Post-doctoral Research Fellow (Hydrogeology and Isotope Geochemistry)

Post-doctoral Research Fellow (Hydrogeology and Isotope Geochemistry)

Climate: Past, Present & Future (CL)
Geochemistry, Mineralogy, Petrology & Volcanology (GMPV)
Hydrological Sciences (HS)

Type

Full time

Level

Experienced

Required education

PhD

15 January 2027

Posted

31 October 2026

The School of Earth Sciences at University College Dublin invites applications for a 30-month Postdoctoral Research Fellow position (Level 1 or 2) funded by the European Research Council (ERC) Starting Grant project TabPhish - Tracing Anthropogenic Biogeochemical and Physical Impacts on Subsurface Hydrogeology.

The project seeks to develop and apply innovative geochemical tracer methods to investigate how human activities have altered groundwater systems over decadal to centennial timescales, with particular emphasis on nitrogen cycling and long-term changes in groundwater levels.

The successful candidate will contribute to the development of advanced dissolved gas isotope analytical techniques, laboratory experiments, groundwater field investigations, and quantitative interpretation of geochemical datasets. Research will involve establishing new analytical capabilities at UCD's National Centre of Isotope Geochemistry, with opportunities for collaboration and laboratory research at Heidelberg University and other international partner institutions.

We seek motivated researchers with a PhD in geochemistry, Earth sciences, hydrology, environmental science, chemistry, physics, or a related field. Candidates should have hands-on experience with mass spectrometry or comparable analytical instrumentation, together with strong quantitative and computational skills. Experience in noble gas or stable isotope geochemistry, vacuum systems, groundwater research, or environmental nitrogen cycling is particularly welcome.

The position will be based in Dublin under the supervision of Dr Alan Seltzer (UCD), with Prof. Werner Aeschbach (Heidelberg University) serving as co-supervisor.