PhD student in Prebiotic Organo-Carbonate Formation

The Department of Geological Sciences is part of the Faculty of Science at Stockholm University. It consists of approximately 80 teachers, researchers, doctoral students, and technical/administrative staff.  The department conducts a wide range of fundamental and applied research within marine geology and geophysics, geochemistry and classical geology.

More information about us, please visit: The Department of Geological Sciences.

Project description

This PhD project explores how prebiotic organic matter may have interacted with minerals on early Earth to form some of the earliest sedimentary structures, long before the emergence of life. The central aim is to understand how simple organic compounds, produced under plausible prebiotic conditions, could polymerize into organofilms, influence carbonate precipitation, and generate distinct organomineral textures that may resemble early biosignatures.

Working in close collaboration with a Postdoctoral researcher specializing in the organic chemistry of organofilms, the PhD student will participate in the production and characterization of abiotic organic matrices and conduct organomineralization experiments under controlled environmental conditions. These experiments will make use of a variety of laboratory systems designed to simulate early Earth environments, including fluctuating redox conditions, wet–dry cycles, and interactions with mineral surfaces.

Beyond laboratory work, the project includes a comparative component involving field observations in the Atacama Desert, one of the closest natural analogues to the extreme, intermittently wet settings thought to have existed on early Earth. Samples and observations from the field will help place laboratory experiments into a broader geological context.

Over the course of the project, the student will receive comprehensive training in carbonate biogeochemistry, organomineralization processes, and geomicrobiology while working within an international research team. This work will advance our understanding of the processes operating during the early stages of life’s emergence, shedding light on the distinctions between biosignatures and organosignatures, as well as between bio- and organoproxies, and how these signals may be identified in the geological record on Earth, and potentially on other planets.

The successful candidate will carry out the PhD research in close partnership with the University of Fribourg (UniFR) and the University of Connecticut, under the co-supervision of Dr. Dupraz (Stockholm University) and Prof. Anneleen Foubert (UniFR).

Qualification requirements

In order to be admitted to postgraduate education, the applicant must have the general and specific entry requirements. The qualification requirements must be met by the deadline for applications.

You meet general entry requirements if you have completed a second-cycle degree, or completed courses equivalent to at least 240 higher education credits, of which 60 credits must be in the second cycle, or have otherwise acquired equivalent knowledge in Sweden or elsewhere.

Specific entry requirements are described described in the general syllabus for doctoral studies in the field of Geochemistry stipulates that the applicant must normally have:

• At least 90 credits in geosciences 
• At least 30 credits in mathematics, physics, chemistry and/or biology 
• In addition, at least 60 credits at the advanced level, including 30 credits of independent work in geosciences.

Special qualifications also have the person who acquired in a different order within or outside the country, essentially equivalent knowledge. 

Selection

The selection among the eligible candidates will be based on their capacity to benefit from the training. The following criteria will be used to assess this capacity:

• Documented knowledge in geochemistry, mineralogy, organic chemistry, prebiotic chemistry, or related laboratory work.
• Keen interest in geological processes, early Earth environments, and mineral-organic interactions.
• Experience with experimental systems simulating environmental conditions, and/or analytical techniques such as spectroscopy, microscopy, or isotope geochemistry.
• Written and oral proficiency in English.
• Analytical skills and ability to collaborate.
• Creativity, initiative, and independence.
• The candidate’s potential to succeed, demonstrated through a brief research proposal (max 2 pages) submitted with the application, outlining how they would approach prebiotic organofilm formation and organomineralization.

Assessment will be based on previous experience and grades, the quality of the degree project, references, relevant laboratory or field experience, interviews, and the candidate’s written motivation for seeking the position. Experience with controlled-atmosphere work (anaerobic chambers), photochemical experiments, or geochemical modelling is considered advantageous.

Admission Regulations for Doctoral Studies at Stockholm University.

About the employment

We offer a fixed-term employment as a doctoral student according to Chapter 5 of the Higher Education Ordinance (1993:100). The period of employment may not be longer than what corresponds to full-time doctoral education for four years. As a doctoral student, you should primarily devote yourself to your own doctoral education, but the employment may include work with education, research and administration to a limited extent (maximum 20 %).

A new employment as a doctoral student is for a maximum of one year, the employment is then renewed for a maximum of two years at a time.

Stockholm University strives to be a workplace free from discrimination and with equal opportunities for all.

Contact

For more information, please contact Prof. Christophe Dupraz, christophe.dupraz@geo.su.se

Application

Apply for the PhD student position at Stockholm University's recruitment system. Attach a personal letter and CV as well as the attachments requested in the application form. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that the application is complete in accordance with the instructions in the job advertisement, and that it is submitted before the deadline.

The instructions for applicants are available at: How to apply for a position.