Doctoral studies in Geology

The programme leads to a Degree of Doctor of Philosophy or a Degree of Licentiate of Philosophy in Geobiosphere Science with a specialization in Geology. A doctoral degree normally comprises four years of full‑time study, of which approximately one year is devoted to courses and seminars and the remaining time to independent research and thesis work. Candidates admitted with a Master of Science in Engineering may also be awarded the title of Doctor of Technology or Licentiate of Technology, subject to a decision made in consultation with LTH.

Subject Area: Geology

Geology within Geobiosphere Science spans:

• Earth’s composition and dynamics – processes that create and reshape the crust and lithosphere.
• The evolution of the biosphere – paleobiological and paleoecological perspectives on the history of life.
• Surface processes and ecosystems – connections between bedrock, sediments, climate, and the biosphere.
• Environmental change across scales – studies of past and ongoing changes, both natural and anthropogenic.

Research adopts a holistic approach to the development of the geobiosphere by integrating field observations, analysis of geological archives, modelling, and synthesis across long timescales.

Research Areas

The research area includes, among others:

• Lithospheric evolution: tectonics, magmatism, metamorphism, and the processes that shape and transform Earth’s crust.
• Paleoenvironment and paleoclimate: reconstruction of past climates, sea levels, and environments, and the drivers behind them.
• Evolutionary history of organisms: interpretation of fossils, biostratigraphy, and interactions between life and geology.
• Surface processes and Earth‑surface systems: sedimentary environments, landscape evolution, and links between geology and ecosystems.
• Environmental and climate change: causes and processes behind changes at local to global scales, historically and in the present.