Graduate Studies Prospectus - University of Oxford

Earth Scienceswww.earth.ox.ac.ukϐϐ Key FactsMain Areas ofResearch InterestsResearch ProgrammesEntry RequirementsEnglish LanguageRequirementsFunding/ Awardswww.earth.ox.ac.uk/research/postgradeg.htmDPhilMSc by ResearchApplications are invited from those with,or working for, undergraduate degrees in:|| Earth Sciences|| Physics|| Mathematics|| Chemistry|| Biology|| Engineering|| Other related subjectsCandidates should normally offer atleast an upper second-classundergraduate degreeStandardThe Department expects to have anumber of Research Council fundedstudentships availablePlease see the website for detailsIn 2009–10 the Department is alsooffering one Boise studentship to fund aproject in the area of hominin evolutionPlease see the website for detailsNumber of Applicants 52Number of14Places OfferedApplication Deadlines 21 November 2008, 23 January 2009and 13 March 2009International students seeking funding areadvised to apply by 23 JanuaryThe deadline for Research Councilapplications is likely to be in January orFebruary 2009Please check the website for detailsContact for Enquiries Emma Brown+44 (0) 1865 272043emmab@earth.ox.ac.ukϐϐResources AvailableThe Department is well-endowed with the latest analyticalequipment and powerful computing facilities, supportingfundamental research in all aspects of the Earth Sciences, including:|| Facilities for the preparation of thin and polished rocksections, rock crushing and grinding.|| A well-equipped machine shop in which a great deal ofresearch apparatus is constructed and maintained.|| Computer laboratory containing many powerful networkedUNIX-based SUN and PC workstations with facilities forcolour graphics and map-size plotting.|| A wide range of optical equipment is available, includingpolarising microscopes together with universal stages,incident light illuminators, and apparatus for the quantitativemeasurement of spectral reflectivity and microhardness ofopaque minerals, for the observation of cathodoluminescenceand for fluid-inclusion geothermometry.|| Excellent reference collections of rocks, minerals, and fossils.|| State-of-the-art analytic facilities, including thermalionisation and stable isotope mass spectrometers forgeochemistry and radiometric dating.|| A large high-resolution ion probe (ISOLAB) and a smallerMicroSIMS ion probe, as well as electron microscopes andelectron probes for mineral analysis (JEOL JXA 8800 and JSM840A).|| A fully equipped Diamond Cell laboratory for ultra highpressureresearch with Raman spectroscopic synchrotronX-ray diffraction, and laser heating techniques.The Palaeomagnetism Laboratory has standard equipment plus acryogenic magnetometer, facilities for palaeointensity study andspecialised rock magnetic equipment and a field-free room.The Oxford archive of digital seismograms from global stationsis one of the largest in the world and growing rapidly as recentdata are added. The data are fully indexed making it quick andconvenient to retrieve data satisfying the requirements of a givenresearch problem; this makes it an unrivalled resource for globalseismological research.The Oxford University Museum of Natural History, adjacentto the Department, houses very valuable reference collectionsof rocks, minerals and fossils, in addition to the ordinary workingcollections.The Departmental Library and Radcliffe Science Library providefurther excellent research resources.ϐϐAcademic Staff Profileswww.earth.ox.ac.uk/department/Faculty.htmlϐϐResearch ProgrammesDPhil and MSc by Research in Earth SciencesEarth Sciences are the focus of scientific understanding aboutthis and other planets, embracing an enormous range of topicsincluding:|| Evolution of life|| Nature of planetary surfaces and interiors|| Behaviour and origin of the atmosphereIt is not unusual for research topics to be multidisciplinary, andfor students to have more than one supervisor covering differentaspects of the project. Some of the active research areas are:|| Climate, Palaeoclimate and Oceanography|| Geochemistry|| Geophysics|| Palaeobiology and Palaeoenvironment|| Physics and Chemistry of Earth and Planetary Interiors|| Tectonics, Petrology and Volcanologyϐ ϐGraduate DestinationsMany graduates choose to stay in academia. Others go on toenvironmental work or work in industry.Mathematical, Physical and Life SciencesLLEnquiries:emmab@earth.ox.ac.ukHow to apply: www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/61