Welcome to 

Progressive Ultrahigh-pressure Multi-Anvil (PUMA) 

research group

The primary tool of the PUMA group is the large-volume multi-anvil press (LVP) because of high precisions, stabilities, and homogeneity in sample pressures and temperatures, obtaining highly reproducible results. 

We apply our own advanced multi-anvil technologies and conduct unique research about the high P-T properties of geomaterials, leading to profound insights into the Earth and planetary interiors.

Graduate studentship and postdoctoral research fellow of PUMA group at HPSTAR

The Progressive Ultrahigh-pressure Multi-Anvil (PUMA) research group in the High Pressure Science and Technology Advanced Research (HPSTAR) is seeking motivated students and postdocs wishing to investigate the properties of mantle minerals and rocks under high-pressure and high-temperature conditions to understand the structure, evolution, and dynamics of the Earth and planetary interiors.

The primary tool of the PUMA group is the large-volume multi-anvil press (LVP). Although many research groups at the HPSTAR adopt the diamond anvil cell as their primary tool, we adopt the LVP because of its high reliability: the sample pressures and temperatures are more precise, stable, and homogeneous by one order of magnitude, and obtained results are highly reproducible. In contrast to most LVP laboratories globally, we have the following advanced technologies.

1.    We can generate pressures up to 50 GPa, corresponding to the depth of 1500 km in the Earth [Ishii et al., 2019; 2022]. This pressure range is twice broader as in other laboratories (25 GPa).

2.    We can generate temperatures up to 3000 K [Xie et al., 2021a], which is 1.5 times broader than others (up to 1800 K). This technique allows us, for example, to melt peridotite completely [Xie et al., 2021b].

3.    We have an advanced technique of synchrotron in situ X-ray observation to determine phase relations precisely and accurately [Ishii et al., 2019; Chanyshev et al., 2022].

4.    We can quench hydrous and ultramafic melts into glasses with ten times faster cooling rates [Bondar et al., 2020; 2021; 2022]. This technique allows us to investigate the properties of mantle melts using various post-analysis.

5.    We can generate a highly homogeneous temperature field to prevent solid-melt segregation and investigate partial-melting rocks [Zarei et al., 2017].

Using these special techniques, we conduct unique research about the high P-T properties of geomaterials, leading to profound insights into the Earth and planetary interiors. In parallel, these techniques will be further developed, aming to study deeper regions of the Earth interior. Furthermore, since these techniques are also valuable in synthesizing high-quality high P-T samples, we also conduct various investigations on these samples through various techniques, such as single-crystal X-ray and neutron diffraction, Raman, infrared, and Brillouin spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray inelastic scattering and absorption spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance, secondary-ion mass spectrometry, micro-scanning calorimetry, and micro-indentation hardness and toughness measurement, in collaboration with excellent external researchers.

The PUMA group is currently composed of the following two members:

Dr. Takayuki Ishii (Group leader, https://takayukiishii104.wixsite.com/website)

Prof. Tomoo Katsura (Joint affiliation, https://katsurabgi.jimdo.com/)

The PUMA group leader, T. Ishii, governs the research group and will primarily supervise all students and postdocs. Since T. Katsura is jointly affiliated with HPSTAR as a distinguished visiting scientist and mainly with the University of Bayreuth, Germany, he usually communicates remotely but stays in HPSTAR for two months every year. The PUMA group has a meeting every week for intensive discussion. Since the current members are Japanese, all communications will be made via plain English.

The laboratory is well-equipped with sufficient funds and a strong scientific atmosphere. Each member will have the opportunity to attend domestic and international scientific meetings more than once a year. We also work with international collaborators worldwide and provide you with international experiences (e.g., the United States, Germany, France, and Japan).

Applicants must have geoscience, physics, chemistry, or materials science background. In addition, English communication ability at the CET-4 or CET-6 level, or equivalent, is required. The application should be composed of, for the studentship, (1) a cover letter explaining the research interest and motivation, (2) CV, (3) transcripts of the undergraduate and graduate courses, and, for the postdoctoral fellowship, (1) a cover letter, (2) CV including a publication list, (3) a concise but concrete explanation of current and previous research. (4) a possible research plan. These materials will be combined into one pdf file and sent to takayuki.ishii@hpstar.ac.cn and tomo.katsura@hpstar.ac.cn via email by August 31, 2022. The application and interviews within the PUMA group will make the first-stage selection. The HPSTAR will make a final decision in the second-stage selection. Successful applicants will be financially supported according to the HPSTAR’s policy.

【In Chinese】 

HPSTAR的PUMA研究组的博士生和博士后研究人员

高压科学与技术高级研究（HPSTAR）的渐进式超高压多砧（PUMA）研究组正在寻找积极进取的学生和博士后，希望研究地幔矿物和岩石在高压和高温条件下的特性，以了解地球和行星内部的结构、演变和动力学。

PUMA小组的主要工具是大体积多螺旋压力机（LVP）。尽管HPSTAR的许多研究小组采用钻石砧池作为他们的主要工具，但我们采用LVP是因为它的高可靠性：样品的压力和温度更精确、更稳定、更均匀一个数量级，而且获得的结果具有高度的可重复性。与全球大多数LVP实验室相比，我们拥有以下先进技术。

1.    我们可以产生高达50GPa的压力，相当于地球上1500公里的深度[Ishii等人，2019；2022]。这个压力范围比其他实验室（25GPa）宽了一倍。

2.    我们可以产生高达3000K的温度[Xie等人，2021a]，这比其他实验室（高达1800K）宽了1.5倍。例如，这种技术使我们能够完全熔化橄榄岩[Xie等人，2021b]。

3.    我们拥有先进的同步辐射原位X射线观测技术，可以精确地确定相位关系[Ishii et al., 2019; Chanyshev et al., 2022] 。

4.    我们可以用十倍的冷却速度将水态和超基性熔体淬炼成玻璃[Bondar等人，2020；2021；2022]。这项技术使我们能够利用各种后期分析来研究地幔熔体的特性。

5.    我们可以产生一个高度均匀的温度场，以防止固体与熔体的隔离，并研究部分熔化的岩石[Zarei等人，2017]。

利用这些特殊的技术，我们对地质材料的高P-T特性进行独特的研究，从而对地球和行星内部有深刻的了解。同时，这些技术将得到进一步发展，以研究地球内部的更深区域。此外，由于这些技术在合成高质量的高P-T样品方面也很有价值，我们还通过各种技术对这些样品进行各种研究，如单晶X射线和中子衍射、拉曼、红外和布里渊光谱、透射电子显微镜、X射线非弹性散射和吸收光谱、核磁共振、二次离子质谱、微扫描量热、微压痕硬度和韧性测量等，与外部优秀研究人员合作。

PUMA小组目前由以下两位成员组成。

Takayuki Ishii博士（组长，https://takayukiishii104.wixsite.com/website）

胜村智教授（共同隶属，https://katsurabgi.jimdo.com/）

PUMA小组组长T. Ishii负责管理该研究小组，并将主要指导所有学生和博士后。由于T. Katsura作为杰出的访问科学家与HPSTAR共同隶属，并主要与德国拜罗伊特大学合作，他通常进行远程交流，但每年会在HPSTAR停留两个月。PUMA小组每周都有一次会议进行深入讨论。由于目前的成员都是日本人，所有的交流都会通过普通英语进行。

实验室设备齐全，资金充足，科学氛围浓厚。每个成员将有机会每年参加一次以上的国内和国际科学会议。我们还与世界各地的国际合作者合作，为您提供国际经验（如美国、德国、法国和日本）。

申请人必须有地球科学、物理学、化学或材料科学背景。此外，要求英语交流能力达到CET-4或CET-6水平，或同等水平。申请书应包括：

（1）解释研究兴趣和动机的求职信；

（2）简历；

（3）本科和研究生课程的成绩单；

对于博士后奖学金，

（1）求职信；

（2）包括出版物清单的简历；

（3）对目前和以前研究的简明但具体的解释。

  (4) 一份可能的研究计划。

这些材料将合并成一个pdf文件，并在2022年8月31日前通过电子邮件发送给takayuki.ishii@hpstar.ac.cn 和tomo.katsura@hpstar.ac.cn。PUMA组内的申请和面试将进行第一阶段的选择。HPSTAR将在第二阶段选择中做出最终决定。成功的申请人将根据HPSTAR的政策获得财政支持。