Postdoctoral Research Assistant in lithium Behaviour in Volcano-sedimentary Systems

Fixed term for 24 months 

Reporting to the Profs Jon Blundy and Tamsin Mather, the post holder will be a member of a research group spanning University of Oxford and the Natural History Museum, London, with responsibility for carrying out research on the NERC-funded project LiVS: The fate of lithium during magmatic and volcanic processes in volcano-sedimentary systems. This project seeks to understand an emergent class of soft rock Li sources known as lithium volcano-sedimentary (LiVS) deposits, including the world’s largest geological lithium resource at Thacker Pass in the USA. These LiVS deposits can potentially capitalise upon extraction and processing technologies that have reduced energy requirements and lower environmental impacts. Recent work has confirmed that LiVS are the result of the explosive eruption of Li-rich magmas followed by redeposition of fragmental material and ash within calderas or extensional basins with subsequent closed hydrological system diagenesis producing Li-rich ore bodies. This grant will contribute to the understanding of the processes by which Li and ligands are transported from the deep magmatic source through eruption to eventually become environmentally available to the various possible mineralogical traps. 

This PDRA position will undertake fieldwork to collect relevant samples of pyroclasts and ignimbrites and will undertake laboratory measurements and hydrothermal experiments to study the processes of Li deposition during fragmentation and Li mobilisation during reactions between meteoric water and pyroclastic rocks across a range of temperatures. The post holder will have the opportunity to provide guidance to junior members of the research group including research assistants, PhD students, and/or project volunteers. 

The successful candidate will have or be close to completion of, a relevant PhD/DPhil, together with relevant experience of laboratory geochemical experiments and subsequent analyses, thermodynamic modelling and presentation skills (both orally and in writing). There will also be opportunities to supervise PhD and Masters students. 

For further details of the role please see the job description. This post is fixed term for 24 months. 

The deadline for applications is midday on 18 May 2026 and interveiws will be held online on 4 or 5 June 2026. You will be required to upload a CV and a Supporting Statement as part of your application. Please do not attach any manuscripts, papers, transcripts, mark sheets or certificates as these will not be considered as part of your application.

Applications are particularly welcome from women and black and ethnic minority candidates, who are under-represented in research posts in the Department.

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