PhD position (M/F) in Geochemistry and Palaeoceanography (ERC Project SEA-VOLC)

Job Description

Thesis Subject

The project:
The laboratory at Géoscience Environnement Toulouse (GET) is looking for a highly skilled and motivated PhD student for the ERC Starting Grant project SEA-VOLC (36 months). The SEA-VOLC project investigates oceanic plateaus, their volcanic history, and their influence on Earth's environment.

Oceanic plateaus formed during episodes of the most intense and extensive submarine volcanism in Earth's geological history. The best known and understood examples formed during the Cretaceous Period (143–66 Ma). The Cretaceous plateaus perturbed the global carbon cycle, the climate, and the surface environment; they are also associated with oceanic anoxic events: episodes of seawater oxygen depletion. Despite their impact on the Earth's surface, they are less studied, and less understood, than continental flood basalts. Most importantly, all in-situ oceanic crust has formed since the Jurassic. We have only a very vague idea about when oceanic plateaus existed before the Cretaceous. But modern plate tectonics has operated since the Precambrian. Therefore, it is likely that there were oceanic plateaus earlier in Earth's history, but that they have been lost from the geological record.

This PhD project will study Triassic, Devonian, and Silurian sedimentary rocks, in order to research evidence of submarine volcanism during those times. The candidate will also study how the carbon and nutrient cycles changed in response to the hypothesised volcanism. The candidate will learn about the connections between Earth's interior and its climate as well as its surface environment at different times in Earth's history. They will also acquire experience in a range of geochemical techniques, notably the analysis of osmium isotopes, carbon isotopes, mercury concentrations, organic carbon contents, and concentrations of other major and trace elements in sedimentary rocks. The successful candidate will be an integral member of the SEA-VOLC team, alongside the PI and one post-doctoral researcher, and will be a major contributor towards the scientific output of this international research effort.

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Required skills:
A Masters degree in Geology, Earth Sciences, or an equivalent subject, including experience of carrying out original scientific research (e.g., for a Masters thesis).

Some geochemistry experience (laboratory geochemistry is preferred, but not essential).

A competent level of English.

Excellent communication and collaborative skills, as well as the ability to work within a research group environment such as that of the SEA-VOLC team.

The ability to communicate in French is not essential, but some knowledge (or a willingness to learn it) is useful for everyday life.

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Application documents:
A cover letter including the candidate's motivation and interest in the topic, their background in Earth Sciences, and what they can bring to the team.

A detailed CV.

Contact details for two referees.

Your Work Environment

On a day-to-day basis, the student will be based at Université Paul Sabatier Toulouse III, in the Géosciences Environnement Toulouse lab (GET; https://www.get.omp.eu/), supported by the Centre Nationale de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS). GET is home to a range of diverse analytical facilities established to support researchers spanning georesources, geophysics, geochemistry, and experimental geoscience.

For one year of the project, the successful candidate will visit Royal Holloway, University of London (UK), in order to conduct analyses of osmium isotopes in a state-of-the art facility recently established as part of the ERC Grant DISTILL. Depending on other results from the project, a short visit to Utrecht University (The Netherlands) may also take place for palynology and/or organic geochemistry work.

Constraints and risks

Performing quality scientific research and completing a PhD in 3 years can cause work-related pressure. Geochemical labwork in this project involves the use of aggressive chemical reagents that can be dangerous to human health (e.g., acid burns, fume inhalation). For safety, these reagents are used only in extraction hoods. Preparing rock samples using heavy or mechanical equipment can also be hazardous (e.g., eye damage, rock-dust inhalation).

Compensation and benefits

Compensation

€2300 gross monthly

Annual leave and RTT

44 jours

Remote Working practice and compensation

Pratique et indemnisation du TT

Transport

Prise en charge à 75% du coût et forfait mobilité durable jusqu’à 300€

About the offer

About the CNRS

The CNRS is a major player in fundamental research on a global scale. The CNRS is the only French organization active in all scientific fields. Its unique position as a multi-specialist allows it to bring together different disciplines to address the most important challenges of the contemporary world, in connection with the actors of change.

CNRS

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