The job board announces employment and position opportunities in mineralogy and petrology, crystallography, geochemistry and related fields.  Job announcements for the academic, government, and private sectors are all welcome.  Send announcements to the MSA Business Office. You may also want to visit the Job pages on the Elements magazine, Mineralogical Society of Great Britian and Northern Ireland, and Mineralogical Association of Canada websites.

(revised 05/08/2008)

Full Professor of Mineralogy and Spectroscopy, The Faculty of Earth Sciences, Geography and Astronomy of the University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria. Applications should be submitted no later than June 15th, 2008.

Beamline Scientist Positions in High-Pressure Research, National Synchrotron Light Source, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY, USA. The starting date is flexible but not later than September, 2008.

PhD Research Opportunity, Pore Water Extraction from Low-permeability Sedimentary Rocks. Department of Geology, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, NB, Canada and Institute of Geological Sciences, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland. This project can begin in September 2008, or as soon as a suitable candidate is identified.

PhD Research position, (thermodynamic properties of H2O + NaCl solutions (up to 50 wt% NaCl) at high pressures and temperatures), GeoForschungsZentrum, Potsdam, GEMRANY. Review of applications will continue until the position is filled.

Instrumentation Research Scientist, Gemological Institute of America, Carlsbad, CA, USA

Technical Editor, Gems & Gemology, Gemological Institute of America, Carlsbad, CA, USA.

PhD Studentships, International Graduate School "Structure, Reactivity and Properties of Oxide Materials", Bayerisches Geoinstitut, Universitaet Bayreuth, Bayreuth, Germany. Starting dates are flexible through the end of 2009.

Full Professor of Mineralogy and Spectroscopy, The Faculty of Earth Sciences, Geography and Astronomy of the University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.

As stated in its development plan (http://www.univie.ac.at/rektorenteam/ug2002/entwicklungs plan.html) the University of Vienna aims at strengthening its position as a major research-oriented university. Key elements of this strategy include the provision of an attractive range of research-based study programmes, support for furthering the work of junior academic colleagues, and high-calibre professorial appointments.

Applicants should provide outstanding research leadership in the area of mineral spectroscopy. The successful candidate is expected to cooperate with the existing research groups at the Institute for Mineralogy and Crystallography and the Faculty and should also be interested in an active interdisciplinary cooperation on other Earth sciences as well as physically or chemically related topics. A continuation of the initiative to establish a European centre for optical and vibrational spectroscopic methods in mineralogy at the Institute for Mineralogy and Crystallography of the University of Vienna, which was started in the course of the Marie Curie Chair of Excellence program (2006-2009), is highly encouraged.

Successful candidates will have the following qualifications:

• PhD and post-doctoral experience at a university or other research institution. (Austrian or equivalent international academic degree in the relevant field)
• Outstanding research and publication record, with an excellent reputation as an active member in the international academic community (Habilitation (venia docendi) or equivalent international qualification in the relevant field is desirable)
• Experience in designing, procuring and directing major research projects, and willingness and ability to assume the responsibility of team leadership
• Experience in university teaching, and willingness and ability to teach at all curricular levels, to supervise theses, and to further the work of junior academic colleagues

The University of Vienna expects the successful candidate to acquire, within three years, proficiency in German sufficient for teaching in Bachelor programmes and participation in committees

The University of Vienna offers

• Attractive terms and conditions of employment with a negotiable and performance-related salary, associated with a retirement fund
• A "start-up package" for the initiation of research projects
• An attractive and dynamic research location in a city with a high quality of life and in a country with excellent research funding provision
• Support for relocation to Vienna, where appropriate

Candidates should send an application containing at least the following documents:

1. Academic curriculum vitae
2. Brief description of current research interests and research plans for the immediate future
3. List of publications together with
4. a) specification of five key publications judged by the applicant to be particularly relevant to the advertised professorship together with an explanation of their relevance
5. b) PDF versions of these five publications provided either as email attachments or through URLs of downloadable copies and a CD-Rom containing these pdf files.
6. List of talks given, including detailed information about invited plenaries at international conferences
7. List of projects supported by third-party funds
8. Short survey of previous academic teaching and list of supervised PhD theses

The University of Vienna intends to increase the numÂber of women on its faculty, particularly in high-level positions, and therefore specifically invites applications by women. Among equally qualified applicants women will receive preferential consideration.

Applications in English should be submitted by email (preferably as PDF attachments) to the Dean's office of the Faculty of Earth Sciences, Geography and Astronomy of the University of Vienna, Ingrid.Mayrhofer@univie.ac.at, Althanstrasse 14, A-1090 Wien, no later than June 15th, 2008 with reference DKZ 5/I/3-08.

Beamline Scientist Positions in High-Pressure Research, National Synchrotron Light Source, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY, USA.

Positions are available for two beamline scientists at beamlines X17C and X17B3 of the National Synchrotron Light Source, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY.ÊÊ X17C and X17B3 specialize in high-pressure x-ray diffraction experiments using diamond anvil cells.Ê These positions are funded by the National Science Foundation through the Consortium for Materials Property Research in Earth Sciences (COMPRES).Ê

Responsibilities of beamline scientists include, but are not limited to, assisting users, managing support laboratories, developing high-pressure synchrotron techniques, and conducting independent research. The position also involves design, testing, and construction of new instrumentation and software development for data acquisition and analysis for diamond anvil cell facilities at NSLS and the up-coming NSLS II. A Ph.D. in geosciences, physics, chemistry or related field is required.Ê Successful candidates should have experience with some or all of the following: high-pressure apparatus, synchrotron x-ray optics and diffraction techniques, and optical systems such as infrared laser heating systems and Raman spectroscopy.Ê The scientists will be employed by Stony Brook University while based at the NSLS.Ê The appointments are initially for a one year term and renewable according to performance and funding availability. The starting date is flexible but not later than September, 2008.

Interested applicants should send a CV, list of publications, and the names of three references to:

NSLS X17 Beamline Scientist Search Committee
Attn: Ms. Samantha Lin
Mineral Physics Institute
Earth and Space Science building
Stony Brook University
Stony Brook, NY 11794-2100, USA
or Samantha.Lin@sunysb.edu

Please direct further questions regarding this position to Prof. Thomas Duffy (duffy@princeton.edu, 609-258-6769) or Prof. Donald Weidner (Donald.Weidner@sunysb.edu, 631-632-8211).

The Stony Brook University is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer.

PhD Research Opportunity, Pore Water Extraction from Low-permeability Sedimentary Rocks. Department of Geology, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, NB, Canada and Institute of Geological Sciences, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland

Availability: This project can begin in September 2008, or as soon as a suitable candidate is identified.

Duration: Four years

Funding: Funding is anticipated from the Canadian Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO). The salary stipend will be consistent with requirements for residency in Canadian and Swiss institutions, and funding will also be provided to cover research expenses.

Background: Information on the composition of saline groundwaters, such as those found in sedimentary rocks considered in the Canadian used nuclear fuel program, is required for near-field performance and safety assessment calculations, and for models involving groundwater transport or evolution. Advective displacement is a direct method that has been developed at the University of Bern for extracting pore water from deep sedimentary rock formations (e.g. Opalinus Clay, Switzerland) using advection of a traced artificial pore water to force displacement of the original pore water contained in the sample (MŠder et al., 2004). The tracers in the infiltrating fluid allow for quantification of mixing with the in-situ pore water, and observation of tracer breakthrough behavior when monitoring the infiltration experiment over a sufficiently long time period.

Objectives: The overall objective of this research is to further develop the technique of pore water extraction by advective displacement to gain direct chemical and isotopic information of in-situ pore water in low-porosity sedimentary rocks.

Work Program: The Ph.D. candidate will work under the supervision of Dr. Tom Al at the University of New Brunswick (http://www.unb.ca/fredericton/science/geology) and Dr. Urs Mader at the University of Bern (http://www.geo.inibe.ch/rwi) to further develop the advective displacement technique for application to low-porosity sedimentary rocks. He/she will spend approximately one and a half years at the University of Bern training on the application of the advective displacement method using the existing equipment in the Rock-Water Interaction Laboratory and to construct the specialized experimental equipment required for this method. Once constructed, the equipment will be transported to the University of New Brunswick, installed and tested. The student will then conduct experiments designed to further develop the advective displacement methodology.

Interested candidates should contact: Dr. Tom Al
Department of Geology
University of New Brunswick
P.O. Box 4400
Fredericton, NB
Canada
Tel: 506-447-3189
Fax: 506-453-5055
Email: tal@unb.ca

PhD Research position, research about the thermodynamic properties of H2O + NaCl solutions (up to 50 wt% NaCl) at high pressures and temperatures, GeoForschungsZentrum, Potsdam, GEMRANY

A PhD position in experimental geochemistry is open at GeoForschungsZentrum Potsdam, Germany, within the research program "Determination of the PVTx properties of dense H2O+NaCl solutions to 5 GPa, 600 degrees C, and 50 wt% NaCl", funded by the German Science Foundation.

Applicants should have a solid education in chemistry/geochemistry/thermodynamics. The project involves intense utilization of optical spectroscopy techniques (Raman and Brillouin spectroscopy), participation in the development of the design of the high-pressure high-temperature pressure device, and the optimization of the experimental setup. Thus, interest in technical development or experience in optical spectroscopy is appreciated.

The position is funded for three years and immediately available. The start date is negotiable, but the candidates are required to possess a University degree (Diploma, Masters or equivalent) in Geosciences, Chemistry or Physics by the start date. Salary is according to the German civil service remuneration system TVoD EG 13/2 (i.e., 50% of E13).

Inquiries and applications should be sent to Dr. Sergio Speziale (Speziale@gfz-potsdam.de) or Dr. Christian Schmidt (hokie@gfz-potsdam.de). The application (in English or German) must include (1) a letter stating your current position and your research interests, and (2) a complete curriculum vitae including a full listing of courses taken with grades, and a list of publications (if applicable).

Review of applications will continue until the position is filled.

GeoForschungsZentrum Potsdam is an internationally acknowledged research institution and offers an outstanding research infrastructure, particularly in the field of materials oriented geoscience. More information can be found at http://www.gfz-potsdam.de/.

Instrumentation Research Scientist, Gemological Institute of America, Carlsbad, CA, USA

The Gemological Institute of America, located in Carlsbad, Calif., seeks an experienced Research Scientist to develop optical spectroscopic instruments, and to plan, organize, and conduct research for the purpose of resolving industry issues and developing intellectual properties for the educational mission of the Institute. Requirements: Ph.D or M.S. in physics, chemistry, material science, geology, or similar field or equivalent; and 2-3 years related experience and/or training; strong background in spectroscopy, developing optical spectrometers and related applications; computer skills. Knowledge of optical parts from the Ocean Optics and Avantes is a plus.

Primary duties include:

• Develops optical spectroscopic instrumentation (e.g., absorption and luminescence spectrometers in the UV-Vis-IR region); assists in other instrument maintenance.
• Contributes to developing applications where these spectrometers are used for studying and documenting gem materials (diamond, ruby, sapphire, pearls, and others)
• Assists in organizing research efforts to develop new identification criteria for natural, treated, and synthetic diamonds / colored stones / pearls; collects analytical data on gem materialsÊand contributes to production
• Leads and/or contributes to research projects to include, but not limited to, sample preparation, data collection protocols, analysis, interpretation, and publication; input into annual research plans, department budgets, and status reports.
• Provides research presentations and publications to other GIA departments and to the general jewelry industry.

Please submit your resume and salary requirements by e-mail to recruiterlab@gia.edu. To learn more about GIA, visit our website at http://www.gia.edu

Technical Editor, Gems & Gemology, Gemological Institute of America, Carlsbad, CA, USA

The Gemological Institute of America seeks an experienced technical editor for Gems & Gemology, an award-winning professional journal, to help communicate complex scientific information to a broad audience that includes gemologists and research scientists. Attention to detail and the ability to evaluate and streamline research results presented in text, table, and graphic form are critical. The position also involves researching and writing articles, news items, and website items. May travel domestically and/or internationally. Will have some supervisory responsibility.

For more information, visit http://www.gia.edu/careers/otherpositions/1990/8673/3/job_listing.cfm. If you are interested in this position, please attach your resume to an email and submit to RecruiterLab@gia.edu.

PhD Studentships, International Graduate School "Structure, Reactivity and Properties of Oxide Materials", Bayerisches Geoinstitut, Universitaet Bayreuth, Bayreuth, Germany.

PhD studentships are available for students with a Masters degree (or equivalent) and a strong quantitative background in material sciences, physics, chemistry, the Earth Sciences or related fields for the duration of three years in an International Graduate School, that is funded by the "Bavarian Elite Network". Students will be based either at the University of Bayreuth (Bayerisches Geoinstitut or Institute for Inorganic Chemistry) or at the Fraunhofer Institute for Silicate Research in Wurzburg. Research projects will be interdisciplinary, within the fields of Earth sciences (e.g. mineral physics), solid-state chemistry and material sciences, and will investigate relationships between crystal structure, microstructure, reaction kinetics and physical-chemical properties of oxide materials, including silicates, using a range of synthesis, characterization and simulation techniques. The Graduate School offers excellent research facilities well equipped with experimental (high pressure and temperature), analytical and computational facilities. In addition to pursuing their own research projects, students will attend lectures, short courses and seminars in which leading international experts participate. Students will also spend periods working in leading laboratories abroad. Further details of research projects and supervisors are available at http://www.elite.uni-bayreuth.de/oxides/.

After discussing qualifications and research interests with prospective supervisors, final applications should be sent to the Chair of the Graduate School: Prof. D.C. Rubie, Bayerisches Geoinstitut, Universitaet Bayreuth, D-95440 Bayreuth, Germany; e-mail: dave.rubie@uni-bayreuth.de. Starting dates are flexible through the end of 2009.