As part of a new collaborative Australian Research Council Discovery Project between the University of Adelaide, the University of Oxford and Durham University, we are seeking to fill three fully funded 3.5 year PhD projects that will develop an innovative approach for enabling the discovery of natural hydrogen accumulations in continental interiors. Using the unique natural laboratory of the Paralana Fault Zone in South Australia’s Flinders Ranges, these field-based PhD projects will address the following research questions:

• What are the relative contributions of radiolysis and serpentinization to hydrogen production in continental interiors?
• What is the role of fault and fracture-related permeability in the transport of hydrogen within Earth’s crust?
• What are the key geological controls on the accumulation and preservation of hydrogen in subsurface reservoirs?

PhD Project 1: Geophysical characterisation of natural hydrogen systems

This project will collect and analyse new magnetotelluric and ambient seismic data to produce 3D geophysical models that will constrain the subsurface extent of rock units that might be suitable for hydrogen generation via radiolysis and/or serpentinization and identify permeable fault zones necessary for the downwards transport of water and migration of hydrogen into reservoirs.

PhD Project 2: Geochemical characterisation of natural hydrogen systems

This project will collect water and groundwater samples from natural springs and pumped bores, which will be analysed for the presence of hydrogen, helium and related radiogenic noble gases, in addition to stable isotopes, to quantify the spatiotemporal flux of natural hydrogen in distinct reservoirs ranging in age from Mesoproterozoic to Cenozoic, discriminate between potential hydrogen generation mechanisms, and assess the controls on the migration, accumulation and preservation of hydrogen in geological reservoirs.

PhD Project 3: Structural and geomechanical characterisation of natural hydrogen systems

This project will conduct detailed, multiscale structural and geomechanical characterisation of a major crustal fault system to quantify the connectivity between potential hydrogen source and reservoir rocks and assess the role of stress-controlled structural permeability in hydrogen migration. The project will also investigate the petrophysical and fluid-flow properties of fault rocks and interrogate paleo-episodes of hydrogen migration through isotopic, noble gas and micro thermometric analyses of hydrogen-bearing inclusions.

Eligibility: 

Applicants may include Australian citizens, permanent residents of Australia and international students who are acceptable as candidates for a PhD degree at the University of Adelaide. 

Stipend: 

The scholarship will be for 3.5 years and has a stipend of $35,300 per annum. 

It is likely to be tax exempt, subject to Taxation Office approval.  Details of any terms and/or benefits can be found in the attached Conditions of Award/Rules. 

Enquiries: 

Contact Person: Simon Holford

School/Discipline of:  School of Physics, Chemistry and Earth Sciences; Discipline of Earth Sciences

Tel: (08) 83138035              Email: simon.holford@adelaide.edu.au 

Expression of interest 

Expressions of interest should be submitted to Simon Holford by no later than 31^st July 2025 with the name of scholarship in the subject heading. Please ensure you include all of the following documents 

• Evidence of Australian or New Zealand citizenship, or Australian permanent resident status if applicable, or indication of international citizenship
• Degree certificates (testamurs) that evidence study in an aligned topic (geophysics, geochemistry, geology)
• Academic transcripts
• Translations of non-English documentation
• Evidence of English language proficiency
• Curriculum vitae
• Cover letter that addresses the following essential minimum selection criteria:
  1. Required qualifications for entry to a PhD in geophysics, geochemistry or geology
  2. Record of previous research training and/or research skills
  3. Experience in undertaking field-based geoscience research 
  4. Fluency in written and spoken English, and excellent verbal and written communication skills including the ability to author technical and/or scientific writing and present work in conference and review meetings.
  5. Interpersonal skills to work as an independent researcher and as a member of a diverse research team, collaborating toward goals, solving problems, and developing scientific ideas.