Dear colleagues, I would be grateful if you could pass on the following opportunity to your undergraduates: Myself<https://www.bristol.ac.uk/people/person/Oliver-Lord-adbee63f-b384-4773-a916-421b8e581d13/> (Head of Petrology, School of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol, UK) and Professor Simon Clark<https://researchers.mq.edu.au/en/persons/simon-clark> (School of Engineering, Macquarie University, Sydney Australia) are looking for candidates for a fully-funded Global Cotutelle PhD studentship looking at hydrogen storage in natural and synthetic materials The successful candidate will spend the first two years of the project in Bristol and the second two years in Sydney. This scholarship is available for applications from all parts of the world, and from under-represented and non-traditional groups, both from within and outside of the UK and Australia. All applications, whether requiring home or overseas fees, will receive equal consideration. The funding includes travel costs. Application deadline: 29th of February 2024 Please send any enquiries to oliver.lord@bristol.ac.uk. Additional project details can be found here: https://t.co/2cQpJU528s Apply online here: https://www.bristol.ac.uk/earthsciences/courses/postgraduate/research-projects/ *** Project Details: The project, deep Earth perspectives on hydrogen storage, is aimed at studying hydrogen storage materials including natural, deep Earth minerals that could play a key role in Earth's deep water cycle and synthetic materials that could be a key part of a hydrogen economy in a net-zero world. It is the aim of this project to study both natural and synthetic proton bearing systems using a range of state-of-the-art experimental techniques, including Raman and Fourier-Transform IR (FTIR) spectroscopies, IR Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM-IR) [6] and synchrotron-based X-ray diffraction (XRD). We will also explore the use of inelastic neutron scattering and Atom Probe Tomography (APT), to develop a fundamental understanding of the binding of protons in solid materials. UoB is world-renowned for studies of the deep Earth water cycle, while MU hosts the Sustainable Energy Research Centre, which counts hydrogen production and utilisation amongst its themes. Both institutions house complementary analytical equipment perfectly designed for these studies: Simon Clark at MU has access to a cutting-edge AFM-IR instrument capable of studying dissolved H+ and OH- at nanometre spatial resolution while UoB has both Raman microscopes and a new Faculty-funded FTIR instrument that can measure samples inside a variety of sample environments, including high-pressure diamond anvil cells, allowing us to study materials synthesized at non-ambient conditions. User facilities for neutron scattering, XRD and APT are available in both the UK and Australia. The ideal candidate will have a background in the Earth or Materials sciences and a strong interest in mineral chemistry or mineral physics. Preferably the candidate will hold a master’s degree involving a large component of experimental research utilizing analytical methods such as Raman and FTIR spectroscopy and XRD both in the laboratory and at central facilities. The Global University of Bristol and Macquarie University PhD program (Cotutelle) is an exciting opportunity for students to spend (24) months studying at the University of Bristol, England, and (24) months studying at Macquarie University, Australia. The program is a truly joint program following a sector-leading cohort-based model. Established in 2018, it has resulted in 21 Cotutelle projects to date. The University of Bristol is a core strategic partner of Macquarie University which means there is a strong commitment from both sides to support graduate research training and research collaboration across the institutions. All the best, Oliver Lord ***** [University of Bristol, School of Earth Sciences] [cid:17090d9f-4fe4-4d3b-b3b6-97f1bedec554] Oliver Thomas Lord Royal Society University Research Fellow & Head of the Petrology Group | University of Bristol, School of Earth Sciences phone: +44 (0)117 3314762<tel:+44%20(0)117%203314762> address: Room IC2.15, Wills Memorial Building, Queen's Road, Bristol, BS81RJ linktree: https://linktr.ee/olivertlord