PhD on Surface nuclear magnetic resonance for high-resolution mapping of groundwater resources

 

Applications are invited for 2 PhD fellowships/scholarships at Graduate School of Natural Sciences, Aarhus University, Denmark, within the Geoscience programme. The position is available from 1 August 2021 or later.

Title:
Surface nuclear magnetic resonance for high-resolution mapping of groundwater resources

Research area and project description:
Access to safe and sustainable water resources is key to sustaining human life. In many cases, groundwater represents an attractive solution to meeting daily water needs, as it is often at lower risk of contamination compared to surface water sources and may be accessible in regions where surface water sources are unavailable or not accessible across the entire year. Yet, locating and sustainably managing these resources remains a difficult task; particularly in regions where one has little to no-preexisting knowledge of local groundwater systems.

One geophysical tool that shows great promise to aid in location and management of groundwater resources is surface nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). Surface NMR is the only non-invasive geophysical tool providing direct sensitivity to water at depth, providing unambiguous insights into water’s presence. However, surface NMR commonly suffers from low signal qualities – a limitation that greatly restricts mapping speeds/coverage and the types of environments where the method can be employed.

Two PhD students will be hired in connection with this project.

One student will focus on development of novel surface NMR imaging methodologies capable of enhancing measurement speeds, depth penetration, and improving spatial resolution. The work will require development of numerical forward modelling tools for the surface NMR problem, as well as a focus on optimization of imaging practices – which will aim to balance high-resolution imaging with short measurement times. A principal component of the work will involve field validation of all developed methodologies at test sites throughout Denmark.

The second student will focus on expanding the range of geologies where the surface NMR system can be exploited, where an emphasis will be placed on enhancing surface NMR’s ability to measure very fast decaying signals; the types of signals present in clays or tight pore spaces – materials that play critical controls on groundwater’s ability to flow in the subsurface. The student will also work to optimize imaging sequences capable of resolving parameters with close ties to pore-size and hydraulic conductivity. This work will involve development of numerical modelling tools as well as signal processing workflows capable of preserving fast-decaying signal’s in high noise environments. This work will also require field validation of all developments at test sites throughout Denmark.

In addition to field validation within Denmark, it will be possible for applicants to participate in field validation in remote conditions during several international field campaigns.

These PhD projects will require numerical skills, knowledge in physics/geophysics, and an interest in performing field measurements. The applicants will be afforded opportunities to work closely with colleagues involved in instrument development projects, allowing the applicant to join a research group with a diverse range of focuses.

These PhD projects are part of a DFF-funded project titled “Finding drinking water in data-poor regions”. Additional information on the research group can be found at www.hgg.au.dk.

Qualifications and specific competences:
Applicants to the PhD position must have a relevant Master’s degree in geophysics, physics, engineering or a similar discipline. Prior experience with NMR or transient electromagnetic methods, modelling, and signal processing is an advantage, but not required. Excellent oral and written English skills are mandatory. Applicants must also have competency in MATLAB and/or Python. Fortran experience is also an advantage, but not necessary. Applicants must also be willing to conduct field work.

Final acceptance is based upon the applicant successfully receiving 1/3rd co-funding from the Aarhus University Graduate School of Natural Sciences. The project will only be initiated if final funding (from the graduate school/the faculty) is secured.

Place of employment and place of work:
The place of employment is Aarhus University, and the place of work is Department of Geoscience, Høegh-Guldbergs Gade 2, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark.

Contacts:
Applicants seeking further information are invited to contact:

Denys Grombacher, Assistant Professor, Department of Geoscience

Email : denys.grombacher@geo.au.dk

Application procedures

Before you apply

Information and attachments:
Please be aware that you must have all relevant appendices, attachments, addresses for referees, etc. ready when you apply, as the entire application must be uploaded to the system in one go.

Documentation of language skills:
The English language requirement at the graduate school is comparable to an “English B level” in the Danish upper secondary school (“gymnasium”).

English language qualifications comparable to an “English B level” are documented by one of the following tests:

• TOEFL test (internet-based), minimum score: 83. The graduate school does not accept the paper-based test, nor the TOEFL ITP test. Remember to ask the test center to send your test results to Aarhus University in order to enable verification of your test results. Aarhus University’s TOEFL code is 8935.
  Currently, the TOEFL iBT Special Home Edition test (available in selected areas) will also be accepted.
• IELTS (academic) test, minimum average score: 6.5 points
• Cambridge English Language Assessment:
  Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency (CPE)
  Cambridge English: Certificate of Advanced English with grade A,B or C (CAE)
  Cambridge English: First Certificate with grade A (FCE)

When to take the test and how to upload the documentation:
The test result must not be more than two years old at the time of application.

The English language test should be taken before applying for admission and uploaded under “language skills documentation” in the online application form.

 

It is possible to apply for admission before you have taken the test. In this case, documentation stating that you have signed up for a test (please state expected submission date) must be uploaded under “Language skills - proof” in the online application form. If the test result is not part of the original application, the test result must be sent to gsns@psys.au.dk no later than one month after the application deadline.

The following applicants are exempted from documenting their English qualifications/taking a test:

• Applicants with citizenship from the following countries: Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, the United States, or one of the Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway or Sweden).
• Applicants with a Bachelor’s or Master’s programme completed in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, or the United States. In this case, please upload your Bachelor’s or Master’s diploma under the section ”Language skills documentation”.
• Applicants with a Bachelor’s or Master’s programme completed at a Danish university for which the requirement was English B level at the time of admission. In this case, please upload your Bachelor’s or Master’s diploma under the section ”Language skills documentation”.

The programme committee may request further information or invite the applicant to attend an interview.

How to apply:

1)      Find the application form:
Go to https://phd.nat.au.dk/for-applicants/apply-here/ - Note, the online application system opens on 1 March 2021.
Choose May 2021 Call with deadline 1 May 2021 at noon (11.59 AM CEST).
You will be directed to the call, and must choose the programme “Geoscience”.

2)      Fill in the following information:

• Personal information
• Academic background
• Admission
• Financing (if any)
• Study: In the dropdown menu you must choose the project: “ Surface nuclear magnetic resonance for high-resolution mapping of groundwater resources ”
• Source (how you found out about the call)

Next to some of the information fields you will find a number. Click on the number to get further directions on how to fill in the information field/what information is needed.

3)      Application attachments:
Please be aware that you cannot submit the application if one or several of these documents have not been uploaded.

If you wish to upload more than one document under each section, you must scan/merge all documents into one large PDF file and upload this. Please note that we reserve the right to remove scientific papers, large reports, theses and the like. Instead you can indicate a URL where the information is available.

All information in the application must be in English or Danish, preferably English. A certified English translation is required for documents written in languages other than English or one of the Scandinavian languages (i.e. Norwegian, Swedish or Danish) languages.

As a minimum all applications must include (pdf-files only, max. 20 MB, no zip):

• One reference (template for references)
• Curriculum vitae,
• Motivation (max. 1 page)
• Transcripts, grade point averages (weighted and unweighted), and diploma(s) for both Bachelor’s and Master’s degree. If the original documents are not in English or one of the Scandinavian languages (i.e. Norwegian, Swedish or Danish) then copies of the original documents as well as a certified English translation must be attached.
• Use this option - > Project description (½-4 pages). For technical reasons, you must upload a project description. When - as here - you apply for a specific project, please simply copy the project description above, and upload it as a PDF in the application. If you wish to, you can indicate an URL where further information can be found. Please note that we reserve the right to remove scientific papers, large reports, theses and the like.
• Project description (½-4 pages). This document should describe your ideas and research plans for this specific project. If you wish to, you can indicate an URL where further information can be found. Please note that we reserve the right to remove scientific papers, large reports, theses and the like.
• Documentation of language skills if required.

After submission of the application, you will receive a confirmation e-mail with an application ID, you should use for reference if needed.

The graduate school reserves the right to verify the authenticity of your educational diploma and transcripts:

• Request additional information to verify an application.
• Reject the application if it is proven, or if the University has reasonable belief, that the information provided is false or if the applicant refuses to provide the requested information, whether or not an offer has already been made. 
• For further information on applying, assessment procedures, etc. please see the GSNS Application Guide.

Please note:

• The programme committee may request further information or invite the applicant to attend an interview.
• The project will only be initiated if final funding (from the graduate school/the faculty) is secured. – This sentence has been added to the project description text.

All interested candidates are encouraged to apply, regardless of their personal background.