Research Associate - Experimental Mineral-Fluid Physics and Chemistry
Physical and Environmental Sciences,Chemistry,Materials Science,Physics and Astronomy,Geology
Short info about job
Company: University of Cambridge
Department: Department of Earth Sciences
Salary: £30,175 to £38,183
Hours: Full Time
Contract type: Fixed-Term/Contract
Type / Role: Academic or Research
Phone: +44-1524 6188018
Fax: +44-1307 9785766
E-mail: N\A
Site: N\A
Detail information about job Research Associate - Experimental Mineral-Fluid Physics and Chemistry. Terms and conditions vacancy
Applications are invited for a postdoctoral research position in the University of Cambridge funded by a grant from NERC to Prof. Simon Redfern to work on the thermodynamics and kinetics of mineral-fluid interactions. The work will be carried out in the context of work on accelerated weathering of silicates for greenhouse gas removal in collaboration with colleagues from the Universities of Oxford, Southampton and Cardiff. The experimental part of this project in Cambridge involves investigation of silicate dissolution as a function of pressure and temperature in the diamond anvil cell (DAC) by Raman spectroscopy combined with synchrotron X-ray spectroscopy. We will use in-situ analytical techniques to quantify mineral dissolution and precipitation from key mineral phases, and assess the aqueous speciation and solubility of silicate and carbonate mineral mixtures therein. In situ structural transformations of minerals, as well as chemical species released in the aqueous fluid during dissolution/precipitation of minerals, will be determined at a wide range of temperatures and pressures in the high-P/T DAC at the Raman Laboratory (Cambridge), alongside associated synchrotron experiments.
Familiarity with the specific research involved is not a prerequisite but prior experience of diamond anvil cell and in situ high-P/T Raman methods would be an advantage. The successful candidate will either have a PhD in a relevant field (e.g. geo/mineral/materials-physics/chemistry), or will have recently submitted a PhD dissertation in that area by the time of appointment, will have a track record of publication in peer-reviewed international journals. Independence, problem-solving, self-motivation, and well-developed time-management skills along with the ability to communicate clearly, both orally and in writing are essential.
The successful candidate will work within the Mineral Physics Group under the guidance of Professor Simon Redfern, and in close collaboration with other project partners, both in the UK and internationally.
The position is open to be filled as soon as possible, Q4 2017.
Fixed-term: The funds for this post are available for 2 years in the first instance.
To apply online for this vacancy and to view further information about the role, please visit:
http://www.jobs.cam.ac.uk/job/14612. This will take you to the role on the University’s Job Opportunities pages. There you will need to click on the 'Apply online' button and register an account with the University's Web Recruitment System (if you have not already) and log in before completing the online application form.
Further information can be obtained from Prof. Simon Redfern ([email protected]).
Please quote reference LB12978 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.
The University and the Department are committed to equality and diversity, the University holds an institutional Athena-SWAN silver award and the Department is a bronze award holder. Details of some of the family-friendly policies operated by the University are at: http://www.hr.admin.cam.ac.uk/pay-benefits/cambens-employee-benefits/family-friendly.
The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.