PhD position for a project entitled “Space and time variability of active deformation in the Salar de Atacama, Andes Precordillera of Chile”

The PhD will work at the Earth Surface Dynamics group of the Department of Earth Sciences of the ETH Zürich. This group studies the diverse processes that act together to create the morphology and surface geology of the Earth.

The project aims to reconstruct the variations in the style and amount of deformation at the northwestern closure of the Cordillera de la Sal, adopting various stratigraphic indicators, such as alluvial and volcaniclastic deposits, and speleothemes. This 4-year PhD project is mostly field-based, but includes lab work in OSL dating and cosmogenic radionuclide burial and exposure dating. Project will also include structural modeling.

The candidate should have an MSc in Earth Sciences with a strong background in tectonic geomorphology and digital topographic data treatment, as well as good knowledge of structural geology and sedimentology of continental deposits. The candidate should document adequate mapping skills. Start date is Jan or Feb, 2020, although some delay can be considered.

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