PhD Position in Geochemistry of Enhanced Rock Weathering

We seek a PhD student to develop and evaluate new geochemical tracers for the quantification of carbon dioxide removal and monitoring of potential heavy metal pollution following enhanced rock weathering (ERW) applications. This position is integral to the research team, which includes 2 PhD students and 1 postdoctoral researcher across the three research groups involved in the project. 

In the light of an intensifying climate crisis and the need for sustainable food production, ERW applications in agricultural systems are discussed as powerful tools for climate mitigation and soil remediation. However, several critical research questions of its application in an agricultural context remain unanswered, particularly for tropical soils, limiting the large-scale implementation of ERW. 

Project setup 

The advertised position is part of a multidisciplinary ETH-funded project that is motivated by the urgent need for scalable carbon dioxide removal (CDR) solutions---in addition to emissions reductions---to limit global warming to below 2°C. We will fill these gaps by providing a holistic quantification of CO₂ removal and addressing poorly constrained environmental consequences on biogeochemical cycles in agroecosystems. We will utilize a shared greenhouse experimental setup to assess the impact of ERW on a variety of contrasting (tropical and non-tropical) soils.

This work will be carried out across three groups at ETH Zurich: (i) the Earth Surface Geochemistry group (Dr. Tim Sweere; Dr. Gregory de Souza; Prof. Derek Vance), which aims to understand global biogeochemical cycles at several scales; (ii) the Soil Resources group (Prof. Sebastian Doetterl), which works on the effects of soil degradation and soil development on plant-soil-atmosphere C dynamics; and (iii) the Surface Earth Evolution group (Prof. Jordon Hemingway), which investigates processes that drive global climate change over human to geologic timescales.

The successful candidate will work within the Earth Surface Geochemistry group on the inorganic geochemical aspects of this project, focusing especially on the use of isotopic tracers of mineral weathering and neoformation. Tasks will include:

• Participation in the setup and maintenance of all plant growth experiments 
• Sampling and analysis of soils and pore waters for elemental concentrations 
• Sr and Li isotope analysis to quantify CDR and secondary mineral formation 
• Ni isotope analysis to monitor Ni behavior and evaluate potential adverse effects
• Reactive transport modeling to assess mechanistic controls 
• Communicate scientific findings, and write peer-reviewed scientific papers

Required experience, skills, and characteristics: 

• MSc degree in Earth Science, Chemistry, Environmental science, or related field 
• Experience with geochemical research and laboratory analyses 
• Fluent proficiency in English
• Excellent communication for an interdisciplinary and intercultural work environment 
• Ability to work independently and critical thinking

Desirable criteria:

• Background in (metal-)isotope analysis and working in clean-lab facilities
• Experience with geochemical modelling
• Experience with ERW or other geochemical CDR solutions

• A full-time 4-year PhD position at ETH with conditions and benefits defined here 
• A friendly, supportive, and interdisciplinary research environment spread across the ETH Earth and Planetary Science and Environmental Systems Science departments 
• An impactful research topic in a rapidly developing field 
• Top of the line laboratory setups 
• A competitive salary (paid according to ETH standards)   
• Freedom to co-design and develop research ideas beyond the original project setup 

Placement of position at ETH Zurich 

The position is based in the Earth Surface Geochemistry group at the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences. Our laboratories and offices are located in downtown Zurich with greenhouse facilities at ETH’s agricultural research station at Eschikon, ZH.