Postdoctoral Research Assistant in Noble Gas Geochemistry

Reporting to Prof Chris Ballentine, the Department of Earth Sciences seeks a Postdoctoral Research Assistant (PDRA) to join the team to work on a Canadian Nuclear Waste Management Organisation (NWMO) funded project. The objective of this project is to use dissolved helium concentrations in the determination of pore-fluid residence, spatial variance and their temporal relationship with associated fracture fluids at potential nuclear waste repository sites in Canada. This project offers access to an unprecedented range of sample material to test concepts and calibrate numerical models used to estimate pore-fluid age. This approach will provide a significant advance in our understanding of the transport of fluid and gas within crystalline rock environments over geological time.

The postholder will work in close collaboration with the PIs and NWMO team to identify appropriate sampling strategies to ensure the quality of samples returned to the Oxford Laboratory environment. The postholder will be responsible for adapting existing, and developing new, analytical methodologies on both fluid and rock-core samples to determine helium and associated noble gas isotopic compositions. They will apply and develop existing diffusion models to account for the observed helium distribution in the context of gas and fluid transport and pore-fluid residence time over multiple scales. The postholder will also be responsible for providing leadership, input and advice on comparisons between fluid residence and migration with other relevant systems worldwide, as well as identifying new possibilities to generate fluid residence age and migration insights.

About you

You will hold, or be close to completion of, a PhD/DPhil in a relevant field (e.g. noble gas geochemistry, groundwater residence geochemistry) together with experience relevant to the objectives of the projects. You will also possess sufficient specialist knowledge of groundwater dating proxies and have field and laboratory experience working with fluids and/or core samples. You must have the ability to manage your own academic research and associated activities and excellent communication skills including the ability to write for publication, present research proposals and results, and represent the research group at external meetings.

For further details of the role please see the job description. The post is available to start as soon as possible, but ideally before the 31 July 2024.

The deadline for applications is midday on Friday 26 April 2024. Interviews are likely to be held w/c 13 May 2024.

You will be required to upload a CV and a Supporting Statement as part of your application. Please do not attach any manuscripts, papers, transcripts, mark sheets or certificates as these will not be considered as part of your application.

Applications are particularly welcome from women and black and ethnic minority candidates, who are under-represented in research posts in the Department.