Funded PhD Position in Carbon Capture / Geochemistry

Testing the efficacy of enhanced rock weathering for large-scale carbon capture

Primary Supervisor

Terry Isson (University of Waikato – Tauranga)

Description

To avoid devastating climate impacts globally, atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) removal is required over the next century. Yet, few tenable large-scale CO2 removal applications exist. It is now time for us to radically re-imagine the way we live on this planet. Enhanced rock weathering (ERW) of primary silicate minerals (e.g., olivine) has been proposed as a viable strategy for global-scale carbon capture, with a notable net 0.5-5 Gt CO2 yr-1 potential proposed by recent modelling work.

Despite the massive potential, there are currently no natural field data to corroborate the rates of carbon dioxide capture deemed possible in model space. As part of this project, the PhD student will conduct ERW trials on agricultural land (e.g., permanent pasture) across both the North Island and South Island of New Zealand, using both dunite and basalt. This work will be tackled with a toolbox consisting of geochemical (elemental and mineralogical) analysis, reaction transport models and machine learning techniques in collaboration with a well-rounded supervisory team (local + abroad).

This project constitutes only a portion of the PhD thesis, there is room for the candidate to lead the way in shaping the remainder of it. The PhD candidate will be based at the Tauranga campus, as part of the Earth-Life Interactions Research Group (habitablearth.com).

As part of your application package, kindly include:

CV (including information for 2-3 referees)

Cover Letter (this can include: a description of why you want to undertake a PhD; how your

previous experiences have prepared you for the research project that you are applying for; what your passions are within or outside of academia)

Review of applications will commence on 27th Sept 2022 and continue until the position is filled. Kindly email your application to: terry.isson@waikato.ac.nz