PhD on Coastal Environments as mCDR Sites to Mitigate Climate Change

Faculty of Geosciences

Department:
Department of Earth Sciences

Hours per week:
36 to 40

Application deadline:
31 March 2025
The
Department of Earth Sciences
is looking for a highly motivated PhD candidate with a MSc background in Earth Sciences, Geochemistry or other appropriate fields. You will work on the project “Coastal environments as mCDR sites to mitigate climate change”.

Your job

Marine carbon dioxide removal (mCDR) actions are an important and rapidly developing tool to help minimise global warming. Enhanced silicate weathering in the marine environment is a highly effective method within these actions to enhance ocean alkalinity and increase marine CO

2
uptake. Many questions remain concerning the sequestration efficiency of silicate weathering, its impact on natural alkalinity release and possible negative effects on marine ecosystems.

In this four-year study, you will conduct flow-through and flume experiments to simulate beach environments and identify the most suitable materials and ambient conditions for mCDR. Next to fluid and solid geochemical analyses, we will use Si stable isotopes to distinguish between dissolving and precipitating phases. A special emphasis will be placed on the ecosystem impact such as toxic levels of Ni during mineral dissolution, as well as how the ecosystem might accelerate mineral dissolution. In dependence of the results, field trials are an additional option.

A personalised training programme will be set up, reflecting your training needs and career objectives. About 20% of your time will be dedicated to this training component, which includes following courses/workshops as well as training on the job in assisting in the Bachelor’s and Master’s programmes of the department at Utrecht University.

Your qualities

You are a motivated team player and have completed your MSc degree in Earth Sciences, Geochemistry or a related discipline by the time the position starts. Preferably, you will also have:

• experience and strong interest in laboratory experimental work;
• a strong interest in stable isotope systematics;
• general laboratory work experience;
• motivation and willingness to organise and carry out field work at the Dutch coast;
• motivation to cooperate in a diverse and multidisciplinary research team;
• adequate social/verbal/communication skills;
• good command of spoken and written English is essential.

Our offer

We offer:

• a position for one year, with an extension to a total of four years upon a successful assessment in the first year, and with the specific intent that it results in a doctorate within this period;
• a working week of 36 hours and a gross monthly salary between €2,901 and €3,707 in the case of full-time employment (salary scale P under the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO NU));
• 8% holiday pay and 8.3% year-end bonus;
• a pension scheme, partially paid parental leave and flexible terms of employment based on the CAO NU.

In addition to the
terms of employment
laid down in the CAO NU, Utrecht University has a number of schemes and facilities of its own for employees. This includes schemes facilitating
professional development
, leave schemes and schemes for
sports and cultural activities
, as well as discounts on software and other IT products. We also offer access to additional employee benefits through our Terms of Employment Options Model. In this way, we encourage our employees to continue to invest in their growth. For more information, please visit

Working at Utrecht University
.

About us

A better future for everyone. This ambition motivates our scientists in executing their leading research and inspiring teaching. At
Utrecht University
, the various disciplines collaborate intensively towards major
strategic themes
. Our focus is on Dynamics of Youth, Institutions for Open Societies, Life Sciences and Pathways to Sustainability.
Sharing science, shaping tomorrow
.
Utrecht University’s
Faculty of Geosciences
studies the Earth: from the Earth’s core to its surface, including man’s spatial and material utilisation of the Earth – always with a focus on sustainability and innovation. With 3,400 students (BSc and MSc) and 720 staff, the faculty is a strong and challenging organisation. The Faculty of Geosciences is organised in four Departments: Earth Sciences, Human Geography & Spatial Planning, Physical Geography, and Sustainable Development.

The
Department of Earth Sciences
conducts teaching and research across the full range of the solid Earth and environmental Earth sciences, with activities in almost all areas of geology, geochemistry, geophysics, biogeology and hydrogeology. The department hosts a highly international tenured staff of over 50 scientists and more than 110 PhD candidates and postdoctoral researchers. We house or have access to a wide variety of world-class laboratories, among which are the

Electron Microscopy Centre
, the
Geolab
, and the
Earth Simulation Lab
.
The department and its facilities are located at Utrecht Science Park. Utrecht is the fourth largest city in the Netherlands with a population of nearly 360,000 and forms a hub in the middle of the country. Its historical city centre and its modern central station can easily be reached from the Science Park by public transport or by a 15-minute bicycle ride. Utrecht boasts beautiful canals with extraordinary wharf cellars housing cafés and terraces by the water, as well as a broad variety of shops and boutiques.

More information

For more information, please contact please contact
Dr Sonja Geilert
at
s.geilert@uu.nl
.
Note that international candidates that need a visa/work permit for the Netherlands require at least four months processing time after selection and acceptance. This will be arranged with help of the

International Service Desk (ISD)
of our university. Finding appropriate housing in or near Utrecht is your own responsibility, but the ISD may be able to advise you therewith. In case of general questions about working and living in The Netherlands, please consult the

Dutch Mobility Portal
.
Candidates for this vacancy will be recruited by Utrecht University.

Apply now

As Utrecht University, we want to be a
home
for everyone. We value staff with diverse backgrounds, perspectives and identities, including cultural, religious or ethnic background, gender, sexual orientation, disability or age. We strive to create a safe and inclusive environment in which everyone can flourish and contribute.

You can only apply via our online procedure using the 'apply now' button. E-mail applications cannot be accepted. Include the following information in your application:

• your curriculum vitae, including any courses taken that are relevant for the position;
• academic credentials (mark sheets and degree statements);
• your motivation letter.

No reference letters need to be submitted in your initial application. If you are short-listed, we will contact you for referees. We aim for a quick selection procedure after the application deadline. The preferred starting moment is in summer 2025 and no later than 1 October 2025.

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