Postdoctoral Research Assistant in Noble Gas Geochemistry

3 weeks ago


Oxford, United Kingdom University of Oxford Full time

Reporting to Prof Chris Ballentine, the Department of Earth Sciences seeks a Postdoctoral Research Assistant (PDRA) to join the team to work on a Canadian Nuclear Waste Management Organisation (NWMO) funded project. The objective of this project is to use dissolved helium concentrations in the determination of pore-fluid residence, spatial variance and their temporal relationship with associated fracture fluids at potential nuclear waste repository sites in Canada. This project offers access to an unprecedented range of sample material to test concepts and calibrate numerical models used to estimate pore-fluid age. This approach will provide a significant advance in our understanding of the transport of fluid and gas within crystalline rock environments over geological time.

The postholder will work in close collaboration with the PIs and NWMO team to identify appropriate sampling strategies to ensure the quality of samples returned to the Oxford Laboratory environment. The postholder will be responsible for adapting existing, and developing new, analytical methodologies on both fluid and rock-core samples to determine helium and associated noble gas isotopic compositions. They will apply and develop existing diffusion models to account for the observed helium distribution in the context of gas and fluid transport and pore-fluid residence time over multiple scales. The postholder will also be responsible for providing leadership, input and advice on comparisons between fluid residence and migration with other relevant systems worldwide, as well as identifying new possibilities to generate fluid residence age and migration insights.

About you

  • You will hold, or be close to completion of, a PhD/DPhil in a relevant field (e.g. noble gas geochemistry, groundwater residence geochemistry) together with experience relevant to the objectives of the projects.
  • You will also possess sufficient specialist knowledge of groundwater dating proxies and have field and laboratory experience working with fluids and/or core samples.
  • You must have the ability to manage your own academic research and associated activities and excellent communication skills including the ability to write for publication, present research proposals and results, and represent the research group at external meetings.

For further details of the role please see the job description. The post is available to start as soon as possible but ideally before the 31 July 2024.

The deadline for applications is midday on 24 May 2024.

You will be required to upload a CV and a Supporting Statement as part of your application. Please do not attach any manuscripts, papers, transcripts, mark sheets or certificates as these will not be considered as part of your application.

Applications are particularly welcome from women and black and ethnic minority candidates, who are under-represented in research posts in the Department.

£38,205 to £44,263 per annum



  • Oxford, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom University of Oxford Full time

    Reporting to Prof Chris Ballentine, the Department of Earth Sciences seeks a Postdoctoral Research Assistant (PDRA) to join the team to work on a Canadian Nuclear Waste Management Organisation (NWMO) funded project. The objective of this project is to use dissolved helium concentrations in the determination of pore-fluid residence, spatial variance and their...


  • Oxford, United Kingdom University of Oxford Full time

    **Fixed term for 3 years** The Department of Earth Sciences seeks a Postdoctoral Research Assistant (PDRA) to join a research team and report to the Principal Investigator Prof. Robert Hilton on the project “RIV-ESCAPE: River emissions of greenhouse gases from warming landscapes” which is funded by a European Research Council (ERC) Consolidator...


  • Oxford, United Kingdom University of Oxford Full time

    An exciting full-time opportunity is available for a highly motivated Postdoctoral Research Assistant in Gas Turbine Aerothermal Performance, to join the Oxford Turbine Research Facility (OTRF) team at the Oxford Thermofluids Institute (Osney Mead). The post is funded by Rolls-Royce plc, for two years' fixed-term. This is a fantastic opportunity to develop...


  • Oxford, United Kingdom University of Oxford Full time

    We are excited to offer this role for a Postdoctoral Research Assistant, reporting to Prof Stu West. The post holder is a member of a research group with responsibility for carrying out across species phylogenetically based analysis. The post holder provides guidance to less experienced members of the research group, including postdocs, research assistants,...


  • Oxford, United Kingdom University of Oxford Full time

    We are seeking a full-time Postdoctoral Research Assistant in Dynamic Properties of Polymers to join Clive Siviour’s research group at the Department of Engineering Science (central Oxford). The post is funded by the DPI and UKRI and is fixed term for 12 months. This post contributes to a number of projects on the fatigue strength of critical parts in gas...


  • Oxford, United Kingdom University of Oxford Full time

    This is an exciting opportunity to join the Foster Lab as a Postdoctoral Research Assistant in the Gut Microbiome Imaging. The overall goal of the project is to understand how gut bacteria interact and compete within the mammalian microbiome, with a particular focus on imaging of the gut microbiome. In addition to research, the post holder will provide...


  • Oxford, United Kingdom University of Oxford Full time

    **Postdoctoral Research Assistant - Molecular Immunology** **Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, South Parks Road** Grade 7: £34,308- £42,155 per annum We are seeking to appoint a Postdoctoral Research Assistant to join the Molecular Immunology group. The main interest of the laboratory is to understand how bacteria are recognised and controlled by...


  • Oxford, United Kingdom University of Oxford Full time

    We are seeking to appoint a Postdoctoral Research Assistant to join the University of Oxford’s Big Data Institute, to work on efficient simulation methods and analytical models of background selection. Background selection is one of the most important evolutionary forces, yet we lack efficient simulation and analysis methods. You will work in the...


  • Oxford, United Kingdom University of Oxford Full time

    We are seeking to appoint a Postdoctoral Research Assistant to join the University of Oxford’s Big Data Institute, to work on efficient simulation methods and analytical models of background selection. Background selection is one of the most important evolutionary forces, yet we lack efficient simulation and analysis methods. You will work in the Kelleher...


  • Oxford, United Kingdom University of Oxford Full time

    Oxford Population Health (Nuffield Department of Population Health) contains world-renowned population health research groups and provides an excellent environment for multi-disciplinary research and teaching. Oxford Population Health is a key partner in the Big Data Institute (BDI), contains world-renowned population health research groups, and is an...


  • Oxford, United Kingdom University of Oxford Full time

    **Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences, the Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, Roosevelt Drive, Headington, Oxford OX3 7FY.** We are seeking a Postdoctoral Research Assistant with a background in immunology/ neurobiology to join the interdisciplinary laboratory of Dr Fränze Progatzky at the Kennedy Institute of...


  • Oxford, United Kingdom University of Oxford Full time

    We are seeking a motivated and Talented experimentalist for a full-time Postdoctoral Research Assistant position within Professor Ares’ research group at the Department of Engineering Science (Central Oxford). The post is funded by Innovate and is fixed-term to the 31st October 2025. The overarching goal of this project is to exploit quantum effects to...


  • Oxford, United Kingdom University of Oxford Full time

    Applications are invited for a Postdoctoral Research Assistant in Spectroscopy of Metal Halide Perovskites. The post is available initially for a fixed-term duration of 36 months. The project will bring together an interdisciplinary team of researchers to understand, enhance and control intrinsic quantum confinement in metal halide perovskites. Such...


  • Oxford, United Kingdom University of Oxford Full time

    We are seeking a motivated and Talented experimentalist for a full-time Postdoctoral Research Assistant position within Professor Ares’ research group at the Department of Engineering Science (Central Oxford). The post is funded by Innovate and is fixed-term to the 31st October 2025. The overarching goal of this project is to exploit quantum effects to...


  • Oxford, United Kingdom University of Oxford Full time

    **About the role** We have an exciting opportunity to join the Childhood Leukaemia Research Group in the Department of Paediatrics and Molecular Haematology Unit, WIMM as our Postdoctoral Research Associate. You will play an important role in the contribution of our lab in understanding the developmental origins of high-risk childhood leukaemia. You will...


  • Oxford, United Kingdom University of Oxford Full time

    **This is a re-advertisement, previous applicants need not apply** The Nuffield Department of Women’s & Reproductive Health (NDWRH) is seeking a motivated Postdoctoral Research Assistant in Epidemiology for RoADPain (understanding the role of adolescent dysmenorrhoea as a risk factor for the transition to chronic pain), the post is available to start...


  • Oxford, United Kingdom University of Oxford Full time

    We are seeking a full-time Postdoctoral Research Assistant to join the Foerster Lab for AI Research at Department of Engineering Science, University of Oxford. The post is for two years and is funded by the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). The project start date is the 1st October 2023. This research project is focused on developing the foundations for...


  • Oxford, United Kingdom University of Oxford Full time

    We are seeking a full-time postdoctoral research assistant to join the Turbine Cooling group, part of the Oxford Thermofluids Institute (OTI) at the Department of Engineering Science (Osney). The post is funded by Rolls-Royce and is fixed-term for 6 months. The research focuses on investigating future propulsion architectures for aeroplanes that drastically...


  • Oxford, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom University of Oxford Full time

    Location: - Centre for Human Genetics, Li Ka Shing Centre for Health Information and Discovery, Old Road Campus, Roosevelt Drive, Headington, Oxford, OX3 7BNWe are seeking to appoint a Postdoctoral Research Assistant to join the University of Oxford's Big Data Institute, to work on efficient simulation methods and analytical models of background selection....


  • Oxford, United Kingdom University of Oxford Full time

    Location: - Centre for Human Genetics, Li Ka Shing Centre for Health Information and Discovery, Old Road Campus, Roosevelt Drive, Headington, Oxford, OX3 7BN We are seeking to appoint a Postdoctoral Research Assistant to join the University of Oxford’s Big Data Institute, to work on efficient simulation methods and analytical models of background...