About the Project
The global sulfur and carbon cycles are key links between the evolution of life and geochemical transformations of the atmosphere, oceans and deep Earth. These PhD projects tie in with a larger scale project investigating these cycles associated with a prestigious ARC Future Fellowship grant awarded to A/Prof. Tomkins. For both projects, the methods used can be adjusted based on the candidate’s preferences, but will likely involve using a combination of field work and geochemical modelling. This work represents an exciting and high-impact addition to our understanding of subduction zone processes and the global sulfur and carbon cycles, and will result in a number of important publications.
Sediments deposited on the ocean floor contain carbonate and sulfate minerals, which, when subducted, transport oxidation potential to the deep Earth. However, little is known about how these components react during progressive metamorphism when the sediment veneer is subducted. We think that oxidised sulfur and carbon are released and transferred to the overlying mantle wedge, but exactly how this occurs is uncertain. We will conduct field work to collect samples at a range of sites, which might include Australia, Norway, Italy, Switzerland, and Japan. Using these samples, this project will investigate the metamorphic controls on whether sulfur and carbon are released predominantly as oxidised or reduced fluid species, and the associated fluid migration pathways. This project will also determine some key “fingerprints” of sediment-derived sulfur and carbon, which will allow us to investigate their impact on the overlying mantle wedge and magma genesis.
Scholarship details
The 3.5 year award includes all course fees and a ~$27,600 AUD per year tax-free stipend. Project costs will be borne by the grant awarded to A/Prof. Andy Tomkins.
Monash and the School of Earth, Atmosphere and Environment
Monash is a member of the Group of Eight, a coalition of top Australian universities recognised for their excellence in teaching and research. The School of Earth, Atmosphere and Environment is a friendly and dynamic unit with a recognised strength in solid Earth geoscience, being ranked in the top 50 Earth Science schools worldwide. Monash University is located in Melbourne, one of the most liveable cities in the world and a cultural and recreational hub.
Application process
Interested candidates should send their CV, academic transcripts and a brief outline of research interests and motivation to [Email Address Removed]. Successful applicants will have completed a 4-year undergraduate degree with a high grade in a significant research project (thesis equivalent to an Australian first-class honours), or a MSc degree (with a thesis component) in a relevant field (i.e., earth science/geoscience). Monash PhD scholarships are highly competitive and successful applicants generally have relevant additional research experience and/or research publications in international journals. Review of applications will begin immediately and short-listed candidates will be contacted for more information and invited to interview.
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