Postdoctoral Positions

Now Accepting Applications

Postdoctoral Opportunity

Post-doctoral Research Associate Positions in Experimental Petrology and High-temperature Geochemistry at Rice University

The experimental petrology group (ExPeRT: https://www.dasgupta.rice.edu/) of the Department of Earth, Environmental and Planetary Sciences at Rice University has openings for two post-doctoral research associate positions.

For position #1, the research topics are somewhat flexible. However, the new research project is expected to complement the ongoing research activities in the group on topics of cycles of major volatiles carbon, sulfur, nitrogen, and water in the planetary interiors including early Earth differentiation, magma ocean volatile cycles, mantle melting on Earth and other rocky bodies of the Solar System and beyond, generation of magmas in various tectonic settings on Earth based on major and trace element geochemistry, mantle redox, and volcanic degassing.

Position #2, funded by NASA’s Science Mission Directorate, is part of a collaborative research initiative CLEVER Planets (http://cleverplanets.org/). Topics of potential research include, but not limited to (a) cycles of CHNOPS during accretion and differentiation of rocky planetesimals, planetary embryos, and planets relevant for the Solar System and other exoplanetary systems, (b) fates of volatiles during parent body processing, (c) magma ocean-atmosphere co-evolution, and (d) mantle melting and fates of volatiles as a function of variable redox. The candidate recruited in this position will be encouraged to collaborate with other members of the team including geochemists, geodynamicists, planetary scientists, and astrophysicists and will be expected to take part in collaborative activities both within the CLEVER Planets team and also as a member of the NASA research coordination network NExSS (https://nexss.info/).

For both positions, the successful applicant should have a PhD in Earth and Planetary Sciences or another related field of physical sciences, an interest in and knowledge of current research into the earth and planetary processes. Strong quantitative background, numerical, and communication skills are required. Although not a requirement, the candidate will benefit from having experience in one or more of the following experimental and analytical techniques – piston cylinder device, multi anvil apparatus, cold-seal pressure vessel, electron microprobe, EPMA, SIMS, FTIR spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and other relevant microanalytical techniques.

The initial appointment will be for 1 year with an option of renewal for one or two more years based on performance and the availability of funding. The position is available immediately and will remain open until filled. Application received by the end of October, 2020 will be given full consideration.

Interested candidates should feel free to contact Rajdeep Dasgupta (Rajdeep.Dasgupta@rice.edu) for more information. To apply, the candidates should send a CV with publication records, a brief statement of present and future research interests, and the names of 3 references as a single PDF.

Rice is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer.