Thomas Walter

This one-year postdoctoral position is part of the European Research Council SYNERGY project ROTTnROCK , which investigates how hydrothermal alteration shapes volcano morphology, instability, and unpredictable volcanic hazards. The project addresses the hidden weakening of volcanic edifices through alteration processes that change the chemical and physical state of rocks inside a volcano, helping explain why some volcanoes fail suddenly through explosive eruptions or flank collapse. The postdoc will contribute to Work Package 2 , focusing on how hydrothermal alteration affects the physical and mechanical properties of volcanic rocks. The work combines experimental volcanology, rock deformation and mechanics, and volcanic hazard research. The successful candidate will carry out laboratory experiments on volcanic rocks, including deformation tests, measurements of porosity and permeability, and related petrophysical analyses. The project also includes analysis of X-ray computed tomography data and interpretation of complementary geochemical and petrophysical datasets. The role is embedded in a broader international collaboration involving researchers based in Strasbourg, Dublin, Potsdam, and Uppsala. At the Strasbourg end, the project is led by Michael Heap, and the postdoc is expected to interact closely with the wider ROTTnROCK consortium through meetings, collaborative work, and possibly group field campaigns. The position also includes field-based measurements and sampling, with work at sites inside and outside the European Union. The project sits at the interface of laboratory volcanology, field measurements, and multidisciplinary geoscience, with a strong emphasis on understanding how alteration modifies rock strength and volcano stability. The appointed researcher will contribute to conference presentations, scientific writing, and collaborative project activities within an international team.