I am recruiting a 3-year post-doc in Arctic soil biogeochemical modelling. This post is part of an exciting new collaborative project with CU Boulder, U Utah, Montana Tech & British Geological Survey, investigating the fate of Arctic soil following glacier retreat. The post-doc will develop a novel microbial-biogeochemical model for Arctic soils, to better understand how seasonal processes contribute to the long-term development of Arctic soils. The model will link soil biogeochemical, microbial, geophysical and hydrogeological processes. Opportunities to participate in fieldwork in Svalbard.
​Apply via the link below before 15th January 2021 for full consideration.
https://webapps2.is.qmul.ac.uk/jobs/job.action?jobRef=QMUL23274

In this EOS article, we discuss how the coronavirus pandemic has exacerbated long-standing issues with diversity of the geosciences, and the various negative impacts on early career researchers. 

We draw from our own experiences to reflect on how the pandemic is exacerbating systemic issues faced by early-career scientists in the Earth sciences. We offer recommendations to address three challenges: job opportunities, support for early-career scientists, and diversity.

"The current upheaval is an opportunity to implement changes that can create more inclusive and diverse academic environments while also supporting the needs of early-career scientists."

Our recommendations are intended to assist all early-career scientists, but we hope they will particularly help those from underrepresented groups. Moreover, we hope that this period marks the beginning of a new era of inclusion and diversity in the Earth sciences.

Read the paper here.

I am delighted to welcome three new PhD studentsto the Bradley Lab: Margaret Cramm, Amy Solman, and Rey Mourot. Head over to the People page to learn more!

A new study is published in Science Advances - in which we model the global C cycle and quantify the energy regime in global subseafloor sediments. We find that the majority of microbes survive on less energy than has previously been shown to support life.
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​Bradley J, Arndt S, Amend J, Burwicz E, Dale A, Egger M, LaRowe D. (2020) Widespread energy limitation to life in global subseafloor sediments. Science Advances. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.aba0697

James discussed the environmental impact of the coronavirus pandemic in a recent QMUL Public Lecture.
A key point from the discussion: coronavirus has clearly demonstrated that swift and decisive global action is possible when faced with a crisis. Climate change, then, has never been treated as a crisis.
[LINK]

A new study led by Doug LaRowe published in GCA - in which we quantify organic carbon degradation in global subseafloor sediments over the last 2.6 million years, and make a first pass at the microbial activity it supports.
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LaRowe D, Arndt S, Bradley J, Burwicz E, Dale A, Amend J (2020) Organic carbon and microbial activity in marine sediments on a global scale throughout the Quaternary. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta. doi: 10.1016/j.gca.2020.07.017

The call for Commonwealth PhD Scholarships from high income countries is open! Candidates must citizens and residents from the following countries: Anguilla, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Cayman Islands, Cyprus, Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Malta, New Zealand, Seychelles, St Kitts and Nevis, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands. I am interested in hearing from potential PhD candidates to join the lab - please get in touch!

James was recently interviewed by Mark Fallows on The Impossible Network podcast. During the interview, James covered topics ranging from his upbringing and love of the outdoors, to the politicisation of climate change, the darkening of Greenland's ice, and the impacts of mining the seafloor. Parts 1 and 2 out now - check it out!
Part 1: https://theimpossiblenetwork.com/podcast/dr-james-bradley/
Part 2: https://theimpossiblenetwork.com/podcast/climate-scientist-dr-james-bradley/

The call for H2020 Marie Sklodowska-Curie Fellowships is open. I am interested in hearing from potential postdoctoral candidates to join the lab to work on research projects related to biogeochemical modelling, geobiology, carbon cycle, glacial ecology & biogeochemistry, deep biosphere and related fields! 
Please get in touch for more information, and check out the MSCF website. 
Deadline for applications: 9th September 2020.

Our new paper in Nature Ecology & Evolution is out! Glaciers worldwide are retreating as Earth’s climate warms. If we’re going to fully understand what the loss of glaciers means for global biodiversity, we must consider the glacier ecosystems themselves. Much has been written about the literal downstream effects of glacier loss on the biota and ecosystems they influence. But glaciers themselves also host diverse, multi-trophic communities! This diversity is largely microbial (i.e., algae, fungi, bacteria), but glaciers also host microfauna including rotifers and tardigrades. Larger organisms such as ice worms, birds and even mammals also rely on glaciers for refuge, transit, and foraging. Here, we stress that when thinking about how receding glaciers will affect global biodiversity, we should be thinking about the glacier ecosystems themselves as well as those downstream and adjacent.

Stibal M, Bradley J, Edwards A, Hotaling S, Zawierucha K, Rosvold J, Lutz S, Cameron K, Mikucki J, Kohler T, Šabacká M, Anesio A. (2020) Glacial ecosystems are essential to understanding biodiversity responses to glacier retreat. Nature Ecology and Evolution. doi: 10.1038/s41559-020-1163-0