Senior Research Associate in Geology; Earth and Lunar Crustal Evolution

Senior Research Associate in Geology (Earth and Lunar Crustal Evolution)

Employer:

University of Portsmouth

The University of Portsmouth is a global employer of choice where exceptional people create, share and apply knowledge that makes a difference. Ambition, Responsibility and Openness drive our every endeavours. Join our esteemed institution with a proven track record of success and a dedication to excellence, innovation and achievement.

• Competitive salary, including incremental progression within your scale.
• Generous leave entitlement of 32–35 days a year, plus bank holidays, and an additional Christmas closure.
• Family‑friendly policies supporting flexible working.
• Staff discounts and loyalty schemes.
• Staff car parking and discounted public travel.
• Excellent training and development opportunities.
• Recreation facilities, including discounted gym membership, food on campus schemes, use of the Library and staff social activities.

• Geochemistry, Mineralogy, Petrology & Volcanology (GMPV)
• Geodynamics (GD)
• Planetary and Solar System Sciences (PS)

• Type:
  Contract
• Level: Experienced
• Required education:
  PhD
• Final date to receive applications: 5 July 2026
• Posted: 18 May 2026
• Duration: 42 months

Applications are invited for a Senior Research Associate to join a NERC 'Pushing the Frontiers' project investigating the role of hypervelocity impact melting in early crustal evolution. The project connects Earth's best‑preserved impact melt sheets with lunar samples to build a unified Earth–Moon perspective on the earliest crust.

Working under the guidance of the Principal Investigator and alongside the project Co‑Leads, you will play a central role in research on the petrogenesis of impact melts and lunar samples using an integrated sample‑based, theoretical and potentially field‑based approach.

Applicants will bring expertise in igneous petrogenesis and mineral microanalysis, as well as one or more of microstructural analysis, isotope geochemistry and/or thermodynamic modelling. The successful candidate will be supported to develop complementary skills through mentoring by the Project Lead, James Darling, and Co‑Leads:
Eleanor Jennings (Birkbeck University of London), Mahesh Anand (The Open University) and Katherine Joy (The University of Manchester).

The project will make strong use of leading facilities and capabilities, including electron microscopy, electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) and femtosecond laser‑ablation ICP‑MS/MS and MC‑ICP‑MS at Portsmouth, EPMA and thermodynamic modelling of igneous systems at Birkbeck, and NanoSIMS at the Open University. Some travel is required (e.g. to collaborators and/or sample repositories), and there is the option of fieldwork in Sudbury, Ontario and other terrestrial impact structures.

In collaboration with project partner Vale Base Metals, the project will also explore implications of impact melt sheet evolution for world‑class Ni–Cu–PGE sulfide ore formation.

We welcome applications from researchers who enjoy detailed analytical work, careful interpretation, and collaborative science.

Interested applicants are encouraged to contact James Darling () with questions and to discuss the position.