Dear Geo-tectonics members,
On Behalf of Andrea Tommasi and Sylvie Demouchy (Geosciences, Montpellier University)
Please feel free to communicate this message to students that may be interested by this announcement.  
Thanks for your collaboration,
Alain Vauchez


Two PhD positions are available at Montpellier Geosciences in the frame of the Horizon2020 – Marie Curie Actions - Innovative Training Network (ITN)  "CREEP – Comples RhEologies in Earth dynamics and industrial Processes"

 1) "Plate tectonics: strain localization due to anisotropy in the lithospheric mantle". Supervisor: A. Tommasi (Geosciences Montpellier, FR). Collaborations: P. Tackley (ETH ZURICH), N. Ribe (FAST, FR), J. Signorelli (IFIR, AR), R.Hassani (GéoAzur, FR)
The aim of this Ph.D. project is to study the role of an anisotropy of mechanical and thermal properties in the mantle
(due to the orientation of olivine crystals, which are highly anisotropic) on plate tectonics using a 3-D multiscale
approach that combines finite-element models of lithosphere-scale deformation with viscoplastic self-consistent
simulations of evolving anisotropic physical properties. For this, we will develop new modeling routines for simulating
the evolution of mechanical anisotropy as a function of the deformation history. These models will be used for studying
the reactivation of lithospheric structures on the formation of new plate boundaries.
The expected results are a better understanding of the processes allowing for strain localization and development of
plate tectonics on Earth. A secondary objective is the development of a parameterized description of strain-induced
mechanical anisotropy that can be incorporated into 3-D convection codes for studying the effect of an anisotropic
viscosity on mantle convection.
This project also includes a 2-month internship at APERAM, where the Ph.D. student will apply the knowledge
acquired in his/her academic research to study the effect of microstructure evolution in steel forming.

 2)  "Rheology of the lithospheric mantle". Supervisor: S. Demouchy, D. Mainprice (Geosciences Montpellier, FR).
Collaborations ;Univ. Lille, Univ. Durham & Schlumberger.
The aim of this Ph.D. project is to constrain the rheology of the lithospheric mantle through deformation experiments at
high pressure and high temperature on olivine single crystals and aggregates in a Paterson Press at Geosciences
Montpellier.
The expected results are a better understanding of the deformation mechanisms and establishment of flow laws for the
lithospheric mantle. These high pressure and high temperature experiments will analyse in particular the hardening
behaviour and the processes leading to strain localization. High-end microstructural characterization by SEM-EBSD
(Montpellier) and TEM (coll. P. Cordier, Univ. Lille) of the deformed samples will allow correlating the mechanical
behaviour with the evolution of the intracrystalline strain field and of the density and arrangement of dislocations and
disclinations. If time permits, in-situ analysis of microseismicity during the experiments will be used to characterize the
ductile-brittle transition in mantle rocks.
This project also includes a 2-month internship at Schlumberger, where the Ph.D. student will apply the knowledge
acquired in his/her academic research to industrial applications in fossil energy exploration.

Requirements:
• Applicants must not have resided or carried out their main activity in France for more than 12 months in the 3
years immediately prior to their recruitment.
• Applicants must be in the first four years of their research career and do not have a PhD degree. Time is
measured from the date of award of the Master degree (official maternity/paternity leaves excluded).
• Applicants must have strong quantitative and scientific programming skills, hold a Master degree in
geosciences, physics, or material sciences, and be highly motivated to work in an international team.
• Applicants must have excellent written and spoken English skills. A grasp of French would be also useful.
• Knowledge on geodynamics, rocks rheology, or viscoplastic deformation processes in crystalline materials.

 Employment conditions:
• Participation in the EU-funded innovative training network CREEP, which encompasses 16 Ph.D. projects in
10 major research groups in geodynamics in Europe (Montpellier, Bristol, Durham, UCL, Utrecht, ETH
Zurich, FAST-Orsay, Roma 3, Mainz, Munster) and 11 private-sector partners (Schlumberger, Baker Hughes
Schott, APERAM, AkzoNobel, MP Strumenti Reykjavik Geothermal, IGEM, GMuG, Geospatial Research).
• A 36-month full employment contract with social security, a net monthly salary between 2050€ and 2350€
depending on the family situation at the time of the contract signature
• Guaranteed funding for the research project and training activities.
• A personalized training program mutually agreed on recruitment, which will directly reflect the candidate
training needs and career objectives.

 Application Procedure
• Candidates should apply via our online application procedure (http://www.itn-creep.eu). Once the application
is received, they will receive an email asking for their CV and academic credentials (mark sheets and degree
statements).
• Deadline for applications: 30 May 2015.
A complete description of all 16 CREEP PhD positions and training program and online application forms can be found
at http://www.itn-creep.eu. For additional information please mail us @ [log in to unmask]