Research Associate in ore deposit petrology/geochemistry

Salary: £35,333 - £42,155 per annum (Grade 6)
Vacancy Number: 16006BR

Applications are invited for a Postdoctoral Research Associate position (RA) within the European Research Commission (ERC) funded €7.5 million SEMACRET project: "Sustainable exploration for orthomagmatic (critical) raw materials in the EU: Charting the road to the green energy transition" led by Prof. Shenghong Yang of Oulu University/Finland, with Prof WD Maier in the School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Cardiff University, being one of several Co-Is.

This RA position in ore deposit petrology and geochemistry is an exciting opportunity to be involved in finding solutions to Europe's critical metals shortage which threatens to delay the green energy transition. The goal of SEMACRET is to provide a clearer understanding of the EU's mineral potential, and to develop sustainable (i.e. environmentally and socially friendly) exploration techniques for green transition (critical) raw materials hosted in orthomagmatic ore deposits, thereby building links between academic research and the mineral exploration industry. Through establishment of a unique and impactful research group, comprising experts in petrology, geochemistry, geophysics, numerical modelling, and social sciences, this project will develop national and international capability at Cardiff University, in a globally important arena.

The role of the post holder is to implement petrological and geochemical research focussing mainly on deposits in Finland, with potential contributions to other SEMACRET project areas in Poland, Portugal and the Czech Republic.

The post holder will work in collaboration with other staff in the School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, as well as other SEMACRET partner institutions in Europe.

In addition to the above duties, the post holder will be expected to produce work of publishable quality, present papers at national and international conferences,develop outreach opportunities related to the SEMACRET vision, and contribute to the development of collaborative research grants.

The successful applicant will hold a PhD in a relevant subject (e.g., petrology and geochemistry, ideally with a focus on magmatic ore deposits. Strong field skills and analytical expertise (eg FESEM, Laser ICP-MS) is also of advantage.

This position is full time (35 hours per week). The post is available from 1st January 2023 and is a fixed-term appointment until 31 May 2025.

Informal enquiries may be made to Prof. WD Maier,email: maierw@cardiff.ac.uk

For further details about working in Cardiff University please contact Dr John Evans, School Manager, evansj13@cardiff.ac.uk or Dr Jenny Pike, Head of School, pikej@cardiff.ac.uk

It is the University's policy to use the person specification as a key tool for short-listing. Candidates should evidence that they meet ALL of the essential criteria as well as, where relevant, the desirable. As part of the application process you will be asked to provide this evidence via a supporting statement. Please ensure that the evidence you are providing corresponds with the numbered criteria outlined below. Your application will be considered based on the information you provide under each element.

When attaching the supporting statement to your application profile, please ensure that you name it with the vacancy reference number.

Closing date: Tuesday, 28 February 2023.

Please be aware that Cardiff University reserves the right to close this vacancy early should sufficient applications be received.

Cardiff University is committed to supporting and promoting equality and diversity and to creating an inclusive working environment. We believe this can be achieved through attracting, developing, and retaining a diverse range of staff from many different backgrounds who have the ambition to create a University which seeks to fulfil our social, cultural and economic obligation to Cardiff, Wales, and the world. In supporting our employees to achieve a balance between their work and their personal lives, we will also consider proposals for flexible working or job share arrangements.

Cardiff University is a signatory to the San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA), which means that in hiring and promotion decisions we will evaluate applicants on the quality of their research, not publication metrics or the identity of the journal in which the research is published. More information is available at: Responsible research assessment - Research - Cardiff University