PhD project – University of Nottingham

Project: Algal community response to pollution and environmental change in Lake Baikal, Russia, over the last 1000 years

Supervisors: Suzanne McGowan, George Swann (University of Nottingham), Anson Mackay (University College London)

We have an exciting PhD opportunity for a motivated graduate student interested in using palaoelimnology to investigate recent environmental change in Lake Baikal (Russia). The project will focus on the use of chlorophyll and carotenoid pigment biomarkers to determine the impacts of pollution and nutrient enrichment on algal communities in this unique ecosystem (the world’s deepest lake). The project will work alongside a large NERC-funded project Silicon isotope records of recent environmental change and anthropogenic pollution from Lake Baikal, Siberia and will provide the opportunity for both winter and summer fieldwork trips to the lake for the student. The studentship is fully funded with an annual NERC maintenance award over 3 years. Please see the attachment for further details and application procedure.