James Cook University

Homepage: https://www.jcu.edu.au/

PhD Scholarship in Palaeoclimate Sedimentology

Tracking fluvial responses to climate fluctuations in the Late Triassic Bowen Basin, Australia

Project Background

The discovery of unique Late Triassic vertebrate fauna, comprising mainly archosaurs, amphibians, and stem-mammals, in the Bowen Basin (Queensland, Australia) presents a rare opportunity to investigate the environmental and climatic conditions that shaped biodiversity and fossil preservation during this period. These fossil assemblages are preserved within continental fluvial successions deposited during one of the most dramatic climate events of the Mesozoic: the Carnian Pluvial Event (CPE).

While fossil diversity and geochronology are currently being refined, only a broad-scale stratigraphic framework exists. Detailed sedimentological and geochemical studies remain lacking. The CPE was a global episode of intensified rainfall, linked to major shifts in vegetation, sediment supply, and river discharge. These changes likely had profound effects on both ecosystems and the processes of fossil burial and preservation, yet their sedimentary expression in Eastern Australia remains poorly understood.

Beyond refining the environmental context of this vertebrate fauna, the project aims to reconstruct ancient river responses to greenhouse climate conditions, offering broader insights into climate–landscape–biodiversity interactions.

Project Focus

This PhD project will investigate how river dynamics (e.g., planform, discharge, sedimentation style) evolved during the CPE and how these changes influenced the distribution, and preservation of Late Triassic biodiversity. The research will be based on fieldwork in central Queensland and the analysis of core material drilled by industry, archived at the Queensland Government Core Library in Brisbane. In addition to its palaeoenvironmental scope, the project will also inform basin evolution and aspects relevant to sediment-hosted resource potential. Geochemical analyses (major and trace elements) and isotope studies (e.g., C, Li) will be conducted using cutting-edge facilities at the Advanced Analytical Centre (AAC), including EPMA, IRMS, LA-ICP-MS, and MC-ICP-MS at James Cook University (JCU), Townsville.

The successful candidate will join a multidisciplinary research team within the Earth and Environmental Science group at JCU and receive expert training in sedimentology (Dr. Romain Vaucher), palaeontology and geochronology (Dr. Espen Knutsen), geochemistry (Dr. Alex McCoy-West).

Please note: Fieldwork will involve extended periods camping in remote areas without phone reception or standard facilities.

Scholarship Details

• Duration: 3.5 years
• Stipend: AUD $34,002.50 per annum (tax-free, full-time, indexed annually)
• Location: James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
• Eligibility Criteria: https://www.jcu.edu.au/policy/academic-governance/research-education/higher-degree-by-research-requirements

We are seeking highly motivated candidates who possess:

• A completed or eligible Bachelor’s degree with First or Upper Second Class Honours, a Master’s degree, or equivalent in Earth Sciences or a related field
• A strong academic background in sedimentology and/or geochemistry (experience in palaeosol analysis is an advantage)
• Fieldwork experience
• Proficiency in English, both written and spoken

For enquiries, please contact: Dr. Romain Vaucher romain.vaucher@jcu.edu.au

To apply, please email the following documents as a single PDF by the 30th of September 2025 to romain.vaucher@jcu.edu.au:

• A comprehensive CV (max 2 pages), including academic achievements, research experience, key skills, publication list, and contact information for two academic referees.
• A cover letter (max 2 pages) outlining your motivation and how your background aligns with the project.