Dr Francesco Muschitiello PhD

University Associate Professor in Physical Geography

Paleoclimatology, Paleoceanography, Geochronology

Biography

Career

• 2018 – present: Department of Geography, University of Cambridge (UK)
• 2020-2021: Senior Researcher, Norwegian Research Centre (NORCE), Bergen (Norway)
• 2016-2017: Postdoctoral Research Scientist, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, Columbia University, New York (USA)
• 2017: Postdoctoral Researcher, Uni Research Climate, Bergen (Norway)

Qualifications

• PhD Marine Geology: University of Stockholm
• MSc in Geology: University of Perugia
• BSc in Chemistry: University of Venice

Awards and honors

• EGU Climate Division– Outstanding Early Career Scientists Award, European Geophysical Union (2017)
• Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory Postdoctoral Fellowship (2016)

Research

My research interests cover a broad spectrum of topics surrounding past climate dynamics. I am particularly interested in understanding the mechanisms behind rapid transitions in the climate system to create predictability for future climate change. I am also interested in better comprehending the exact sequence of events occurring across abrupt climate shifts of the past in order to discern cause-effect relationships between the different components of the global climate system (atmosphere, oceans, ice sheets, and the carbon cycle), as well as evaluating climate models in relation to past climate scenarios.

My research mainly involves the use of palaeo-climate proxy data from marine sediments and ice cores using stable and radiogenic isotopes to reconstruct changes in ocean and atmospheric circulation, and to establish precise geochronologies.

Another key aspect of my work involves developing probabilistic models for automating the stratigraphic correlation of proxy records and assigning timescales to climate archives with poor chronological control.

Selected grants and recent research projects

• 2022-2025 ASYNC – Resolving asynchronous responses of North Atlantic climate to deglacial changes in ocean circulation (NERC, £660,000; PI)
• 2022-2023 Improving probabilistic models for automated alignment of Palaeoclimate records (Newton Trust, £55,000; PI)
• 2022-2025 Machine Learning techniques for reconstructing AMOC during the Common Era (CCRC, £67,000; PI)
• 2014-2019 Ice2Ice – Determining the causes and impacts of past abrupt climate change in Greenland
• 2014 SWERUS C3 – Past and present interactions between climate, cryosphere, and carbon in the Arctic Ocean

Opportunities

Postdoctoral Positions

I am seeking a Postdoctoral Research Associate in Paleoceanography to join my team in Summer 2023 to work on a project funded by NERC: Resolving asynchronous responses of North Atlantic climate to deglacial changes in ocean circulation (ASYNC). The project is collaborative with Prof Christopher Bronk Ramsey (University of Oxford), Dr Derek Fabel (University of Glasgow), Dr Claire Waelbroeck (LSCE), Dr Markus Czymzik (Leibniz-Institute for Baltic Sea Research), Dr Trond Dokken (NORCE).

How to apply: To officially apply for the position, you must apply for admission through the University of Cambridge HR System but I encourage you to contact me first to ensure that this position is a good fit. The application closes April 14, 2023.

Undergraduate and postgraduate students

If you are an undergrad or a grad student at the University of Cambridge and interested in getting some experience in climate science, please get in touch with me about potential opportunities. I am particularly interested in individuals with strong computing and quantitative skills, who might be interested in tackling climate and palaeo-climate problems.

Publications

For an up-to-date list of publications see my Google Scholar profile at this link.

[Publications will load automatically from the University’s publications database, Symplectic…]