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PhD Opportunity: Sequestration of CO2 in basaltic rocks

3.3.2009

 

A prestigious Marie Curie Fellowship (Early Stage Researcher), leading to a doctoral degree, is available at the Institute of Earth Sciences, University of Iceland as part of a Marie Curie ITN Network (Delta-MIN) involving an international group of nine universities. The research themes of Delta-MIN relate to the mechanisms of mineral re-equilibration (phase transformation) in the presence of a fluid phase (www.Delta-MIN.com).

The specific research topics based in Iceland will focus on experimental studies related to the injection of CO2 into Icelandic basaltic terrain. As PhD student to both, the Carbfix group (www.carbfix.is) and the Institute of Earth Sciences (http://www.earthice.hi.is), the candidate will carry out pressurized experiments with CO2 saturated aqueous fluids in plug reactors filled with basaltic material. The study involves monitoring the fluid compositions and solid replacement reactions. Reactive transport models will be implemented to model the replacement reactions within the plug. Various surface analytical techniques will be used to characterize and quantify solid reaction products.

The ideal candidate will have a Master/Diploma degree in geochemistry or another closely related field (e.g., chemical engineering, mineralogy), analytical experience (IC & ICP) and preferably a working knowledge of the geochemical modeling tool PHREEQC.

Good background in dissolution kinetics and reactor experiments, such as plug reactor experiments (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plug_flow_reactor_model) will be appreciated.

Frequent international network meetings will insure continuous exchange of know-how between the network participants. The student will also spend some time using equipment in other laboratories within the Delta-Min network in Europe. Presentations of results on conferences/meetings are guaranteed by a generous travel stipend.

Important: Eligibility requirements of Marie Curie Fellowships apply. For details, please consult www.Delta-MIN.com (‘Opportunities’). Marie Curie Fellowships have substantial benefits, both in salary and in mobility and family allowances. The PhD fellowship is for three years and should start no later than September 2009.

Further inquiries and the submission of online applications (including CV and the names of two referees with e-mail contact information) should be e-mailed to Dr. Domenik Wolff-Boenisch, boenisch@raunvis.hi.is