The UCD Marine and Petroleum Geology Group has recently received a prestigious Griffith Geoscience Research Award, grant-aided by the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources. This is designed to allow the research groupis looking to expand its research capabilities.

In the first instance, we seek an experienced deep-water sedimentologist/ stratigrapher to oversee the development of new industry training tools and resources in the Carboniferous Clare Basin, western Ireland, including a high-profile, behind-outcrop drilling campaign. The Clare Basin has become widely used for both academic and industry stratigraphic and deep-water training and the aim is to augment the range of datasets and exercises available and to make these easily accessible to geoscience field training groups and researchers.

The successful candidate will also be expected to develop their own research programme, to liaise with industry and the public, to publish scientific papers and to co-supervise postgraduate researchers within the group. There will also be opportunities to contribute to courses and supervise students at undergraduate level.

The Marine and Petroleum Geology Group currently comprises two academic staff members, one post-doctoral researcher and seven PhDs all working on aspects of deep water processes, basin development and sand provenance, with a particular focus on the Irish Atlantic margin.

The Griffith Geoscience Research Award will fund the addition of two post-doctoral fellows, four PhDs and five undergraduate summer students over a seven year programme.

The position is fixed term and funded for up to five years, subject to satisfactory three-year review. The starting salary will be €55,000. Candidates must have completed a PhD, have a strong track record of publication in international peer-reviewed journals and books, and exposure to the petroleum industry and subsurface geology would be an advantage. We are looking for highly motivated individuals with practical outcrop and/or core description expertise. Project management and interpersonal skills are also important.

Applications, including a full CV, list of peer-reviewed publications, copies of academic transcripts and the names and contact details of three academic referees to either Prof. Shannon (p.shannon@ucd.ie) or Dr Peter Haughton (peter.haughton@ucd.ie). The position will be available from 2008 or as soon as it can be filled. Further details of the UCD School of Geological Sciences and the Marine and Petroleum Geology Group can be found at http://www.ucd.ie/geology.

Funded the National Development Plan, 2007-2013 (NDP), this is an initiative under the Strategy for Science, Technology and Innovation 2006 to 2013 (SSTI), and the Geological Survey of Ireland (GSI).