Evolution and ecology of polygonal reefs in the Red Sea

The origin and development of reticulate and polygonal reefs is an intensively discussed topic in the coral and carbonate geology community over the last decades. Paleotopography and karstification were proposed as their origin as well as biotic self-organizational growth pattern. However, crucial questions remain unanswered: (1) How did polygonal reefs originate? (2) What are the coral and calcareous algal communities that make up these reefs? (3) Why do these reefs not prograde and infill polygonal space, but instead apparently only aggregate vertically? In order to investigate the origin and development of polygonal-shaped reefs, the open postdoc position focuses on the investigation of growth architecture and history of the structure, the assemblages of benthic organism that make up the structures and the environmental conditions to maintain them.

Applications are sought for a two-year postdoc position. The position will include a competitive salary based on the candidate’s qualifications; benefits include medical and dental insurance, free furnished housing on the KAUST campus, annual travel allowance to visit home country, annual paid vacation, and other generous benefits. The successful applicant will be associated with the Red Sea Research Center and the Carbonate Research Group (CaResS) of the Ali I. Al-Naimi Petroleum Engineering Research Center (ANPERC) both at KAUST.

Apply

Please send your application to with the clear headline “Evolution and ecology of polygonal reefs in the Red Sea” to Dr. Alexander Petrovic (alexander.petrovic@kaust.edu.sa), containing a statement of interest and a curriculum vitae including your publications. Applications will be considered until the positions are successfully filled.

Qualified applicants should possess a Ph.D. in Reef Ecology/Carbonate Sedimentology, or a closely related field. The candidate should be experienced with studying modern coral reef assemblages, analysing environmental data (e.g., (T, S, pH, O2, Turbidity/Chlorophyll), thin section analysis, and geochemical analysis (e.g., dating, XRD, stable isotopes). A dive licenses or willingness to acquire one is necessary, while scientific dive certification is of advantage. Candidates with good publishing record and Red Sea experience will be given preference.