Mónica Sánchez-Román

Two PhD opportunities are available at the University of Granada (UGR), Spain within the CARBONATE project: Carbonate Biosignatures and Origins in Natural Terrestrial Environments . The projects sit at the intersection of geomicrobiology , geochemistry , biomineralization , carbonate and evaporite mineralogy , and extreme environments . Research directions may include microbe–mineral interactions, gypsum-rich and hypersaline systems, experimental mineral formation, microscopy and spectroscopic characterization, numerical modelling, simulations, quantitative approaches, computational chemistry, bioinformatics, and AI applications. The broader scientific context includes early Earth questions and astrobiology . Two funding routes are mentioned: a PhD contract linked to the CARBONATE project and funded by the Spanish State Research Agency (AEI) , and an FPU 2026 predoctoral fellowship route for an excellent MSc student or recent graduate preparing a competitive application. Applicants are welcomed from backgrounds such as Geology , Earth Sciences , Geochemistry, Geobiology, Sedimentology, Mineralogy, Environmental Sciences, Microbiology, Chemistry, Physics, Computational Geosciences, or related fields. A strong academic record is especially important for the FPU route. To apply, send a CV, academic transcript, and a short statement of motivation and research interests to Prof. Mónica Sánchez-Román at the University of Granada. Indicate clearly whether you are interested in the FPI position, the FPU application, or both.