3 PhD positions: Geochemistry and Biogeochemistry
of CO2 Storage Reservoirs

The University of Melbourne in collaboration with the national research program on carbon capture and storage (CCS) in Australia, CO2CRC, established the Peter Cook Centre for CCS Research last year. We currently grow the CO2 storage program by recruiting researchers and establishing a substantial new laboratory with experimental and analytical capabilities to study fluid flow and reactive transport at the pore to core scale within the School of Earth Sciences at the University of Melbourne. This new lab will be integrated with the existing geomicrobiology lab lead by Dr. John Moreau to foster subsurface biogeochemical studies. Given our close ties with the CO2CRC, collaborations with researchers outside of Melbourne can be easily arranged.

PhD positions are offered for the following topics:

• Subsurface barrier formation as a mitigation strategy for CO2 leakage
• Feasibility of enhanced injectivity through dissolution
• Microbial characterisation and metabolic response to high CO2 conditions

The research will include laboratory-based experimental and analytical work and data interpretation supported by modelling. We seek expressions of interest from candidates with an interest in aquatic geochemistry, environmental microbiology and/or reactive-transport modelling. Applicants with degrees in any field of science or engineering are welcome to apply, but preference will be given to candidates with demonstrated skills in the areas of interest. Please send any of your questions and your application to Prof. Ralf Haese, ralf.haese@unimelb.edu.au.