Toulouse Team
The Laboratoire des Mécanismes et Transferts en Géologie (LMTG) at the Université de Paul Sabatier in Toulouse, France, is among the top geochemical training and research facilities in Europe. It runs a highly successful doctoral program on Earth and Environmental Sciences and graduates approximately 25 students at the masters and doctoral levels each year. The Université de Paul Sabatier is part of the second largest university center in France, hosting more than 30,000 students specialising in science and engineering.
Scientist-in-charge
Dr. Eric H. Oelkers, Directeur de Recherche at LMTG, has more than 20 years of research and training experience. He currently serves as chairman of the Experimental Geochemistry and Biogeochemistry Department. He has organized European Research Conferences, and he has served as editor for various journals and special volumes and as coordinator for a fifth-framework research training network.
Dr. Oelkers is an expert in transition state theory and bulk measurement of dissolution/precipitation rates. Included among his recent publications are the following papers:
- Gislason, S. R., Oelkers E. H. and Snorrason Á. (2006). The role of river suspended material in the global carbon cycle. Geology 34, 49-52. (With cover photo).
- Hellevang, H., Aagaard., Oelkers, E.H., and Kvamme, B. (2005) Can dawsonite permanently trap CO2? Environmental Science and Technology 39, 8281-8287.
- Oelkers, E. H. and Schott, J. (2005) Geochemical aspects of CO2 sequestration. Chemical Geology 217, 183-186.
Team members
Pascale Benezeth, Chargé de Recherche, expert in the thermodynamics and kinetics of CO2/water/mineral reactions.
Jacques Schott, Directeur de Recherche, world renowned expert in theoretical interpretation of precipitation /dissolution rates).
Oleg Pokrovsky, Chargé de Recherche, expert in carbonate reactivity, and the measurement/interpretation of rate data
Alian Castillo, Technician du CNRS, analytical specialist
Carole Cauaaerand, Technician du CNRS, expert in aqueous chemical analyses
No early stage or experienced research fellows have yet been recruited to the Toulouse team. If you are interested in applying for a fellowship, please see the Opportunities page.
More about the host organization
The LMTG is equipped with state-of-the-art equipment for measuring and interpreting rate experiments, including high and low temperature mixed-flow reactors, atomic absorption spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and two latest generation ICP/MS. LMTG research subjects include the safe storage of toxic and radioactive waste, CO2 sequestration, and controlling pollution. The lab is particularly renowned for its high quality experimental and theoretical studies on the thermodynamics and kinetics of mineral-fluid interactions.
The LMTG currently has about 28 doctoral students and 14 post-doctoral trainees. In total, more than a hundred Ph.D. students have graduated, and more than 30 post-doctoral trainees have been welcomed at the LMTG over the past 10 years. The success of these trainees has been remarkable: 85 percent of the doctoral students completed their theses within four years, and 75 percent of the post-doctoral trainees attained a permanent post within a year of completing their training at the LMTG. This success is attributed to the LMTG’s emphasis on applying state-of-art technique to solving problems of both academic and societal concern.
The LMTG is among the most efficient geochemistry laboratories in the world. The permanent staff in geochemistry is comprised of 45 full-time scientists and 25 engineers and technicians. The laboratory has over 25 international scientists and students for visits lasting up to several years. The LMTG has formal or informal research collaboration with scientists and industries located in more than 24 different countries. The laboratory has published over 500 publications in top international journals during the past ten years.