This Research Opportunity (#20-10) is specifically aimed at deciphering the role of blue carbon associated with manganese nodules and host sediments, including determining the provenance of organic matter in these settings. This will enable differentiating bioavailable components of deposited organic matter, which are known to sustain diverse benthic communities, from recalcitrant components, which contribute to long-term carbon burial in the deep sea. Sediment samples will be collected as part of an ongoing systematic box core sampling program that will take advantage of ship time opportunities provided to USGS and BOEM by federal, industry, international, and academic partners.  Ultimately this research will contribute to answering questions regarding how much blue carbon is in critical marine mineral environments and what deep-water habitats contain the blue carbon, to evaluate potential impacts of sea-bed mining to blue carbon storage in critical marine mineral environments and what ecosystem management goals are needed to maintain blue carbon ecosystems. Interested applicants are strongly encouraged to contact the Research Advisors early in the application process to discuss project ideas. Closing date: January 6, 2022.

We seek a postdoctoral scholar who can make a fundamental contribution to marine mineral research. Proposed work may use either archival samples (extensive USGS and other sample sets exist), or propose the collection of new samples, as feasible. Proposed work may focus in any of the following areas: (1) experimental studies regarding the environmental consequences of marine mineral extraction, (2) targeted speciation and extractability studies of marine critical minerals, (3) estimates of marine minerals within the context of global mineral resources, including terrestrial minerals, (4) statistical analyses of existing marine mineral datasets, (5) relating terrestrial and marine minerals in adjacent settings or (6) developing geophysical techniques to detect or study marine minerals. Other topics may be of interest. In particular, we welcome applications that cross disciplinary boundaries between marine science and geology, and applications that focus on the distribution, extent, or relevance of critical minerals in marine mineral deposits. Proposals that tie in the Earth MRI framework (Hofstra and Kreiner, 2020) are also welcome. These positions are competitive and filled based on availability of funds and qualified applicants; the deadline for submission of applications, which include research proposals, will be January 4, 2021.

We are looking to fill the Mendenhall Postdoctoral Research Opportunity 17-9 Geology of Marine Mineral Deposits based at the USGS Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center in Santa Cruz, California. This is a great opportunity for a motivated post-doc to develop their own research proposal related to the geology of marine minerals. Further information about the Mendenhall program may be found here. Applicants are encouraged to contact us early to discuss proposal ideas. Please note that non-US citizens can apply for the Mendenhall, but US citizens are generally given priority. Details about citizenship and other FAQ are found here. Positions are competitive and filled based on availability of funds and qualified applicants; the deadline for submission is Friday, January 18, 2019.