Researcher Offshore Palaeolandscape Exploration

VLIZ - Flanders Marine Institute

Ostend, Belgium

The southwestern area of the North Sea contains the remains of a vast landmass that connected continental Europe with the British Isles during periods of sea-level lowstands. Usually referred to as “Doggerland”, the area would have been a heartland of human occupation and central to the process of re-settlement and colonisation of northwestern Europe during the Palaeolithic and Mesolithic periods.

Global warming at the end of the last Ice Age led to the inundation of these lost lands. Today, the North Sea holds a unique and largely unexplored record of prehistoric settlement and colonization. Access to this archaeological resource is hampered by deep water and thick modern sediments. Whilst archaeological evidence has been recovered, it consists largely of ex-situ chance finds, with limited potential for understanding human settlement within the wider landscape.

Within the SUBNORDICA project, and in close collaboration with colleagues from the UK (University of Bradford) and The Netherlands (TNO), VLIZ will assist in reconstructing the palaeolandscapes of the southern North Sea at a variety of geographical and temporal scales, using existing and newly acquired geophysical and geomorphological datasets. This will provide key input for the partners involved in predictive and behavioural modelling and AI training sets in order to classify areas with archaeological potential and to assess their accessibility for investigation.

The main task of VLIZ in the SUBNORDICA project concerns the analysis of existing offshore data (including commercial (oil/gas, windfarm) data), the collection and analysis of new geophysical and sedimentological data in the southern North Sea, and mapping of the top-Pleistocene (noneroded) surface and its attributes.

YOUR TASKS

• To work out an optimal approach/workflow for the interpretation of geophysical data and mapping of the (non-eroded) top Pleistocene surface, including characterization of its attributes;
• To collate and analyze existing (legacy) geophysical and geological data;
• To process, interpret and visualize new seismic and acoustic (2D) data;
• To plan, perform and develop strategies for the acquisition of data at sea;
• To assist with the collection, analysis and interpretation of sedimentological core data;
• To construct paleogeographic maps at different scales;
• To liaise with TNO for the access and analysis of Dutch survey data;
• To liaise with the University of Bradford for the access and analysis of UK (mega)survey data;
• To liaise with the University of Bradford and TNO for the input of data for (behavioural/predictive) modelling;
• To participate in meetings and interact with SUBNORDICA partners;
• To provide general support to the project including preparation of shiptime applications, (public) presentations, developing information for publication and media, and organization of consortium and stakeholder meetings;
• To actively participate in project meetings and provide project deliverables (e.g. reports);

Your main responsabilities include:

• To maintain research output in the form of high-quality peer reviewed publications;
• To present research findings at public events and national and/or international scientific conferences;
• To provide support and assistance to other (VLIZ) staff members in the completion of duties and programs of work;
• To undertake the duties in such a way as to promote the project and enhance the reputation and public profile of VLIZ;
• To undertake any other relevant duties appropriate to the grade and nature of the post.
• For each function, VLIZ considers enthusiastic involvement, service minded, excellent professionalism and integrity as important characteristics.

YOUR PROFILE

• PhD in (marine) geology, geophysics, or earth/marine sciences (or a PhD at the time of appointment) or equivalent research experience;
• Experience in the use of GIS software and specific software packages for the interpretation of seismic and acoustic data;
• Experience in the acquisition and interpretation of high-resolution seismic data;
• Evidence of participation in field surveys, using sub-seabed mapping techniques;
• Experience in analyzing core data;
• Good communication skills in written and oral English;
• Ability to work as an individual and as part of a group;
• Evidence of presentation of research at academic conferences;
• Publication of papers in peer reviewed scientific journals;
• Willingness to assist in group research including fieldwork and external seminar delivery;
• Evidence of critical and creative thinking.

Desirable:

• Post-doc experience in submerged landscape research;
• Knowledge of the North Sea Quaternary geology;
• Experience in processing of geophysical data;
• Experience in the acquisition and interpretation of core data;
• Programming skills (e.g. Python, R);
• Experience in using proxy data for core analyses;
• Evidence of working as part of a larger research project;
• Evidence of experience with public outreach;
• Record of submission of research proposals for external funding;
• Evidence of collaborative research activities;
• Willingness to learn new skills;
• Full current driving license, valid in Belgium.