We’re hiring! New positions open to join the ICE team:
Updated 10.07.26:
PhD position in landscape evolution
Start date 01.01.2027, Duration 4 years, 100% employment
A 4-year PhD position is available in the Institute of Earth Surface Dynamics (IDyST) at the University of Lausanne, focusing on the application of electron spin resonance dating and numerical modelling of landscape evolution to understand spatial and temporal variability in glacial erosion within the Patagonian Andes. This position is part of the SNSF funded project “(How) Do glaciers buzz saw?”.
The successful candidate will be jointly supervised by Prof. Georgina King and Dr. Maxime Bernard and will join a diverse and dynamic group of geoscientists in the Interactions between Climate and Earth surface processes research group (ICE, https://wp.unil.ch/ice/) which focusses on the pairing of data obtained using cutting-edge geochronological methods together with innovative numerical modelling for understanding landscape evolution.
Desired profile:
- Master’s degree in geography/geology/earth science
- Experience of trapped-charge dating (ESR or luminescence dating) and/or numerical modelling
- Fieldwork experience would be advantageous, but is not essential.
- Keen interest in developing new analytical and experimental approaches.
- Good command of written and spoken English.
- Interest in geomorphology/landscape evolution/glaciology
Description of responsibilities:
Within the framework of this project, the doctoral candidate will join an interdisciplinary, international team of scientists to explore the timing and rates of glacial erosion across the Patagonian Andes using cutting-edge geochronology and numerical modelling techniques. Specifically, they will use electron spin resonance thermochronometry together with the Instructed Glacial Model (IGM) and Pecube thermal-kinematic software to quantify the timing and rates of glacial erosion at a range of sites. In addition to working with previously collected samples, they will have the opportunity to participate in fieldwork and will work on the collection, preparation, analysis and data interpretation of further samples from the Patagonian Andes.
UNIL hosts fully equipped ESR and luminescence dating laboratories as well as excellent high performance computing infrastructure, including dedicated technical support.
In addition to research, the candidate will have the opportunity to be a part of a vibrant, diverse and supportive community of graduate and doctoral students within the Faculty of Geosciences and Environment (FGSE). Both FGSE and UNIL offer numerous opportunities for doctoral students for professional development, including specialized training workshops, seminar series and peer-support networks aimed at fostering scientific, social and personal growth.
Short description of the project:
Quaternary glaciation had a profound effect on mountain landscapes, as documented by the presence of U-shaped and hanging-valleys in Alpine regions, the incision of km-deep fjords in high-latitude areas, and the accumulation of large volumes of eroded glacial till. However, the larger scale implications of glacial erosion on the dynamic of mountain belts and global climate changes remain disputed. Geomorphic analyses of glacial landscapes have been used to suggest that glaciation limits mountain height through the efficient erosion of high elevations near the ELA. In addition to the deep incision of pre-glacial valley, a body of work suggested that glacial and periglacial processes also provide an upper limit to mountain height. This hypothesis, termed the “glacial buzzsaw” is supported by the observation that topography trends with snowline altitude despite large differences in tectonic uplift in a variety of locations. However, despite being a broadly accepted concept supported by many field observations and numerical modelling studies, very few quantitative data are available that document the timing or rate of glacial topography formation, and challenges remain to explain why some localities (e.g. Alaska, southern Andes) seem to escape the glacial buzzsaw. Whether glaciers can efficiently erode and limit mountain height is fundamental for assessing the contribution of past glaciation to the global erosion budget and past climatic and tectonic changes. This project seeks to quantitively assess the glacial buzzsaw by determining the timing and rates of glacially induced topographic change using a combination of novel ultra-low temperature thermochronometry and numerical modelling.
In the Southern Patagonian Andes, between 49°S and 56°S, mountain elevation is significantly greater than the ELA despite prolonged glaciation since ~10-7 Ma, it has thus been argued that this locality does not follow the buzzsaw. Some authors proposed that cold-based glaciation may have protected the mountains from glacial erosion, however more recent ice models suggest that the Patagonian ice-sheet was mostly warm based due to high snow precipitation rates, at least throughout the Last Glacial Maximum. Well-preserved moraine sequences in southern Patagonia of age 1.1 Ma predates the coldest Quaternary temperatures and globally highest ice-volumes by ~200 ka. The cause of reducing ice-volumes in Patagonia throughout the past ~1 Ma is unclear but has been associated with glacially induced topographic change, that decrease the ice accumulation area and therefore ice volumes. Low temperature bedrock thermochronometry (AHe and 4/3He dating) of samples in the region of Fjord Baker (48°S) and Fjord Steffen (47°S) indicate that the modern topography most likely formed during the first glaciation of Patagonia at ~7 Ma and was established by ~5 Ma. While these timings are supported by other thermochronological data from the Fitz Roy (49°S) and Torres del Paine (51°S) massifs, the latter also suggest an increase of exhumation rate since 3-2 Ma and potentially over the past ~0.5 Ma. Finally, detrital AHe dating from moraine deposits at Lago Buenos Aeras (46°S) suggest a later establishment of the glacial topography at ~3 Ma. This project will apply ESR thermochronometry to transects of samples in the Southern Patagonian Andes where glacial erosion was significant throughout the Quaternary (44°S), to provide new insights into glacial erosion processes and topography formation throughout the Quaternary and address why southern Patagonia does not follow the buzzsaw hypothesis and whether glacial erosion was significant over the past ~3 Myr.
How to apply:
Applications must be submitted through the University of Lausanne hiring platform “Success Factors”. The job post is currently being updated and the link for applications will be added in the next few days.
Applications should include a letter of motivation, a CV, a copy of university degrees and transcripts of marks awarded, an example of a research output (e.g. MSc thesis, scientific publication) as well as contact information for two professional referees.
Please contact georgina.king@unil.ch and maxime.bernard@unil.ch in case of any questions.
Application deadline: 23.08.26