PhD Position on Coastal Environments as mCDR Sites to Mitigate Climate Change

The Department of Earth Sciences is looking for a highly motivated PhD candidate with a MSc background in Earth Sciences, Geochemistry or other appropriate fields. You will work on the project “Coastal environments as mCDR sites to mitigate climate change”.

Your job

Marine carbon dioxide removal (mCDR) actions are an important and rapidly developing tool to help minimise global warming. Enhanced silicate weathering in the marine environment is a highly effective method within these actions to enhance ocean alkalinity and increase marine CO2 uptake. Many questions remain concerning the sequestration efficiency of silicate weathering, its impact on natural alkalinity release and possible negative effects on marine ecosystems.

In this four-year study, you will conduct flow-through and flume experiments to simulate beach environments and identify the most suitable materials and ambient conditions for mCDR. Next to fluid and solid geochemical analyses, we will use Si stable isotopes to distinguish between dissolving and precipitating phases. A special emphasis will be placed on the ecosystem impact such as toxic levels of Ni during mineral dissolution, as well as how the ecosystem might accelerate mineral dissolution. In dependence of the results, field trials are an additional option.

A personalised training programme will be set up, reflecting your training needs and career objectives. About 20% of your time will be dedicated to this training component, which includes following courses/workshops as well as training on the job in assisting in the Bachelor’s and Master’s programmes of the department at Utrecht University.

Your qualities

You are a motivated team player and have completed your MSc degree in Earth Sciences, Geochemistry or a related discipline by the time the position starts. Preferably, you will also have:

• experience and strong interest in laboratory experimental work;
• a strong interest in stable isotope systematics;
• general laboratory work experience;
• motivation and willingness to organise and carry out field work at the Dutch coast;
• motivation to cooperate in a diverse and multidisciplinary research team;
• adequate social/verbal/communication skills;
• good command of spoken and written English is essential.

Our offer

We offer:

• a position for one year, with an extension to a total of four years upon a successful assessment in the first year, and with the specific intent that it results in a doctorate within this period;
• a working week of 36 hours and a gross monthly salary between €2,901 and €3,707 in the case of full-time employment (salary scale P under the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO NU));
• 8% holiday pay and 8.3% year-end bonus;
• a pension scheme, partially paid parental leave and flexible terms of employment based on the CAO NU.