At a Glance
- Tasks: Conduct groundbreaking research on marine clay isotope geochemistry and its impact on Earth's climate.
- Company: Adelaide University, a leading institution in Earth Sciences.
- Benefits: Fully funded PhD scholarship with living allowance and tuition fee waiver for 3.5 years.
- Other info: Exciting opportunity to contribute to innovative research with excellent career prospects.
- Why this job: Join a vital project that influences our understanding of the Earth's carbon cycle and climate.
- Qualifications: Degree in Earth Science or related field; passion for fieldwork and lab research.
The predicted salary is between 31500 - 38500 $ per year.
Adelaide University invites applications for two fully funded PhD scholarships in Earth Sciences, to work on a project related to the functioning and evolution of the silicate weathering system, with emphasis on the role of marine silicate weathering.
Applications close: March 6th 2026
Benefits: a stipend (living allowance) and a 100% tuition fee waiver for up to 3.5 years.
Project Description: ‘Using the stable metal isotope composition of marine authigenic clays to reconstruct the evolution of the silicate weathering system’
The global balance between silicate weathering (a sink for atmospheric CO2) and reverse weathering (i.e. formation of cation-rich marine authigenic clay, which releases CO2) acts as an important stabilising control on Earth’s long-term carbon cycle and climate. Emerging evidence that these reactions occur throughout the global ocean, acting as key influences on the oceanic cycle of many major and trace metals, further underscores their importance. Assessing how and why the magnitude of reverse weathering has changed over geologic time is thus of fundamental importance. However, this has proven challenging; current estimates are largely model-based and are difficult to validate empirically.
This PhD project aims to use a new approach to address this problem. You will investigate the stable metal isotope composition (one or more of K, Rb, Mg or Li) of marine authigenic clays (MACs) to reconstruct how the silicate weathering system has evolved over time. The project will require you to document the chemical and isotopic evolution of MACs through initial precipitation to chemical maturation, and to test how closely they record present-day seawater composition. You will also assess the influence of depositional setting on the composition of MACs. This framework will allow you to begin reconstructing the stable metal isotope evolution of seawater, offering new constraints to investigate the evolution of the silicate weathering system. This geochemical approach will be supplemented by mineralogical and petrographic-based estimates of the proportion of MACs in marine shales over time. Your results will constrain an Earth System model to identify how and why the magnitude of reverse weathering has changed through geological history.
The project will require you to collect MAC-bearing units in the field or from drill core, purify MACs using established protocols, followed by mineralogic (XRD), petrographic (SEM/EMPA), geochemical (LA-ICP-MS or acid digest in clean-lab followed by solution ICP-OES/MS analyses) and isotopic (MC-ICP-MS) characterisation. Modelling experience is useful, but not expected.
Student type: domestic scholarship, international scholarship
Your profile: You will have a degree in Earth Science or a closely related field (e.g. marine science, environmental science, environmental chemistry). We expect a highly motivated student with interest in undertaking field, laboratory and modelling work. Research training will be provided. You will have excellent written and oral communication skills.
Application requirements include:
- a short statement (no more than 500 words) indicating your research interests and motivation,
- a CV/Resume including contact details of two referees,
- academic transcripts (BSc and MSc),
- evidence to demonstrate you meet the University's English Language Proficiency requirements and, where relevant,
- provide your Google Scholar or ORCiD ID, any previous academic research outputs, and any other information or documentation that confirms your research experience.
Shortlisted candidates will be interviewed in early March. Successful candidates are expected to commence July-October 2026.
PhD in Earth Sciences: Marine Clay Isotope Geochemistry in Adelaide employer: Earthsciweek
Adelaide University is an exceptional employer, offering fully funded PhD scholarships in Earth Sciences that not only cover tuition fees but also provide a living stipend for up to 3.5 years. The university fosters a collaborative and innovative work culture, encouraging students to engage in meaningful research that contributes to our understanding of the Earth's systems, while also providing ample opportunities for professional growth and development in a vibrant academic environment.
