Research Assistant

Research Assistant within the Mineralogy, Petrology and Tectonics (MPT) program

Are you interested in working in Earth science, with competent and friendly colleagues in an international environment? Are you looking for an employer that invests in sustainable employeeship and offers safe, favourable working conditions? We welcome you to apply for a Research Assistant position at Uppsala University.

The Department of Earth Sciences is Sweden"s most comprehensive academic environment for research and education in geoscience. It offers a broad range of expertise that can contribute to solving important societal issues.

Earth is a dynamic and constantly changing planet. To understand how this planet works, our researchers seek answers in the field, through laboratory experiments and advanced models. Our research and education cover a wide range of disciplines, including rocks and minerals, weather and climate, the evolution of life, natural disasters, wind power and energy, environmental and water engineering, and sustainable development.

Our research combines natural sciences and technology with social sciences and is often interdisciplinary. More than 300 people from over 30 countries work at the department, both in Uppsala and at Campus Gotland.

Our six research divisions:

• Geophysics • Air, Water and Landscape Science • Mineralogy, Petrology and Tectonics    
• Natural Resources and Sustainable Development • Palaeobiology • Wind Energy

For more information see: www.uu.se/earthsciences

A Research Assistant position is available within the Mineralogy, Petrology and Tectonics (MPT) program at the Department of Earth Sciences at Uppsala University.

Duties

As a Research Assistant within the Mineralogy, Petrology and Tectonics (MPT) program, you will support ongoing research in mineralogy, petrology, geochemistry, and geochronology. The position involves contributing to various research projects within the MPT program and the Smart Exploration Research Centre, including projects focused on critical mineral systems and the tectonic evolution of the crust.

Your duties may include:

• Preparation and petrographic characterization of rock samples.
• Mineral separation and preparation for geochemical and geochronological analyses.
• Assistance with in situ analytical techniques (e.g., isotope and trace element analyses).
• Compilation, processing, and quality control of analytical datasets.
• Preparation of scientific figures (e.g., geochemical diagrams, maps) for presentations and manuscripts.
• Assistance with manuscript preparation, including formatting, reference management, and data organization.
• Laboratory organization and maintenance.
• Assistance with administrative tasks related to research activities.
• Participation in teaching and other departmental tasks, when required.

The position offers hands-on experience with state-of-the-art analytical facilities and provides training in petrochronology and critical mineral research.

Requirements

You must hold a BSc in Earth Sciences or a closely related field and have a strong interest in mineralogy, petrology and geochronology.

You should demonstrate:

• Foundational knowledge of igneous and/or metamorphic processes.
• Experience with petrographic microscopy and basic laboratory work.
• Excellent written and spoken English.

Personal suitability is of high importance for this position. We are looking for a research assistant with strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills. You should have the ability to work both independently and in collaboration with your colleagues.

Additional qualifications

The following qualifications are considered an advantage:

• Interest in mineral-based approaches to understanding crustal evolution and ore systems.
• Experience with microanalytical techniques (e.g., SEM, EPMA, LA-ICP-MS).
• Basic knowledge of isotope geochemistry and/or geochronological methods.
• Experience with mineral separation and sample preparation techniques.
• Skills in data processing and visualization using software such as MinPlotX, Isoplot, MATLAB, Origin, or similar.
• Experience preparing scientific figures using graphical software (e.g., Adobe Illustrator, CorelDRAW, Inkscape).
• Familiarity with GIS software for geological mapping and spatial data integration.
• Prior involvement in research projects or scientific writing.

About the employment

The employment is a temporary position, 6 months. Scope of employment 50%. Starting date April 1st, 2026, or as agreed. Placement: Uppsala.

For further information about the position, please contact: Jaroslaw Majka, jaroslaw.majka@geo.uu.se

Please submit your application by 13th of March 2026, UFV-PA 2026/596.

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