Dear All,
please distribute, advertise the following PhD position to possible
candidates.
Many thanks in advance,
Katharina Marquardt
1 PhD position:
Experimental determination of a Diffusion-chrono-thermometer to better
characterize terrestrial and planetary processes
We seek a highly motivated doctoral student who is interested in basic
research in Geosciences. The candidate should have basic knowledge in
the areas of Geosciences and thermodynamics. The candidate should also
be prepared to travel frequently between Bochum and Bayreuth for
measurements. Required qualifications are an interest in experimental
work and a degree in Geosciences or a neighbouring discipline.
The Project: There is an increasing recognition that many geological
processes occur in pulses, or are too short to be captured by long-lived
radiogenic isotopes. Moreover, thermal histories in many high
temperature settings in the Earth (e.g. metamorphic, plutonic and
volcanic systems) as well as in planetary systems such as asteroid
parent bodies or the lunar or Martian interior often follow nonlinear
paths. These require tools that can monitor processes continuously and
over a range of different timescales. Diffusion chronometry or
Geospeedometry is one such tool that is being increasingly used to
address these issues. In spite of the rapid developments, there remain
critical experimental parameters that are needed for the determination
of timescales in all of the above settings that could not be collected
so far because of experimental limitations. New experimental
developments and advances in analytical techniques now make it possible
to determine these critical parameters. In this project we wish to use
these novel experimental advances to determine diffusion coefficients
and partition coefficients in the garnet-orthopyroxene-clinopyroxene system.
The tools that would be used include:
- Production of thin films using pulsed laser ablation (PLD)
- High pressure and high temperature synthesis,
- phase equilibria and measurement of diffusion coefficients
- Chemical analysis using analytical transmission electron microscopy
(ATEM) supported by focused ion beam (FIB) sample preparation;
- Rutherford Backscattering Spectroscopy (RBS) using particle
accelerators, and high resolution electron microprobe analyses.
These should provide the doctoral student an excellent training in
modern methods in the Materials science.
The Geothermometer and Geospeedometer that is developed can be widely
used in all of the above settings. Therefore, results from this study
would considerably expand the scope of diffusion chronometry. An added
advantage of studying this system is that compositions of these phases
are used to determine pressures, temperatures and fluid activities.
Thus, timescales obtained from diffusion chronometry with these minerals
can be directly related to specific processes and conditions that a rock
experienced during its evolution.
An application including a statement of purpose, a CV, copies of
certificates of graduation from Secondary school and completion of a
Master’s degree as well as the names of 2 Referees should be sent as a
single PDF file by 19.02.2017 to [log in to unmask]
Prof. Sumit Chakraborty
Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Institut für Geologie, Mineralogie und Geophysik
Universitätsstraße. 150
44801 Bochum
Germany
--
Dr. Katharina Marquardt
Raum 6.1.05
Tel.: +49 (0)921/55-3712
Tel. TEM(Titan)-Lab: +49 (0)921/55-3846
Tel. FIB(Scios)-Lab: +49 (0)921/55-3731
Mobil: +49 (0)178-375-2077
Email: [log in to unmask]
Email(privat):[log in to unmask]
___________________________________
Bayerisches Geoinstitut
Universität Bayreuth
Universitätsstraße 30
95440 Bayreuth
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