PhD Scholarship: PhD position in Earth Sciences

Earthsciweek; Adelaide; On-site; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Living allowance

100% tuition fee waiver

Job summary

A leading Australian university is inviting applications for two fully funded PhD scholarships in Earth Sciences. The focus will be on researching the silicate weathering system, specifically the role of marine silicate weathering. Candidates should hold a relevant degree, be motivated, and have strong communication skills. The project includes fieldwork, laboratory analysis, and geochemical modeling, offering a stipend and tuition fee waiver for up to 3.5 years. Applications are due by March 6, 2026.

Qualifications

• Highly motivated student with interest in field, laboratory, and modelling work.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Investigate metal isotope composition of marine authigenic clays.
• Document chemical and isotopic evolution of MACs.
• Collect MAC-bearing units in the field or from drill core.

Education

Degree in Earth Science or closely related field

Job description

Overview

PhD Scholarship: PhD position in Earth Sciences

PhD Scholarship: PhD position in Earth Sciences

Adelaide, Australia

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 6 2026

Benefits: a stipend (living allowance) and a 100% tuition fee waiver for up to 3.5 years.

Project Title: Using the stable metal isotope composition of marine authigenic clays to reconstruct the evolution of the silicate weathering system

Project description

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 underscores their importance. Assessing how and why the magnitude of reverse weathering has changed over geologic time is fundamental, but current estimates are largely model-based and 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 document the chemical and isotopic evolution of MACs through initial precipitation to chemical maturation, and 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 mineralogical (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 (eg 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

• 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.

Timeline and eligibility

Shortlisted candidates will be interviewed in early March. Successful candidates are expected to commence July-October 2026.

Posted: 06 February 2026

Please mention EARTHWORKS when responding to this advertisement.