Postdoc in Regional Geology of the Saharan Platform

Challenge: how to quantify vertical movements hidden inside regional unconformities?

Change: the regional geology of the Saharan Platform.

Impact: geo-practitioners interacting with the Saharan subsurface.

Job description

We are looking for a candidate who will investigate the regional geology of the Saharan Platform. This will build on top of the ~100 publications and PhD theses from the North Africa Research Group to generate new ideas and regional maps of past vertical movements (uplift and subsidence), as well as source-to-sink maps. The candidate will focus on the Paleozoic unconformities, examining their nature and quantifying potential vertical movements hidden within them. Specifically, the candidate will sample material below and above the Taconic unconformity, related to the Hirnantian glaciation that was covering Africa/Gondwana during the Ordovician. The success of the project relies on existing datasets as well as new ones to be acquired, especially for Low-Temperature Thermochronology, for which new field missions for sample collection are to be planned; samples may also be acquired from museum/private collections. The project aims to deliver a series of regional source-to-sink maps for the Paleozoic Epochs, and to test them using Landscape Evolution Modelling.

Job requirements

Must haves:

• A PhD in regional geology (or to be completed within one year).
• Candidate must be able to obtain a visa for travelling to northern African countries (e.g., Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia).
• Extensive fieldwork experience.
• Publication record with at least one peer-reviewed scientific article.
• Willingness to do fieldwork in the Saharan Desert.

Nice to have:

• Experience with Landscape Evolution Modelling.
• Experience with Low-Temperature Thermochronology and/or geochronology.
• Experience with Source-to-Sink analysis.

TU Delft (Delft University of Technology)

At TU Delft, our people make the difference. With their knowledge and curiosity, our staff provide a high-quality education and conduct pioneering research that extends beyond the campus. You will have the opportunity to take the initiative, work with others, and grow as a professional. Working at TU Delft means joining an international community of professionals and students.

Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences

The Faculty of Civil Engineering & Geosciences (CEG) is committed to outstanding international research and education in the field of civil engineering, applied earth sciences, traffic and transport, water technology, and delta technology. Our research feeds into our educational programmes and covers societal challenges such as climate change, energy transition, resource availability, urbanisation and clean water. Our research projects are conducted in close cooperation with a wide range of research institutions. CEG is convinced of the importance of open science and supports its scientists in integrating open science in their research practice.

Conditions of employment

• Duration of contract is 2 years. Temporary.
• An excellent pension scheme via the ABP.
• The possibility to compile an individual employment package every year.
• Discount with health insurers on supplemental packages.
• Flexible working week.
• Every year, 232 leave hours (at 38 hours). You can also sell or buy additional leave hours via the individual choice budget.
• Plenty of opportunities for education, training and courses.
• Partially paid parental leave.
• Attention for working healthy and energetically with the vitality program.

Additional information

Preferred start of the project is the first of September 2026, eventually first of October.