PhD student in Prebiotic Chemistry and Carbonate Geochemistry Stockholm University in Sweden

Stockholm University is offering a PhD position in Prebiotic Chemistry and Carbonate Geochemistry within the Department of Geological Sciences. The project focuses on how abiotic organic molecules, formed under plausible prebiotic conditions, interact with mineral surfaces on the early Earth and contribute to the formation of some of the earliest organomineral structures preserved in the geological record.

The research aims to clarify the organic geochemical pathways by which simple organic compounds polymerize into organofilms, influence carbonate precipitation, and generate organomineral textures that may represent early biosignatures. The PhD student will work on the preparation and organic geochemical characterization of abiotic organic matrices, synthesize organofilm precursors from simple building blocks, and conduct organomineralization experiments under controlled environmental conditions.

Analytical work will involve chromatographic and spectroscopic methods such as GC-MS, LC-MS, FTIR, and Raman spectroscopy, together with mineralogical techniques. Experiments will be carried out in laboratory systems designed to simulate early Earth settings, including fluctuating redox conditions, wet–dry cycles, and interactions with mineral surfaces.

The project also includes field-based comparative work in the Atacama Desert, which serves as a natural analogue for extreme intermittently wet environments thought to resemble conditions on the early Earth. These observations will help place the experimental results in a broader geological context and strengthen interpretations of biosignatures and organosignatures in the rock record.

The successful candidate will receive comprehensive training in organic geochemistry, prebiotic chemistry, carbonate biogeochemistry, and organomineralization processes, and will work as part of an international research team. The PhD is carried out in close collaboration with the University of Fribourg and the University of Connecticut, under the co-supervision of Dr. Christophe Dupraz at Stockholm University and Prof. Anneleen Foubert at the University of Fribourg.

Eligibility highlights: applicants must meet Stockholm University’s general and specific doctoral entry requirements, including a relevant second-cycle degree or equivalent, substantial coursework in geosciences and related sciences, and strong English proficiency. Experience in organic synthesis, chromatography, spectroscopy, controlled-atmosphere work, or geochemical modelling is considered advantageous.

Application deadline: 16 August 2026, 18:00 (Europe/Stockholm). Applications are submitted via the Stockholm University Varbi portal.