We are looking for a motivated and enthusiastic student to join our project funded by the US National Science Foundation titled: “Fate of the continental lithospheric mantle during the continent to ocean transition in a magma-rich environment - Insights from the East Greenland margin” 

As a Ph.D. student in this project, you will have the opportunity to:

• Perform laboratory analyses of dike samples from the East Greenland coastal dike swarm and IODP drillcore samples of SDRs using state-of-the-art facilities at MSU, which include an isotopic clean lab, laser ablation ICP-MS, and a new WD-XRF.

• Use new mantle melting models and Hf and Os isotopic data to constrain the origin of depleted mantle components.

• Address key questions about the temporal evolution of magmatism, the link between SDRs and coastal dike swarms, and evidence for both depleted and enriched mass contributions from the continental lithospheric mantle during the continent-to-ocean transition.

• Interpret data and develop models to understand the lithology of the upper mantle and its melting dynamics in East Greenland.

• Collaborate with an interdisciplinary team of researchers from MSU and other institutions.

• Present your results at national and international conferences and publish them in peer-reviewed journals.

The position is available starting from Summer/Fall 2026. The ideal candidate should have either strong undergraduate research experience in geochemistry or a master’s degree or equivalent in geology, geochemistry, or a related field. Experience with geochemical/analytical methods or numerical modeling is desirable but not required. Applicants should also have excellent communication skills in English and a willingness to learn new techniques and work in a team.

If you are interested in applying for this position, please send your CV and a statement of interest (max. 1 page) to Dr. Tyrone Rooney at rooneyt@msu.edu for an initial discussion in advance of a formal application. Please use “PhD position in geochemistry (NSF Award 2512696)” as the subject line of your email. The deadline for initial inquiries is November 15th, 2025.

The lab director - Tyrone Rooney - was featured in a piece from MSU. This comes as Rooney is nearing his 18th anniversary at MSU. You can read the piece here.