2026 Internship Opportunities

Antarctic Bottom Water (AABW) is composed of dense (cold and salty) seawater produced uniquely around Antarctica. Its formation is a driver of Earth’s thermohaline ocean circulation, redistributing ocean heat around the globe. AABW forms in only four known locations around the Antarctic margin, and was recently discovered off Cape Darnley in East Antarctica. Until early 2023, no sediment cores had been collected that provide records of past changes in AABW production offshore Cape Darnley through geologic time. CANYONS voyage to the East Antarctic margin (January-March 2023) recovered a sediment core from the slope off Cape Darnley to provide palaeoceanographic records over multiple glacial-interglacial cycles.
A warming climate will impact on the production of meltwater and AABW, and thus impact on future ocean circulation patterns channeled by seafloor bathymetry. To understand our future oceans, this project aims to understand past changes in AABW production by investigating Cape Darnley seafloor sediments. This project will reconstruct surface nutrient conditions in the Cape Darnley region by analyzing the nitrogen isotopes of trace organic matter preserved in the microfossils of Southern Ocean diatoms. The nitrogen isotopic signature of the diatoms reflects nutrient supply from the deep ocean to the surface, which in turn implies changes in ocean circulation. The results will provide valuable information about the changes in ocean circulation and surface biogeochemistry in East Antarctica across glacial-interglacial cycles

In the laboratory work, the student intern(s) will be responsible for analyzing diatom species under the microscope, separating diatom frustules from sediments by sieving and the use of heavy-liquid, and cleaning of purified diatom frustules. The student(s) will also participate in the analysis of N isotopic composition. In terms of data analysis and scientific discussion, the student(s) will put together the record, gather information about chronological constraints from previous publications, identify the rough time period and come up with preliminary interpretation of the data.

Parallel to the project-specific goals, the program will include weekly learning sessions on the use of stable isotopes in exploring the modern and past Earth system changes. Upon completing this project, the student(s) would acquire an understanding on the scientific importance of stable isotopes as an environmental tracer, hands-on familiarity with sediment cores as archives of information about past environmental conditions, with specialized knowledge about the ecology of diatoms. The student(s) should have acquired basic laboratory skills on geochemical analysis and know the principles of isotopic analysis. The student(s) should also have learned the basics of global ocean circulation and the nitrogen and carbon cycle in the ocean.

Basic chemistry

Basic chemistry laboratory skills

Having a laptop would be helpful .

• Selected students are required to meet with internship mentors prior to the internship start date. Reading materials may also be provided.
• Students are responsible for securing accommodations for the duration. Please note that on-campus summer housing is typically available the first week of June until the first week of August (details to become available in Spring 2026). If the internship falls outside of on-campus housing availability, students will need to secure alternate housing.