University of Victoria

Homepage: https://www.uvic.ca/science/seos/index.php

The upper ocean crust, made up of volcanic rocks, is the largest aquifer on Earth and as such is receiving significant interest as a location for storing carbon as part of broader negative emissions strategies necessary to stabilize Earth’s climate. A key unknown is the scale of heterogeneity in the porosity and permeability structure within the upper ocean crust and how interconnected regions with high porosity and permeability are. Modelling of hydrological data for different areas, and for different scales, leads to orders of magnitude variability in calculated properties.

As part of the Solid Carbon project (https://www.oceannetworks.ca/services/solid-carbon/) and funded through the New Frontiers Transformation Fund, we are searching for a post-doc to work with us to address this problem from the bottom-up. Solid Carbon is funded to do a pilot study of CO₂ injection into the lavas of the Juan de Fuca plate in the NW Pacific where previous (I)ODP drilling, and real-time monitoring through the Ocean Networks Canada (ONC) cabled observatory (https://www.oceannetworks.ca/observatories/), provide a wealth of background information.

The successful candidate will work with us to develop quantitative (computational) models of lava accretion and faulting at mid-ocean ridges that can be used to predict crustal architecture and hence the probability of different scales of porosity and permeability heterogeneity in the crust. The models will be calibrated based on data from the very well-studied Juan de Fuca ridge that includes: (i) detailed seafloor geological mapping of features such as lava flow size and morphology, and fault spacings and offsets; (ii) ONC video footage and high resolution bathymetry data; (iii) existing geophysical (e.g., seismic), hydrological, and drill core data from the Juan de Fuca plate where CO₂ injection will occur. These crustal accretion models will inform hydrological models of the upper crust, and the upscaling potential based on the results of the CO₂ injection.

The ideal candidate could have a range of backgrounds including marine geology, volcanology, hydrology, quantitative sedimentology or other related disciplines. The project will involve developing quantitative models and the successful candidate will be comfortable with such approaches, although expertise in modeling is not a pre-requisite. The successful candidate will be involved in the broader Solid Carbon project learning about all aspects of the science, engineering, social science and economics of this potential negative emissions strategy including attending monthly online meetings and annual face-to-face workshops. Opportunities to develop transferable skills (e.g., communications, outreach) will also be available through Solid Carbon.

This two-year position (with annual performance review and the possibility of extension) will be based in the School of Earth and Ocean Sciences at the University of Victoria (Canada). The salary will be $60,000 / yr in the first year with the possibility of an incremental increase in the second and the position will also come with benefits as per UVic post-doctoral Fellow policy (https://www.uvic.ca/universitysecretary/assets/docs/policies/HR6310_7010_.pdf). For further information, or if you have any questions, please contact either of us (Laurence Coogan and Blake Dyer: lacoogan@uvic.ca, blakedyer@uvic.ca).

To apply for this position please send a single pdf via email to Laurence and Blake (Laurence Coogan and Blake Dyer: lacoogan@uvic.ca, blakedyer@uvic.ca) that includes a ≤2 page cover letter describing your background and skill set relevant to this position, a CV, and a list of 3 referees with contact details. All qualified persons are encouraged to apply. We will start to evaluate applications on October 15^th and the position will remain open until filled.