Leibniz University Hannover

The Institute of Earth System Sciences (IESW) at the Leibniz University Hannover provides access to modern analytical facilities (e.g. electron microprobe, LA-ICP-MS, infrared spectroscopy) and experimental facilities (IHPV, CSPV, 1 atm. furnaces). The project is interdisciplinary and will combine Machine Learning and petrology. The project is embedded in ongoing IODP-related research at the IESW.

Homepage: https://www.iesw.uni-hannover.de/en/

The petrology group at the Leibniz University Hannover opens a PhD position with the following research focus: ”Decoding Magma Plumbing Systems in a Nascent Subduction Zone with Deep Learning (IODP Expedition 352)”. The project is supported by the German Science Foundation (DFG) and aims at understanding the evolution of magmatic systems during the initiation of a subduction zone, using volcanic rocks from the Izu–Bonin-Mariana arc drilled during IODP Expedition 352.

The PhD candidate will:
- Constrain crystallization conditions in magma reservoirs using thermobarometers.
- Apply and improve thermodynamic models to predict crystallization sequences and mineral compositions.
- Develop and apply Deep Learning (DL) approaches to automatically process large datasets of backscattered-electron (BSE) images.

Your application should include:
- Motivation letter (max. 2 pages)
- CV
- University transcripts / certificates with grades
- Short summary of the MSc Thesis
- Names and contact information of 2 referees (or recommendation letters, if available)
- List of publications (if available)

Please submit your application and supporting documents by March 01, 2026 to Dr. Renat Almeev (r.almeev@mineralogie.uni-hannover.de).

For a more detailed job description and further information, please see https://www.uni-hannover.de/en/jobs/8237/.