PhD Opportunities

There are a number of interesting opportunities listed below for people thinking about doing a PhD after they graduate from BSc, MSc or MSci courses. Also don't forget you can find some information on MSc courses on our website, and the deadline for the DFID Graduate Scheme is the 20th March 2012.

PhD Opportunities:

The University of Liverpool are advertising possible funded PhD positions related to seismology, flooding, drought and environmental change. The University of Portsmouth also have possible funded PhD topics, with one very interesting one looking at hazard assessment, slope instability and palaeoseismology in Central Asia. There is also an interesting PhD Opportunity in Germany, at the GFZ Helmholtz Centre, Potsdam - looking at slope instability in seismotectonically active mountain regions  - also in Central Asia. Don't forget you can use sites such as findaphd.com to help you in hunting down good opportunities.

DFID - Graduate Scheme

This week the UK Department for International Development have announced that they will be launching a paid 50-week graduate scheme to give recent graduates experience within the development and humanitarian sector. The position is open to UK and EEA Nationals, Swiss and Turkish Nationals and Commonwealth Citizens with an indefinite right to remain in the UK without work restrictions.

The opportunity to work for a year in either DFID's London or Glasgow office (starting in September 2012), with the added advantage of being able to apply for internal jobs, is likely to receive much interest. It is open to all degree backgrounds and those with no relevant experience, making it an excellent opportunity to get a foot on the development ladder. It would be excellent to see some of the positions filled by those with a geoscience background - bringing an interdisciplinary knowledge that would well serve the UK Government's development objectives. The application form can be downloaded from their website, as well as supplementary information.

The scheme opened yesterday, and closes on the 20th March 2012. There will be launch events at a number of universites across the UK over the coming weeks, which give those interested an ideal opportunity to talk with current employees at DFID about their work and this opportunity. These are outlined in detail here, but currently include:

21st January - University of Oxford (with DFID Permanent Secretary Mark Lowcock)

23rd January - SOAS and LSE, London

30th January - University of Glasgow

2nd February - University of Cambridge

6th February - University of Strathclyde

7th February - University of Warwick

8th February - University of Sussex

9th February  - University of Cambridge (with Secretary of State Andrew Mitchell MP)

15th February - Univeristy of Edinburgh

20th February - University of Birmingham

21st February - University of Bristol

23rd February - Queen's University, Belfast

28th February - City University, London

7th March - University of Manchester

15th March - London Universities (at SOAS) (with Under Secretary of State Stephen O'Brien MP)

If you decide to apply for this graduate scheme then please be sure to mention Geology for Global Development when asked where you heard about this opportunity.

Job Opportunities

Many of you may be interested in a number of jobs the British Geological Survey (BGS) are advertising on their website. These jobs include jobs in engineering geology (landslides and subsidence), volcanology and many other fields. The BGS have an excellent reputation for their work in overseas development.

Another good place to look for job and PhD opportunities is through the earthworks website, which often has vacancies in a range of fields, across the world. 

Employment & Research Opportunities

A number of interesting positions, that some of our readers may be interested in, can be found on the earthworks jobs website. If you are interested in advertising a job, PhD or work experience opportunity on this blog and GfGD's website then please get in touch to discuss this possibility.

PhD Position: Developing novel models for earthquake forecasting

Funded three year PhD position suitable for those with a strong interest in seismology, geophysics, physics, statistics, numerical modellling. 

Where: Zurich, Switzerland

Deadline: 18th September 2011

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Lecturer/Senior Lecturer: Natural Hazard Risk Analysis & Modelling

Exciting opportunity for someone with a background in volcanology, seismology or geohazard risk analsysis - working at the University of Auckland and engaging in teaching and research, as well as working on their Volcanic Risk in Saudi Arabia Project.

Where: Auckland, New Zealand

Deadline: 17th September 2011

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Short Term Consultant: Engineering Geologist

An opportunity for a freelance mining/engineering geologist to undertake 6-8 weeks work logging in West Africa.

Where: West Africa

Deadline: 19th September 2011

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