Opportunity
Postdoc Fellowship
The Mineral Physics Research Group is seeking applications for a postdoc fellow position in the Jackson School of Geosciences. The postdoc fellow will investigate thermal transport properties of candidate Martian mantle minerals and core alloys at relevant high pressure and temperature conditions to provide physical database and modelling constraints on dynamic processes across the core-mantle boundary region. The fellow will conduct high pressure-temperature diamond anvil cell experiments coupled with time-resolved laser pump-and-probe spectroscopies to measure thermal conductivity and four-probe van der Pauw method to determine electrical conductivity of candidate Martian mantle and core materials. The research will involve the use of laser spectroscopies, synchrotron X-ray spectroscopies, diamond anvil cells, modelling and other lab-based techniques. Information about the position and submission of application materials can be If you’re interested in our program, please email Dr. Jung-Fu “Afu” Lin at afu@jsg.utexas.edu for further information which can be found at the following website. This project is funded by a NASA grant and the position is available immediately.
https://utaustin.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/UTstaff/details/DGS—Postdoctoral-Fellow_R_00029360
Graduate Student Scholarship and Research Opportunity
The Mineral Physics Research Group at the Department of Geological Sciences, the University of Texas at Austin is seeking applications for PhD graduate student positions for Fall Semester admission in the Jackson School of Geosciences. The graduate student will be fully supported by research or teaching assistantship. Our mineral physics research focuses on studying physics and chemistry of Earth’s interior as well as other planetary bodies. We mainly use synchrotron X-ray and time-resolved laser spectroscopic techniques coupled with high-pressure diamond anvil cells to characterize physical and chemical properties of planetary materials at high pressure and temperature conditions. Our ongoing research includes, but not limited to: elasticity and phase transitions in Earth’s mantle, transport properties of iron alloys and geodynamo, deep carbon and water storage, spin transitions of iron, and planetary interiors. These research projects involve interdisciplinary and international collaborations in geophysics, geodynamics, geochemistry, physics and/or material science.
The Jackson School of Geosciences offers very competitive scholarship supports to successful graduate students during their studies. Information about our programs is available at www.jsg.utexas.edu/education/graduate/ and https://www.jsg.utexas.edu/lin/.
If you’re interested in our program, please email Dr. Jung-Fu “Afu” Lin at afu@jsg.utexas.edu for further information.
Undergraduate Student Research Opportunity
The mineral physics lab at the Department of Geological Sciences, Jackson School of Geosciences is seeking motivated undergraduate students to work on a number of interesting research projects. The research will be supported by a number of internal and external grants. In particular, Dr. Lin has active NSF Geophysics funding to provide supports to these research activities. These projects generally involve conducting high pressure-temperature experiments in the diamond anvil cell in the mineral physics lab and synchrotron radiation centers. Supports are also provided to encourage students to attend international workshops and meetings relevant to their research. Research for undergraduate students is also generously funded by NSF Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) Program.