The PhD project, funded by the Australian Research Council, will focus on the development and testing of (U-Th)/He dating techniques applied to “non-traditional” accessory minerals in order to develop novel tools for Quaternary magmatic systems, tephrochronology, and Quaternary geochronology. These tools will be applied, for example, to study the dynamics of active caldera complexes (e.g., Toba in Indonesia and/or Cerro Blanco in Argentina), with the aim of constraining recurrence intervals between eruptions and the duration of the caldera recovery (resurgence) period after a super eruption. The project will include methodological development and application of a range of geochronological methods and mineral characterization techniques (primarily (U-Th)/He dating, U-Th disequilibrium and U-Pb dating, ToF-SIMS, etc.). The project will utilize a range of state-of-the-art mineral characterization and isotopic analysis techniques available at the John de Laeter Centre (https://jdlc.curtin.edu.au/facilities/). 

This opportunity also advertises on Earthworks website.

https://www.earthworks-jobs.com/mj?id=10302

• Current Students
• Future Students

• Faculty of Science & Engineering
  • Science courses

• Higher Degree by Research

• Australian Citizen
• Australian Permanent Resident
• New Zealand Citizen
• Permanent Humanitarian Visa
• International Student

• Merit Based

The length of the appointment is for 3 years, starting as soon as practicable but no later than October 2025. This project provides a living stipend of AU$37,500 p.a. pro rata indexed, based on full-time studies. International students will receive a 100% fee offset. Support for fieldwork, analytical time, travel, conference attendance, and publications will be covered by the scholarship.

1

Any applicable HDR Courses

• Must have a BSc Hons (first class) or Masters (by research) in geoscience (ideally related to geochronology, geochemistry/isotope geology, or volcanology) by the time of appointment.
• A solid background in volcanology, geochronology, and geochemistry (expertise in (U-Th)/He and U-Th-Pb geochronology with hands-on experience in analytical chemistry, mass spectrometry, and programming skills is especially valuable).
• Strong oral and written scientific English language competencies.
• The ability to work both independently and with a broad range of people from diverse backgrounds.
• A demonstrated commitment to publish results in scientific journals; evidence of research experience, academic awards/publications/presentations at conferences is desirable.

Future student, please contact us via the EOI form and please include the following information

A cover letter (max. 1 page), a CV (max. 2-3 pages, including publications and conference presentations, and contact information for two referees familiar with the candidate's research), and a statement of motivation and research interests (max. 1 page).

Shortlisted applicants will be invited for an online interview. The recommended applicant will be provided with further information on the PhD enrolment process at Curtin University (including uploading certified transcripts and demonstrating English language requirements).

Recipients must complete their milestone 1 within 6 month of enrolment and remain enrolled on a full time basis for the duration of the scholarship

Martin Danišík, m.danisik@curtin.edu.au 

About Curtin University, John de Laeter Centre, and Perth:

Curtin is a dynamic, research-intensive university consistently ranked in the top 1% of universities worldwide. Curtin was recently ranked 26th in the world for Geology in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023. The disciplines of Geology and Geochemistry have both been awarded the maximum ranking of 5 in the recent federal government's "Excellence in Research for Australia" assessments.

The John de Laeter Centre hosts over $50M in world-class analytical facilities supporting geochronological and mineral characterization applications, ensuring that the successful candidate will be hosted within a vibrant and dynamic research environment and will receive exceptional research training.

Perth offers beautiful beaches, warm weather, cloudless skies, and a high quality, outdoor lifestyle with all the big city perks.