Hi, Could you please post this ad, Two Postdoctoral Positions on Critical Minerals and Carbon Sequestration Innovation The unprecedented demand for critical minerals requires new technologies to improve domestic supply chains. Synthetic biology and microbial processes discovery in combination with mineralogy and geochemistry provide new frontiers for sustainable energy innovation, accelerating weathering and carbon storage. To solve the supply challenges of energy-critical elements, we spearheaded an interdisciplinary project to develop engineered microbes capable of dissolving rocks with low energy and carbon input that can provide elements for energy technologies and carbon mineralization. This project builds upon a long-term collaboration between the Barstow (Biological and Environmental Engineering) and Gazel (Earth and Atmospheric Sciences) groups, which has successfully developed engineered microorganisms for extracting and separating rare earth elements, magnesium, nickel, and cobalt from different critical mineral feedstocks. The two groups meet every two weeks and members of the groups communicate daily and move seamlessly between the two labs. This project comes with significant entrepreneurial opportunities and potential for commercialization. Our previous collaboration has resulted REEgen, Inc., a start-up founded by a former graduate student and postdoc, and a new startup in process is being led by current graduate students and a postdoc. Our collaboration also resulted in the NSF Global Center: A Microbe-Mineral Atlas for a Sustainable Energy Future, focusing on the discovery of mineral microbe interaction processes needed to improve critical elements separations and accumulation and accelerating weathering. We are seeking two postdoctoral associates for the mineralogy and geochemistry components of these projects, under the supervision of Prof. Esteban Gazel at the Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences at Cornell University, with experience in mineralogy/geochemistry/petrology research and expertise in bulk (e.g., XRF, XRD, ICP-MS) and in-situ (e.g., SEM/EMPA/TEM, LA-ICP-MS, Raman/FTIR) mineral characterization techniques. Tasks will involve the characterization of rock feedstocks that will be used before and after bioleaching experiments, evaluating the record physiochemical processes of mineral-microbe interactions in the experimental residues, and conducting mass balance, efficiency assessment, and optimization. Some projects will also require conducting abiotic experiments to evaluate the role of fluid composition in mineral carbonation and compare abiotic with microbially accelerated processes. Finally, the postdocs will participate in field expeditions (e.g., mines, weathering profiles, serpentinization environments, acid drainage, etc.) for sample collection. Requirements: - A Ph.D. in geosciences with emphasis on mineralogy/geochemistry/petrology, proficiency in science communication (written and oral) with evidence of peer review publications, and enthusiasm to work as part of an interdisciplinary group working on solving critical mineral challenges. Applications for this position must be submitted using the following link: https://academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/31890 Submitted applications require the following documents: 1) CV; 2) short statement of research (no more than two pages) interests in line with the projects; 3) names and contact information for three references. Review of applications will begin on April 30, 2026, and will continue until the positions are filled. For more information, please contact Prof. Esteban Gazel at egazel@cornell.edu<mailto:egazel@cornell.edu> -- Esteban Gazel, Ph.D. Charles N. Mellowes Professor in Engineering Cornell Duffield Engineering Earth and Atmospheric Sciences Cornell University 2161 Snee Hall, Ithaca, NY, 14853 Office: 4164 Snee Hall Phone: 607-255-4766 Lab Website: https://gazelresearchgroup.eas.cornell.edu Cornell Mass Spectrometry: https://cmas.eas.cornell.edu