The burial and oxidation of organic carbon in Earth’s surface environments is thought to play an important role in regulating atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations over geological timescales. However, past emissions of carbon from the weathering of continental rocks remain poorly understood due to a lack of proxy data to constrain this process. Recently, rhenium isotopes have emerged as a potential proxy to trace oxidative weathering, but our knowledge of the rhenium cycle is incomplete, mainly because we do not understand what happens to rhenium when it is buried in oceanic sediments.
This college-funded studentship will be associated with the UKRI Frontier Research Project ‘Disentangling the role of organic feedbacks on the global carbon cycle (DISTILL),’ which aims to use inorganic isotope geochemistry to trace Earth’s ancient organic carbon cycle. In this PhD project you will produce novel observational constraints on the isotopic composition of rhenium in modern marine sediments, and on the processes that govern isotopic fractionation.
You will receive training in water and sediment sampling, the preparation of isotopic samples in ultra-clean laboratory conditions, the measurement of isotope samples using Multi-Collector Inductively Coupled Mass Spectrometry (MC-ICP-MS), as well as advanced data processing and modelling techniques. You will have the chance to visit the US co-supervisor to learn chemical speciation techniques. Royal Holloway offers an advanced research skills training course to all post-graduate research students, and you will be embedded in the new Royal Holloway Centre of Climate, Ocean and Atmosphere with the chance to interact and learn from researchers studying in related fields. The studentship covers home (UK) fees, 3.5 years stipend at UKRI rates, and research expenses.
You should have a background in Earth Sciences, Physical Geography or Chemistry and be interested in isotope geochemistry and environmental change. Applications should only be made via Royal Holloway Direct (not by email) (https://admissions.royalholloway.ac.uk) and include: a cover letter stating your motivation to apply for this particular project, your C.V., academic transcript(s) and the names of two academic references. Please clearly indicate at the top of your cover letter that your application is for the attention of Dr Alex Dickson, and for the 3.5 year fully funded studentship titled Assessing the rhenium isotope composition of modern marine sediments. Your application should address the studentship research topic.
The closing date for applications is the 10th February 2023. The studentship is available to start from September 2023.
We welcome and encourage applications from women and underrepresented minorities. For an informal discussion about the project, please contact [Email Address Removed].
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