EPSRC DTP - Mechanical Failure Mechanisms at Pressure

Deadline:
All year round

How to apply: uom.link/pgr-apply

This 3.5-year PhD studentship is open to Home (UK) applicants. The successful candidate will receive an annual tax‑free stipend set at the UKRI rate (£20,780 for 2025/26; subject to annual uplift), and tuition fees will be paid. We expect the stipend to increase each year. EU students with settled or pre‑settled status and international students can apply but their application eligibility will be determined on a case‑by‑case basis.

The start date is October 2026.

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

The occurrence of earthquakes with hypocentres deeper than 60 km was recognised very early in the history of seismology. These deep earthquakes make up∼25 % of all earthquakes, are exclusively associated with convergent plate boundaries and locate within, or very close to, the cold subducting oceanic lithosphere. Their occurrence presents theoretical difficulties since brittle failure, the dominant mechanism in shallow earthquakes, should be suppressed as confining pressure increases with depth.

Transformational faulting, thermal runaway and dehydrational embrittlement have all been proposed as alternative causal mechanisms and show some efficacy to explain the mechanisms.

However, experiments have been upable to reproduce the depth distribution of deep earthquakes. Globally, between 60 and∼300 km, the number of earthquakes decreases in an approximately exponentially manner. These earthquakes are localised within the subducting lithosphere into two distinct layers, called Wadati–Benioff zones. Between 300 and∼500 km, the earthquakes form a single plane of events that is located towards the top of the subducting lithospheric slab and their number plateaus before increasing to a maximum around 575 km.

Earthquake numbers decrease rapidly below 635 km, with the deepest recorded earthquake observed at∼690 km.

In this project we will combine non‑destructive testing techniques with a new high‑pressure experimental apparatus to listen for ‘labquakes’ during high‑pressure experiments. Experiments will be performed to test the proposed causal mechanisms in earthquakes against ambient pressure observations in industrial composites. Experimental methods will include the use of high‑pressure multi‑anvil techniques, possibly combined with synchrotron X‑ray techniques as well as scanning electron microscopy (SEM).

The ultimate directions of the project will be driven by the interests of the student, under the guidance of the supervisory team.

We are looking for a strongly motivated student with a background in Earth Sciences, Materials Science, chemistry, physics or a related physical science discipline to join our research group. Some knowledge or previous experience in petrology, materials processing, coding or data manipulation would be beneficial but not necessary, since you will receive training in all the relevant experimental and analytical methods.

You will be encouraged to attend national and international conferences to share your research.

The standard academic entry requirement for this PhD is an upper second‑class (2:1) honours degree in a discipline directly relevant to the PhD (or international equivalent) OR any upper‑second class (2:1) honours degree and a Master’s degree at merit in a discipline directly relevant to the PhD (or international equivalent) including Materials Science, Geology, Earth sciences, chemistry or physics.

To apply, please contact the main supervisor, Dr Simon Hunt -  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.

£20,780 - please see advert