Institut de Géologie et d'Hydrogéologie
Faculté des Sciences
Emile-Argand 11
CP 158
CH-2009 Neuchâtel
University of Neuchâtel, Switzerland
Ph.D. Studentship at the Institute of Geology and Hydrogeology
Minerals, microbes and fluids in basement rocks and sediments of the
southern Upper Rhine Graben
Description of project
You will perform a comprehensive basic research on the past-to-present evolution of fluid-rock interaction in the basement rocks and their Permian/Triassic sedimentary cover in the southern Upper Rhine Graben and adjacent regions. For this purpose, you will use samples of basement rocks and Permian / Triassic sediments drilled at the Enhanced Geothermal System site near Basel, Switzerland, and from the southern Schwarzwald, Germany, as well as the deep fluids produced by the former. The aims of the project are to characterise the basement beneath the southern Upper Rhine Graben, to understand 'fossil' fluid-rock interac-tion in the basement, to constrain fluid exchange between basement and sedimentary cover, and to evaluate the contribution of micro-organisms to present and past fluid composition. Besides performing field and petrographic work, you will apply analytical techniques (e.g. EMP, fluid inclusions analysis, Ar-Ar dating) and methods to detect organic matter (e.g. stable isotope geochemistry, SEM-Cryoscan) to minerals and rocks.
PhD degree and working environment
The position is funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation. Starting date is as soon as possible. The PhD degree in Switzerland is normally of three to four years duration. The sal-ary is approximately 40'000 CHF per year. Working place will be Neuchâtel, but analytical fa-cilities at other Swiss universities need to be used. Working language is French or English. Besides research, you will have a few teaching and organisation duties, and you will be member of the 'Ecole doctorale en Sciences des Minéraux' (http://www.edsm.ch).
Qualifications
You will require a Masters in Geology or related fields. A good background in petrography-petrology and mineralogy is a pre-requisite. Experience with analytical techniques on the mineral scale is desirable but not essential. You should be self-motivated, enthusiastic and possess good written and oral communication skills.
Contact
Interested candidates should e-mail Angelika Kalt (angelika.kalt@unine.ch) for further details and/or send a CV and a letter of motivation by e-mail until may 23rd.
