 Call for a PhD in Computational GeodynamicsProject SummaryThe Computational Geoscience Department is seeking a clever and motivated PhD candidate to work on a collaborative project with the University of California, San Diego. The project will concentrate on solving fundamental problems of continental rifting in the presence o a mantle plume using the Afar as a case study. The project will involve strong collaboration with the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) and join an active group of researchers in the Computational Geoscience Department in geology, geophysics, plate tectonics, geodynamics and high performance computing. Project Description Modelling continental rifting is a challenging research topic because continental lithosphere is extremely heterogenous in composition. The material properties of the lithosphere are dependent on this composition as well as pre-existing weaknesses in the material. Complicating the matter further, the rifted part of the continental is usually underneath signicant amounts of water and sediment, perhaps several kilometers. In only two places in the world can these rift flanks be seen on the surface of the planet: Iceland and the East African rift. In the case of Iceland however, the rift occurs through uplifted oceanic crust, while in the African rift system the rift occurs through the African continent. In earlier times, such as the breakup of Pangea, these rifts would have appeared all through the supercontinent seperating it into the continents we know today. Thus, studying the rift allows us to see back in time and look at the early formation of basins along the rift, analogues to the rich oil-bearing basins around the Atlantic for example. The aim is to model rift formation, particularly in the early period, replicating features observed in basins along the East African Rift. Project Aims The project aims at solving some of the fundamental questions regarding the formation of rifting using the Afar as a laboratory:
The successful candidate engage in high quality research as directed by the project manager and supervisors as well as interact and communicate with other scientist in the department, at UCSD and at international conferences. The candidate must be able to travel and spend time at UCSD for significant periods of time during the 3 year project. Simula offers
Essential
Interested and qualified applicants should provide the following information by the deadline of June 15, 2012, via email to jobs@simula.no:
For more information please contact: Stuart Clark, PhD Head of Computational Geoscience stuart@simula.no, +47 47 45 28 70 Martin Linges vei 17, Fornebu, Norway PO Box 134, Lysaker NO-1325 www.simula.no/people/stuart |
