PhD scholarship in Materials Chemistry focused on the feasibility of underground hydrogen storage in New Zealand Aotearoa
NZ Government funded a 5-year 11+M $NZ Research programme “Pūhiko Nukutū: a green hydrogen geostorage battery in Taranaki” in 2022. As part of this programme, we have an opening for several motivated students to undertake PhDs as part of a larger team aimed at assessing the feasibility of underground hydrogen storage (UHS) in New Zealand Aotearoa.
The broader project is transdisciplinary and includes geology, chemistry, microbiology, reservoir modelling, cultural and economic aspects of UHS. The advertised here PhD projects will consider how hydrogen interacts with the mineralogy of volcaniclastic sedimentary rocks typical of the Taranaki basin, New Zealand.
The advertised PhD will focus on characterising experimental reactions of hydrogen at various pressures and temperatures in a range of sedimentary lithologies. Experiments will also assess the impact of microbes on gas-mineral reactions under reservoir conditions. There is another more geochemistry-focused (water-rock reactions etc.) PhD project opportunity within this project.
Good educational background and prior experience in materials chemistry and experimental geochemistry (water-rock reactions) with strong emphasis on materials chemistry and characterisation is preferred. Understanding and expertise in materials characterisation analytical techniques (e.g. electron microscopy, XRD, XRF, Raman, XPS) and capability for numerical modelling of the findings is a bonus.
Excellent team-working skills are required - successful candidates are expected to be comfortable working both independently and in a collaborative environment with other project PhD students.
Good time management and communication (both written reports and verbal) skills are also required.
Prospective student must meet PhD enrolment requirements by the University of Canterbury.
The position at Canterbury includes a PhD stipend of $32,000 NZD/yr, economy airfare to NZ, full cover of tuition fees and health insurance.
To apply
A curriculum vitae, cover letter, and contact details of at least two referees should be emailed to Associate Professor Vladimir Golovko (vladimir.golovko@canterbury.ac.nz; University of Canterbury). Please, mention in your cover letter where you have spotted advertisement for this PhD position.
Golovko Group would welcome applications from very strong prospective PhD students (high GPA) interested in other areas of Materials Chemistry and Nanotechnology
Supervisors
Supervisor: Vladimir Golovko
Key qualifications and skills
Good educational background and prior experience in materials chemistry and experimental geochemistry (water-rock reactions) with strong emphasis on materials chemistry and characterisation is preferred. Understanding and expertise in materials characterisation analytical techniques (e.g. electron microscopy, XRD, XRF, Raman, XPS) and capability for numerical modelling of the findings is a bonus.
Does the project come with funding
Yes - $32,000 NZD stipend + fees
Final date for receiving applications
Ongoing
Keywords
Hydrogen storage; Materials Science; Materials Chemistry; Nanotechnology; Geochemistry
