Quantifying carbon dioxide removal by enhanced rock weathering using novel metal isotopic techniques

About this project

Harness the full potential of enhanced rock weathering techniques

If you’re passionate about a career in environmental science and keen to make an impact on climate change efforts, the University of South Australia – Australia’s University of Enterprise – is offering a hands-on project-based PhD within UniSA’s Future Industries Institute (FII), in partnership with Carbonaught Ltd and Queensland Fruit and Vegetable Growers.

Enhanced rock weathering (ERW) is a nature-based option for sequestering carbon and fertilising crop plants. This is achieved by amending croplands with crushed fast-reacting silicate rocks. Our project seeks to develop metal isotope-based high precision methods for quantifying carbon sequestration by ERW and validate these methods under real-world ERW conditions. 

We will generate evidence of ERW benefits under glasshouse and field trial conditions and deliver a high precision method for refining carbon sequestration calculation using reactive transport models. We aim to solve the industry puzzle for monitoring, reporting and verification.

You will be based at the FII. Our focus is on forging national and international research partnerships in new industries and technologies that address real world issues. Our goal is to support a creative and engaged culture and to help develop a sustainable ecosystem in which innovative, complex, growth-focused industries thrive.

You will benefit greatly from this vibrant and collaborative research environment and state-of-the-art infrastructure and modern research facilities. You will have access to laboratory and glasshouse experimental facilities, modelling platforms, and analytical instruments (e.g., ICPOES, ICPMS, TIMS, XRF, XRD, SEM, TEM, XPS). 

You will have the opportunity to collaborate and learn about ERW biogeochemistry from renowned experts in the field.

What you’ll do

In this project-based research degree, you will undertake laboratory, glasshouse and field experiments and modelling studies to quantify carbon capture via ERW. You will first develop isotope analysis methods and then apply these methods to improve the monitoring, reporting and verification aspect of ERW. You will critically evaluate the potential gains associated with ERW as a sustainable climate mitigation strategy. 

Upon completion, you will have an impressive suite of skills and experience in soil and plant analysis, isotope analysis techniques, mineral characterisation, reactive transport modelling, data analysis and scientific writing. 
We will support you to develop and submit articles to a high-impact, scientific publications. Importantly, you will also disseminate your research findings to our relevant end users, mainly farmers and other industry stakeholders.

You will have the opportunity to collaborate with an industry partner and be supported to attend conferences to share your findings.

This ever-growing and important research field means that your skills, networking connections and experience will provide you with flexible and exciting career pathways in industry or academia.

Where you’ll be based

You will be based in FII. We partner with industry and the professions to deliver innovation and technological advances to solve real world challenges. With research strengths across 5 sectors that cross disciplines from biomaterials engineering to minerals processing, FII creates local and global impact. Our research degree students partner with industry and end-users to develop their skills and relevant career experience and our state-of-the-art facilities support research growth and expertise. We work with SME’s via the Institute’s Testlab and provide R&D services that support industry challenges which is part of our $80million of infrastructure that consists specialised laboratories and equipment. Financial Support

This project is funded for reasonable research expenses. Additionally, a living allowance scholarship of $35,200 per annum (2025 rate) is available to eligible applicants. Australian Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander applicants will be eligible to receive an increased stipend rate of $50,291 per annum. A fee-offset or waiver for the standard term of the program is also included. For full terms and benefits of the scholarship please refer to our scholarship information for domestic students or international students.
 
Eligibility and Selection

This project is open to applications from both Domestic and International applicants. 

Applicants must meet the eligibility criteria for entrance into a PhD. All applications that meet the eligibility and selection criteria will be considered for this project.

The successful applicant is expected to study full-time and to be based at our Mawson Lakes campus in the north of Adelaide.

Essential Dates

Applicants are expected to start in a timely fashion upon receipt of an offer. Extended deferral periods are not available. Applications close on Tuesday 26 November 2024.