This project is closed for international students.
Project summary
- Program
- PhD
- Location
- UQ St Lucia Campus
- Research area
- Chemical sciences, Earth sciences, Environmental sciences
Project description
Underground carbon storage is one way to remove carbon emissions from the atmosphere and mitigate climate change. Understanding any impacts or risks to protect groundwater in overlying aquifers relied on by regional communities is a vital challenge.
The candidate has the opportunity to focus on one of two areas:
- Understanding the hydrochemistry of shallow Great Artesian Basin aquifers in the regional area overlying a proposed carbon storage site. This will involve field sampling for groundwater and gases, with state-of-the-art isotope and geochemical tracer characterisation. or
- Understanding potential geochemical markers of carbon dioxide leakage to aquifers. This will involve laboratory-based CO2-water-rock experiments, including geochemical water and rock characterisation and modelling.
This project is part of an ARC industry fellowship, “Pro, “Protecting aquifers in the race to net zero carbon emissions; the candidate has the opportunity to work closely with the industry partner and collaborators in other research institutes.
Research environment
This cross-disciplinary project has access to the world-class area for Geoanalytical Mass Spectrometry (CGMS) laboratories. The candidate will have access to CO2-water-rock reactors, and other novel rock characterisation equipment.
For groundwater field sampling in regional QLD, there is the opportunity to collaborate with the industry partner, and government.
Scholarship
This is an Earmarked scholarship project that aligns with a recently awarded Australian Government grant.
The scholarship includes:
- living stipend of $35,000 per annum tax free (2024 rate), indexed annually
- your tuition fees covered
Learn more about the Earmarked scholarship.
Supervisor
Principal supervisor
Preferred educational background
Your application will be assessed on a competitive basis.
We take into account your:
- previous academic record
- publication record
- honours and awards
- employment history
A working knowledge of Practical environmental geochemistry or hydrogeology would be advantageous. (where the student would focus on hydrochemical field sampling, a driver's license will be essential) would be of benefit to someone working on this project.
The applicant will demonstrate academic achievement in the field(s) of Geology, chemical engineering, hydrogeology or environmental chemistry and the potential for scholastic success.
A background or knowledge of rock characterisation, experience with experimental rock or high-pressure reactions, and geochemical modelling, or experience with groundwater sampling and hydrogeology is highly desirable.
How to apply
This project requires candidates to commence no later than Research Quarter 2, 2025. To allow time for your application to be processed, we recommend applying no later than 31 December, 2024 30 September, 2024.
You can start in an earlier research quarter. See application dates.
Before you apply
- Check your eligibility for the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD).
- Prepare your documentation.
- Contact Dr Julie Pearce (j.pearce2@uq.edu.au) to discuss your interest and suitability.
When you apply
You apply for this scholarship when you submit an application for a PhD. You don’t need to submit a separate scholarship application.
In your application ensure that under the ‘Scholarships and collaborative study’ section you select:
- My higher degree is not collaborative
- I am applying for, or have been awarded a scholarship or sponsorship
- UQ Earmarked Scholarship type.