Researcher Marine Shallow Gas

The Paardenmarkt is one of the many munition dumpsites in our seas and oceans. A few metres below the seafloor, ca. 35.000 tons of chemical munition from WW1 are buried. Up to now, research of this dumpsite has been very fragmented and many uncertainties remain. VLIZ coordinates the ‘DISARM’ project (2020-2023) in close collaboration with Flemish and federal research institutes, which aims to address knowledge gaps and develop an integrated scientific approach to support risk assessment and management of marine chemical munition dump sites.

One of the uncertainties regards shallow gas. The Paardenmarkt region is marked by biogenic gas in the shallow sediments. Little is known about the gas, yet this information is crucial since it may affect corrosion processes, microbiological communities, spreading of toxicants, fresh/salt water fluxes, etc. The objective is to sample the gas in the sediment and water column on different locations near the dumpsite and analyse the gas, which should provide information on the concentration and chemical composition. Multisensor core logging is envisaged to estimate basic physical properties of the gas charged sediments. The possibility to install gas sensors on an unmanned surface vehicle (USV) or AUV (Autonomous Underwater Vehicle), to obtain stationary time series, will also be investigated.

Our offer

• We offer a challenging job in the dynamic environment of VLIZ.
• A contract of a definite duration for a minimum of 18 months as a researcher. The salary follows the salary scales of scientific personnel in the Flemish Government.
• Fringe benefits: holiday pay, end-of-year bonus, meal vouchers, bike allowance, free public transport for home-work commuting and an attractive holiday arrangement.

Your main responsibilities

• To acquire samples at sea (sediment cores and seawater);
• To perform geochemical analysis of gas (GC-MS);
• To perform core logging (multisensor, CT scanning);
• To perform sedimentological / mineralogical analysis;
• To analyse gas bubbles (relationship with acoustic data);
• To assist with surveys at sea;
• To write reports and high-quality scientific paper(s);
• To participate in project meetings;
• To interact and collaborate with project partners;
• To present results at national/international conference(s).

For each function, VLIZ considers enthusiastic involvement, open servitude, excellent professionalism and integrity as important characteristics.

Your profile

• MSc or PhD in Geosciences or Chemistry;
• Critical and creative;
• Scientifically integer;
• Open minded and taking initiative;
• Strong interpersonal skills, a motivated team player;
• Willing to learn new skills on a regular basis
• Good oral and written English communication skills;
• Academic writing skills;
• Research expertise in marine shallow (methane) gas ;
• Experience with geochemical gas analysis;
• Experience with coring and sampling at sea;
• Experience with core logging and core analysis;
• Knowledge of seismic data interpretation and hydro-acoustics.

About us

For 20 years, the Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ) has been strengthening the accumulation of marine knowledge and the excellence of marine scientific research in Flanders. VLIZ is a coordination and information platform, a focal point for marine and coastal research, which also serves as an international contact point for marine science. Important activities are national and international networking, information and data management, scientific communication for policy and industry, education and the general public, and logistical support of marine research. Since 2017, the institute also initiates, promotes and executes innovative and multidisciplinary marine research, and this at the service of, in collaboration with or complementary to Flemish and international marine research groups. You will work in a unique institute in which your science will be supported by state of the art data systems and services, research infrastructure, science communication and an extensive marine library. Moreover, VLIZ is part of a wide network of Belgian and international marine research groups, offering many opportunities for scientific collaboration.

Additional information

For more information concerning this vacancy, please contact:

• Tine Missiaen, head of the research unit Seascapes Past and Future
  • Mail: tine.missiaen@vliz.be
  • Telephone: +32 (0) 474-512021
• Michiel Vandegehuchte, Research Director VLIZ
  • Mail: michiel.vandegehuchte@vliz.be
  • Telephone: +32 (0)471 61 22 49

Does this vacancy appeal to you?

Send in your cover letter and CV until 10 November 2019 (23:00 CET):

• By post: Jan Mees, General director VLIZ, InnovOcean site, Wandelaarkaai 7, 8400 Oostende
• By mail: jobs@vliz.be with subject “ Vacancy Marine Shallow Gas Research DISARM”

Contact us by telephone on +32 (0)59 34 21 30.

VLIZ promotes equality and diversity in the workplace. You will be recruited based on competencies. Qualities of people are decisive, regardless of gender, religion, ethnic origin, age, sexual orientation or any disability.

Procedure

Based on the received motivation letters and CVs, a select group of candidates will be invited for a job interview. You will be informed by email. The job interviews take place in the offices of VLIZ. Employment can start from 1 January 2020.