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Freie Universität Berlin GeoForschungsZentrum Potsdam We are looking to fill a graduate PhD student position in experimental petrology and thermodynamic modeling The applicant must have either a Masters degree or German Diplom degree in some aspect of petrology/mineralogy including basic thermodynamics. The position is for 36 months, and salary is set according to the German civil service BATII/2 (= 50% of BATII), i.e. ca. 1200 € per month (after taxes), plus additional funding if married and/or with children. This project is part of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft Forschergruppe FOR 741 "Nanonscale Processes and Geomaterials Properties " (www.for741.de) and is listed under Project 6 on the web site. The project involves both experimental investigation into and thermodynamic modeling of exsolution and symplectite formation for a variety of mineral solid solutions including the alkali feldspars, pyroxenes, and rhombohedral oxides. The evolution of microstructures including chemical zoning across phase boundaries will be investigated using high resolution electron beam analytical techniques. This information will then be used to calibrate numerical models that describe phase separation. The objective of this project is to quantify interface energy and component diffusivity within the evolving microstructure and to identify the processes that control reaction kinetics. In particular the inter-phase boundaries in coherent (spinodal decomposition) and incoherent (discontinuous precipitation) microstructures will be compared with respect to their specific free energy, transport property and segregation potential for minor elements. The goal of this project is to improve our knowledge concerning free energy and transport properties of migrating phase boundaries for unmixing in various mineral solid solutions. Such knowledge will aid in utilizing the microstructures of these minerals as geospeedometers and also help to shed light on the behaviour of minor elements during exsolution and discontinuous precipitation. For more information please contact Rainer Abart or Daniel Harlov Rainer Abart Freie Universität Berlin Malteserstrasse 74-100 D-12249 Berlin FR Germany [log in to unmask] Daniel Harlov GeoForschungsZentrum Potsdam Section 4.1 Experimental Geochemistry and Mineral Physics Telegrafenberg, D-14473 Potsdam FR Germany intl. tel +49 (331) 288-1456 [log in to unmask]