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Bayi Glacier in Qilian Mountain, China (Credit: Xiaoming Wang, distributed via imaggeo.egu.eu)

Job advertisement Two fully funded PhD projects in REE deposits

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European Geosciences Union

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Two fully funded PhD projects in REE deposits

Position
Two fully funded PhD projects in REE deposits

Employer
James Cook University logo

James Cook University

Homepage: https://www.jcu.edu.au


Location
Townsville, Australia

Sector
Academic

Relevant divisions
Energy, Resources and the Environment (ERE)
Geochemistry, Mineralogy, Petrology & Volcanology (GMPV)

Type
Full time

Level
Entry level

Salary
$33,500 AUD (tax free)

Preferred education
Master

Application deadline
25 January 2025

Posted
6 January 2025

Job description

We are seeking two enthusiastic and highly motivated students to undertake fully funded PhD projects in geology. Ideally candidates will have a strong background in geoscience and a detailed understanding of economic geology and geochemistry including isotopes. The candidates will be based at James Cook University in Townsville, Australia, and will have access to the Advanced Analytical Centre at JCU which contains a suite of world-class research facilities including XRD, XRF, SEM, LA-ICP-MS, TQ-ICP-MS and MC-ICP-MS and a recently installed FE-EPMA. The successful applicants will join a vibrant cohort of existing PhD candidates and will be able to interact with researchers from both the Economic Geology Research Centre (EGRU) and broader College of Science & Engineering.

These projects will feed into a broader Critical Minerals Trailblazer project on REE extraction entitled “Sustainable REE extraction from Australian ores using environmentally friendly reagents, advanced characterisation techniques and geological knowledge”.

Extraction of REE resources from geological materials has proven complicated due to the extremely variable mineralogy (e.g. minerals and binding sites) that host REE in different deposit types. This means each deposit requires a specialised REE extraction flow sheet and a detailed understanding of the style of mineralisation (e.g. HREE vs LREE enrichment).

Queensland hosts a number of interesting REE prospects. Through close collaboration with industry partners these PhD projects will focus on understanding the REE endowment and origins of REE in a range of poorly understood deposits, including various igneous bodies, sedimentary placers, and regolith hosted clays. Characterisation of the mineralogy will be undertaken using XRD, EPMA and LA-ICP-MS depending on the deposit type with REE sources deconvolved using isotopic signatures analysed using MC-ICP-MS.


How to apply

Candidates should submit to alex.mccoywest@jcu.edu.au two pdf documents: 1) a cover letter detailing your research interests and experience and motivation for applying; and 2) a complete CV (including academic transcripts, along with the names and contact details of two or more academic referees). Please do not hesitate to contact me for further information.

This opportunity is independent of normal JCU application deadlines. Applications received on or before 25th January 2025 will be considered.

Ideally successful applicants will be available to start in the middle of 2025 no later than the 1st of July 2025. Unsuccessful candidates will not be contacted.