Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)

This PhD position is available within the project MCRUST (Mantle-Crust Recycling Under Study and Testing), led by Prof. Antonio Castro. MCRUST is a multidisciplinary initiative in Earth Sciences (solid Earth) that integrates high-pressure petrological experiments, geochemistry, and thermomechanical geodynamic modelling to investigate the processes of magma generation linked to crust–mantle recycling and crustal growth.

The central hypothesis of the project is that significant interactions between the crust and mantle are essential to explain the observed compositions of magmas in regions of new continental crust generation. Despite progress in igneous petrology, the role of mantle–crust hybrid zones in producing silicic (granites, rhyolites) and intermediate (diorites, andesites) magmas remains underexplored. The PhD research will address this gap through the study of Archean and Paleoproterozoic rocks within the North Atlantic craton in Scotland, via a combination of field, geochemical, experimental and geodynamic work.

We welcome applications from highly motivated candidates with a background in Earth Sciences and interests in igneous petrology, geochemistry, experimental petrology, or geodynamics. The successful candidate will work in a collaborative environment, joining an international team with members from different institutions, including CSIC (Spain), University of Portsmouth (UK), ETH-Zürich (Switzerland), Universidade de Évora (Portugal) and the Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences (China).

The role of the successful applicant will potentially include:

• Field work and sampling of relevant geological areas for new crust generation.
• Sample preparation for geochemical and isotopic analyses.
• Laboratory high-pressure experiments (piston-cylinder) and analysis of experimental results via EMPA and LA-ICP-MS.
• Processing of existing geochemical and experimental data.
• Programming and conducting of geodynamic numerical experiments.
• Preparation of at least. three manuscripts as first author to be published in peer-reviewed journals (requisite for PhD defense).
• Further result dissemination through presentations at national and international conferences.
• Participation in team meetings and workshops.

The specific methodology and work plan will be personally tailored for the successful PhD candidate according to its experience from MSc thesis.

Your profile must include:

• MSc degree in solid Earth sciences in the fields of petrology, geochemistry or geodynamics.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English.
• Strong academic performance.
• Coding skills in MATLAB (C also desirable).

Other recommended skills for interested applicants:

• Proficiency or willingness to learn Spanish language.
• Background in any of the work fields within the objectives (field work, laboratory, geochemistry or isotopic geochemistry).
• Experience with electron-microprobe data acquisition and processing.
• Driver license is desirable.

We look forward to receive by 29th September of 2025 a single pdf containing a 1-page motivation letter, your CV and publication list (optional). Send your application to the following emails: Prof. Antonio Castro – antonio.castro@csic.es and Dr. Daniel Gómez Frutos – daniel.gomez@csic.es