A two-year postdoctoral position is available beginning in Autumn 2009 to study the dynamics of free (buoyancy-driven) subduction and its role in the global plate tectonics cycle. The position is funded by the Marie Curie Initial Training Network CRYSTAL2PLATE, a consortium of ten academic institutions and industrial partners in six European countries (http:// www.gm.univ-montp2.fr/CRYSTAL2PLATE/home.html). The postdoctoral fellow will be based primarily at the FAST laboratory in Orsay (France), but will also interact with scientists from the ETH (Zuerich) and the universities of Roma-Tre, Bristol and Utrecht.

The fellow will carry out an analytical and numerical study of free subduction using a three-dimensional boundary-integral formulation in combination with an asymptotic theory of thin viscous sheets. The overall goal will be to determine quantitative scaling laws for key subduction parameters (velocities of plate advance and trench retreat, slab deformation style, state of stress within the plate, induced seismic anisotropy) that can be compared with both geophysical observations and the results of analog laboratory experiments. The project will be closely coordinated with laboratory experiments on self-consistent plate tectonics currently underway at FAST. The main prerequisite is a strong background in general fluid mechanics, applied mathematics and numerical methods. Familiarity with the boundary-element method and general geophysics is welcome but not required.

The position carries an annual gross salary of 33,303-35,370 euros, depending on family status, together with a Career Allowance of 2000 euros and a travel allowance. Citizens of any country may apply. However, European Community rules require that at the time of recruitment, applicants (1) must have a doctoral degree or four years full-time research experience; (2) must be in the first five years (full-time equivalent) of their research careers, beginning from the date of the degree which entitled them to begin doctoral studies; and (3) must not have resided or carried out their main activity in France for more than 12 months in the preceding three years. Citizens of France are eligible only if they have legally resided and have had their principal activity (work, studies, etc.) in another country for at least three of the preceding four years.

Applications for the position must be submitted electronically via the CRYSTAL2PLATE website. Applicants are also requested to send a CV, a list of publications, a brief statement of research interests and relevant experience, and the names of at least three references to:

Neil M. Ribe
Fluides, Automatique et Systemes Thermiques (FAST)
Batiment 502 - Campus Universitaire
91405 Orsay Cedex, FRANCE
ribe@fast.u-psud.fr; (33) 1 69 15 37 32