Fully Funded PhD in Geology: Hydrogen/CO2 Storage, Palaeogeography and Triassic Basin Modelling University of Liverpool in United Kingdom

Three fully funded PhD opportunities in geology are available at the University of Liverpool in the East Irish Sea Basin, focused on hydrogen storage, CO2 storage, Triassic sedimentology, palaeogeography, and source-to-sink modelling.

Project 1: Hydrogen storage in engineered caverns in Mid–Upper Triassic salt. This project characterises Triassic salt beneath the East Irish Sea as a potential hydrogen storage site using well logs, 3D seismic data, Petrel, Techlog, and fieldwork in salt mines and core stores.

Project 2: H2 and CO2 Storage in Lower Triassic Sandstones. This project assesses Lower Triassic Sherwood Sandstone reservoirs for hydrogen and CO2 storage in saline aquifers, combining well logs, seismic interpretation, outcrop logging, and core-store visits.

Project 3: Quantitative Palaeogeography and Source-to-Sink Modelling of the UK Triassic. This project uses the open-source goSPL landscape evolution model and Python-based numerical modelling to reconstruct Triassic sediment routing and predict reservoir/seal heterogeneity.

All three projects are industry funded by Eni and include full tuition coverage, a maintenance stipend for 3.5 years at UKRI rates, and additional research training support funding. The projects are based at Liverpool with supervisory input from Durham and Manchester, and involve collaboration with Eni geoscience staff in London and potentially Milan.

Eligibility: candidates should have, or be due to obtain, a 2.1 Bachelors degree or equivalent in a relevant subject. Exceptional candidates with relevant experience may also be considered. For the quantitative project, a strong quantitative background and some coding experience are helpful.

Application: apply online through the University of Liverpool postgraduate research application form. Include the relevant project title and reference number (ENVI001, ENVI002, or ENVI003). Deadline: 30 June 2026.