PhD position in geosciences - ForMovFluid - Project #04

29 Jan 2025
Job Information

Organisation/Company

Friedrich-Alexander-Universität

Research Field

Geosciences » Geology

Researcher Profile

First Stage Researcher (R1)

Positions

Postdoc Positions

Country

Germany

Application Deadline

7 Mar 2025 - 23:59 (Europe/Brussels)

Type of Contract

Temporary

Job Status

Full-time

Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?

Horizon Europe - MSCA

Marie Curie Grant Agreement Number

101168931

Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?

No

Offer Description

Within the MSCA Doctoral Network ForMovFluid (formovfluid.eu ), we're offering the following offer. A complete description of the offer, together with all the elegibility criteria and employment conditions can be found at https://formovfluid.eu/positions/project-4/ .

Additional information about the project, and other PhD positions available can be consulted at ForMovFluid's website: formovfluid.eu

Project title

Ore mineralisation and fluid fluxes in orogenic foreland basins

Overview & Research Questions

Mississippi Valley-type (MVT) ore deposits are commonly linked to orogenic forelands and form through extensive fluid systems migrating through foreland basins, driven by gravity from adjacent orogenic belts. However, not all foreland basins host MVT deposits, and the factors controlling their presence or absence remain debated [1]. Moreover, the formation of MVT deposits involves the dissolution and reprecipitation of carbonate minerals, but it is unclear whether these processes act as a net CO₂ sink or release significant CO₂ to groundwater or the atmosphere during deposit formation [2,3,4].
This project aims to investigate the physicochemical controls on MVT ore formation in foreland basins by integrating petrological and geochemical datasets with advanced thermodynamic reaction-transport models. The geochemical modeling will provide a basis for quantifying fluid fluxes in and out of ore deposits, enabling an assessment of CO₂ entrapment during ore formation and associated secondary mineral precipitation. Targeted field sites include world-class Zn-Pb MVT deposits in the Aquitaine Basin (Southern France) and the Ebro Foreland Basin (Northwest Spain).
Petrological data (e.g., alteration mineralogy and extent of alteration zones) and geochemical data (e.g., chemical and isotopic composition of alteration minerals and vein-filling material) will be integrated into multi-dimensional (1D, 2D, and 3D) reaction-transport models using software such as GEMS, PhreeqC, PHAST, and TOUGHREACT. This integration of natural datasets with modeling calculations will elucidate the chemical processes driving ore formation and characterize the physicochemical properties of ore-forming fluids. Furthermore, combining steady-state (equilibrium) reaction-transport models with multi-dimensional (kinetic) reaction-transport and flow models will enable an investigation of key controls—such as host rock composition, fluid evolution, permeability, temperature, and pressure—on ore formation along fluid flow paths. This approach will also facilitate the estimation of fluid entrapment and release fluxes in MVT deposits.
The findings of this project will significantly enhance understanding of the tectonic and chemical controls on ore formation in foreland basins. Additionally, quantifying reaction progress along fluid pathways will provide insights into the volumes of fluid trapped and mineralized in these deposits and clarify whether such systems contribute substantial CO₂ to groundwater and the atmosphere.
 

Where to apply

Website

https://formovfluid.eu/

Requirements

Research Field

Geosciences » Geology

Education Level

Master Degree or equivalent

Skills/Qualifications

The following criteria apply to all the DC positions within ForMovFluid:

• Early-Stage Researchers Rule: All researchers recruited in a doctoral network must be Early-Stage Researchers (ESRs, i.e., be in the first four years (full-time equivalent research experience) of their research careers and have not been awarded a doctoral degree).
• Nationality Rule:  Researchers can be of any nationality.
• Mobility Rule: at the time of recruitment by the host organisation, researchers must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the country of their host organisation for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to the reference date. Compulsory national service and/or short stays such as holidays are not considered. The mobility rule applies to the (first) beneficiary where the researcher is recruited, and not to beneficiaries to which the researcher is sent or seconded. It is also only determined at one point in time: that of the fellow's first recruitment in the project.
• English Language: ESRs must demonstrate that their ability to understand and express themselves in both written and spoken English is sufficiently high for them to derive the full benefit from the network training.
• Host Specific Criteria: Every ESR must qualify for admittance as a PhD student at the university the position is assigned to. Consequently, there may be additional criteria for every position that are laid out in the detailed description of every ESR position.
• Number of Applications: Candidates can apply for up to 5 projects.

All the information about the position and details on how to apply can be consulted at the project's website: https://formovfluid.eu/

Specific Requirements

We are looking for a student holding a Masters degree in natural sciences with a strong knowledge in Earth Sciences or Economic Geology and a strong background in analytical and numerical capabilities. The project contains a extensive field and laboratory component as well as the development geochemical modelling scripts. 

We expect strong team building capabilities within ForMovFluid and the crustal research group at the Geocenter.

You will be part of an active group of researchers at the Geocenter and become part of the ForMovFluid group where you can improve technical and soft skills and open your horizon towards new disciplines and tools. Erlangen is a great, international and upcoming place to live in close proximity to Nuremberg, Munich, the Alps, as well as the Franconian karst and climbing areal.

FAU has a very good family program and many support programs for female researchers, we encourage you to apply to this position.

Languages

ENGLISH

Level

Good

Additional Information
Benefits

Doctoral Candidates (DCs) will be provided with the following living allowance, subject to local taxation and government contribution requirements:

Germany Living Allowance    €47,306 p.a. gross*

*subject to local taxation and government contribution requirements

Should you have a family at the time of your recruitment, you are entitled to an additional "family allowance" of EUR 500 per month. For the purposes of the MSCA, family is defined as "persons linked to the researcher by marriage (or a relationship with equivalent status to a marriage recognised by the legislation of the country where this relationship was formalised) or dependent children who are actually being maintained by the researcher". Note that your family status is determined at the time of your recruitment and remains fixed during the lifetime of the project.

Selection process

To apply to this position, please do it through ForMovFluid’s website: formovfluid.eu . You can apply through the dedicated form you will see in each position. You can apply for up to 5 projects (select them in the same form, ordered by your priority of choice), and please attach the following documents in the form:

• A two-page CV
• A one-page motivation letter for each of the DCs positions you want to apply. 
• The e-mail for a reference contact (not a reference letter, just the contact). We might contact your reference person during the decision process.

Website for additional job details

https://formovfluid.eu/positions/project-4/

Work Location(s)

Number of offers available

1

Company/Institute

Friedrich-Alexander-Universität

Country

Germany

City

Erlangen

Postal Code

91054

Street

Schlossgarten 5

Geofield

Contact

City

Erlangen

Website

https://www.gzn.nat.fau.eu/

Street

Schlossgarten 5

Postal Code

91054

E-Mail

barbara.kleine-marshall@fau.de

STATUS: EXPIRED

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