PhD Studentship: Glacial to Post-Glacial Evolution of Ordovician–Silurian Depositional Systems in Eastern Morocco: Controls on Depositional Style and Resource Potential

Application deadline: 23/02/2026
Research theme: Applied Sedimentology

UK only

This 3.5-year PhD project is fully funded and home students are eligible to apply. The successful candidate will receive an annual tax-free stipend set at the UKRI rate (£20,780 for 2025/26) and tuition fees will be paid. We expect the stipend to increase each year.

We recommend that you apply early as the advert may be removed before the deadline.

During the Late Ordovician (Hirnantian), extensive ice sheets developed across Gondwana, with their northern limit marked by terminal glacial facies preserved in Morocco, Algeria, and Libya. Following final ice retreat, the Early Silurian was characterised by a major marine transgression, resulting in the widespread deposition of organic-rich mudstones across North Africa.

This PhD project will integrate outcrop and subsurface datasets from across Morocco to investigate the nature and controls of the glacial to post-glacial transition driven by this major climatic shift. The research aims to improve understanding of the geometry and extent of Late Ordovician ice sheets in the region, as well as the spatial distribution, evolution, and depositional character of ice-margin facies formed during late-stage deglaciation and subsequent marine transgression. These data will provide critical constraints for palaeoclimatic reconstructions and help quantify the magnitude and style of glacio-eustatic sea-level changes associated with the Ordovician icehouse.

The Ordovician–Silurian boundary records one of the most profound climate and sea-level transitions in Earth history, marking a shift from icehouse to greenhouse conditions. Late Ordovician glacial successions include thick sandstone units that form important hydrocarbon reservoirs across North Africa, while the overlying Silurian black shales represent a major regional source rock. These stratigraphic systems may also have future relevance for carbon capture and storage or other subsurface resource applications. The Hirnantian interval is further characterised by a major mass extinction event, followed by the development of widespread anoxic marine conditions. Although this transition set the stage for the deposition of Silurian organic-rich shales, the direct links between glaciation, nutrient supply, basin restriction, and organic matter preservation remain poorly constrained in Morocco.

Key research questions include:

• How are sharp flooding surfaces developed over glacial unconformities, and how can these surfaces be mapped and correlated stratigraphically?
• Are condensed sections locally developed or regionally correlatable across Morocco?
• What is the relationship between Early Silurian transgression and ice-sheet collapse?

Aims

1. Refine glacial to post-glacial stratigraphic models for the Ordovician–Silurian of Morocco
2. Develop a high-resolution chronostratigraphic framework across eastern Morocco
3. Better constrain the distribution, quality, and controls on organic matter accumulation
4. Improve understanding of the coupling between glaciation, sea-level change, and marine anoxia
5. Integrate outcrop analogues with subsurface data to undertake basin-scale petroleum system analysis

The project will involve extensive fieldwork in eastern Morocco, building upon the substantial body of existing research. This will be complemented by the integration of available subsurface datasets, including seismic data, well logs, and core material from the Zag Basin.

Applicants should have, or expect to achieve, at least a 2.1 honours degree or a master’s (or international equivalent) in a relevant science or engineering related discipline. Experience of independent field work is required.

To apply, please contact Prof Redfern - jonathan.redfern@manchester.ac.uk.Please include details of your current level of study, academic background and any relevant experience and include a paragraph about your motivation to study this PhD project.

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