, Energy and Utilities considers diversity to be an asset and encourages anyone regardless of gender, age, religion or ethnicity to seek the position.

Further information

If you would like additional information, please contact the Head of Department Signe Bech Andersen on (Se e-mailadresse på nature.com) or the project leader Professor Camilla S. Andresen (Se e-mailadresse på nature.com).

If you are an international applicant, you can read more about living and working in Denmark on GEUS’  website .

Are you interested?

The application must include a motivation letter, your CV and MSc degree certificate or a pre-approval signed by the supervisor and examiner, showing that the thesis will be approved. The pre-approval must be confirmed by the educational institution.

Please apply for the position by clicking “Apply for position”. We must have your application at the latest on 18-10-2026 at 23:59 (Danish time).

Applications or other material received after the deadline will not be considered.