NSINK Project: “Ice Core Retrieval and Analysis”. The object of my post-doc is to retrieve new ice cores from high elevation Svalbard sites and to conduct their physical and chemical analysis, giving specific attention to the historic accumulation of nitrogen compounds and nitrogen isotopes in Svalbard ice fields. Academic background Post-doc fellow, Laboratoire de Glaciologie, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Belgium, 2005 - 2008. 
Funded by the Belgian Science Policy Office (BELSPO), through the ASPI (Antarctic Subglacial Processes and Interactions) research program. 
Management of the multi-parametric analysis of basal ice and marine ice samples; instrumentational development; research; follow-up of master and PhD students. PhD (Doctorat) in Geology, Laboratoire de Glaciologie, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Belgium, 2001 - 2005. 
Thesis title: “Structural and geochemical analysis of basal ice from Taylor Glacier, Dry Valleys, Antarctica :On the role and behaviour of the interstitial fluid phase”. 
Grant financed by the Belgian National Science Foundation (through F.R.I.A.).
Supervisors: Prof. R. Souchez and R. Lorrain.   Master in Earth Sciences, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Laboratoire de Glaciologie, Belgium, 2002 - 2003. 
Thesis title: “Equifinality of basal ice facies at the base of an Antarctic cold glacier”. 
Supervisors: Prof. R. Souchez and R. Lorrain. M.Sc. (Licence) in Geological Sciences, Université Catholique de Louvain, Belgium, 1998 - 2001. 
Thesis title: “Déformation et composition de la glace à la base du Glacier Taylor, Vallées Sèches, Antarctique”. 
Supervisors: Prof. R. Souchez and R. Lorrain. Complementary Certificate in Archeology and Art History, Université Catholique de Louvain, Belgium, 1999 - 2000. B.Sc. (Candidatures) in Geology, Université Catholique de Louvain, 1996 - 1998. Peer-reviewed papers Samyn, D., Fitzsimons, S. and Lorrain, R. 2008. Rotating micro-structures in Antarctic cold basal ice: implications for glacier flow and its interpretation. International Journal of Earth Sciences (Geologische Rundschau), under review. Mager, S., Fitzsimons, S., Frew, R., Samyn, D. and Lorrain, R. 2008. Composition of amber ice and its influence on the behaviour of cold glaciers in the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica. Journal of Glaciology, accepted for publication. Pattyn, F., Delcourt, C., Samyn, D., Desmedt, B. and Nolan, M. 2008. Bed properties and hydrological conditions underneath McCall Glacier, Alaska, USA. Annals of Glaciology, accepted for publication. Hubbard, B., Roberson, S., Samyn, D. and Merton-Lyn, D. 2008. Digital optical televiewing of ice boreholes. Journal of Glaciology, vol. 54, No. 188, 823-830. Samyn, D., Svensson, A. and Fitzsimons, S. 2008. Discontinuous recrystallization in cold basal ice from an Antarctic glacier: dynamic implications. Journal of Geophysical Research, 113, F03S90, doi:101029/2006JF000600. Durand, G., Samyn, D., Persson, A. and Svensson, A. 2008. Relation between neighbouring grains in the upper part of the NorthGRIP ice core – Implications for rotation recrystallization. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 265, 666-671. Fitzsimons, S., Webb, N., Mager, S., MacDonell, S.,  Lorrain, R. and Samyn, D. 2008. Mechanisms of basal ice formation in polar glaciers: an evaluation of the apron entrainment model. Journal of Geophysical Research, vol. 113, F02010, doi:10.1029/2006JF000698. Mager, S., Fitzsimons, S., Frew, R. and Samyn, D. 2007. Stable isotope composition of the basal ice from Taylor Glacier, southern Victoria Land, Antarctica. U.S. Geological Survey and The National Academies; USGS OFR-2007. Samyn, D., Fitzsimons, S. and Lorrain, R. 2005. Strain-induced phase changes within cold basal ice from Taylor Glacier (Antarctica) indicated by textural and gas analyses. Journal of Glaciology, vol. 51, No. 175, 611-619. Samyn, D., Svensson A., Fitzsimons, S. and Lorrain, R. 2004. Ice crystal properties of amber ice and strain enhancement at the base of cold Antarctic glaciers. Annals of Glaciology, vol. 40, 185-190.  NGRIP Members [whom Samyn, D.]. 2004. High-resolution record of Northern Hemisphere climate extending into the last interglacial period. Nature, 432, 147-151. Souchez, R., Samyn, D., Lorrain, R., Pattyn, F. and Fitzsimons, S. 2004. An isotopic model for basal freeze-on associated with subglacial upward flow of pore water. Geophysical Research Letters, vol. 31, L02401. Sleewaegen, S., Samyn, D., Fitzsimons, S. and Lorrain, R. 2003. Equifinality of basal ice facies from an Antarctic cold-based glacier. Annals of Glaciology, vol. 37, 257-262. Scientific reports Pattyn, F. and others [whom Samyn, D.]. 2007. Antarctic Subglacial Processes and Interactions: role of transition zones in ice sheet stability (ASPI).
Research Program on the Antarctic, Phase VI, Belgian Federal Science Policy Office (BELSPO). Research Project report SD/CA/02. Lorrain, R. and others [whom Samyn, D.]. 2005. Antarctic ice-sheet dynamics and climatic change: Modelling and Ice Composition Studies (AMICS).
Belgian Research Program on the Antarctic, Phase V, Belgian Federal Science Policy Office (BELSPO). Research Project report EV/03/08, 84 pp. Some field work Kinnvika, Vestfonna (Nordaustlandet, Svalbard), May-June 2009. Retrieving of shallow ice cores. Breid Bay, Dronning Maud Land, Antarctica, Nov.-Dec. 2008. Drilling of marine ice and radio-echo sounding in the grounding line vicinity of an ice rise. Tsanfleuron Glacier, Switzerland, Oct. 2008. Co-PI. Testing of drilling equipment - preparation of an Antarctic expedition. Tsanfleuron Glacier, Switzerland, Sept. 2007. PI. Drilling of glacier ice cores for compression experiments + testing of experimental camera for borehole logging. Minna Bluff, McMurdo Ice Shelf, Antarctica, Austral summer 2006-2007. Co-PI. Radio-echo sounding of sedimentary structures at the ice sheet/ice shelf boundary + marine ice drilling (with S.J. Fitzsimons, Univ. Otago, NZ, and M. Sharp, Alberta Univ., CAN). Tsanfleuron Glacier, Switzerland, Sept. 2006. Co-PI. Testing of drilling equipment - preparation of an Antarctic expedition. McCall Glacier, Alaska, Aug. 2006. Radio-echo sounding (by ice-penetrating radar) of the glacier bed (with M. Nolan, Univ. of Alaska Fairbanks). Tsanfleuron Glacier, Switzerland, Sept. 2004. Maintenance of snow/ice temperature logging stations and data downloading (with B. Hubbard, Aberystwyth Univ., UK). NGRIP (North GReenland Ice Core Project), Season 2003. Representative in the field of the Belgium glaciology group. Shallow drilling and sample processing (ECM, stable isotopes, thin sections). Victoria Upper Glacier, Dry Valleys of McMurdo, Antarctica, Austral summer 2002-2003. Excavation of a subglacial tunnel, sampling of basal ice, drilling of lake shallow ice cores, ice-penetrating radar. (with S.J. Fitzsimons, Univ. Otago, NZ).  Connemara, Ireland, July 2000. Fieldwork in regional geology and cartography, as part of the M.S. in Geology, Université Catholique de Louvain. Tournai, Belgium, July 1999. Fieldwork in Carolingian and Merovingian archaeology, Cathedral of Tournai (Belgium), as part of the Complementary Certificate in Archeology and Art History, Université Catholique de Louvain. Scotland, UK, July 1998. Fieldwork in regional geology and cartography, as part of the B.S. in Geology, Université Catholique de Louvain.