
Overview
Background
New PhD applicants: I am always looking forward to working with new PhD students. Please get in touch with me to talk about potential projects and applicaiton timelines.
Additional informaiton for international PhD applicants: The upcoming PhD scholarship applications for international students will close in early December 2025. Successful applicants will commence PhD studies at UQ from Oct 2026 or Jan 2027. Please get in touch with me with a copy of your CV to discuss potential projects.
I am a Senior Lecturer in Geochronology and Tectonics. I am also an Advance Queensland Industry Research Fellow working on using geochronology (and thermochronology) and micro-analysis to improve knowledge in geoscience related to critical minerals. This Fellowship project is a key activity in my research group and I am always looking for motivated students and ECRs to join this research. It is sponsored by Queensland State Government and in collaboration with leading companies in the critical minerals industry.
Here's my recent seminar on some of the work in my group: https://youtu.be/twNcLECCqPg?si=501qcfSA2mJdHxUh
Broadly speaking, my research advances fundamentals of Plate Tectonics, the unique and unifying theory for our home planet. My group uses a set of field, laboratory, and computational approaches to reveal the geologic history of modern and ancient plate boundaries, focusing on reconstructing the evolution of plate-margin mountains and basins. Such regions are among the most dynamic in the Earth system: their development alters regional and global climate, impacts biogeographic evolution, triggers earthquakes and other geologic hazards, and determines formation and distribution of natural resources such as critical minerals. I have been fortunate to work in some of the most rewarding areas for geologists, including the Himalaya-Tibetan Plateau, Central Andes, eastern Australia, New Zealand, and Pacific Islands. Check out some of my field photos here. I am the lead of UQ Thermochronology Lab. As an in-depth user of UQ RIF (Radiogenic Isotope Facility), I also work with laser ablation ICP-MS with recent work around laser ablation geochronology and geochemistry.
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Editorial activities: I am a Subject Editor for Journal of the Geological Society and a member of the Editorial Board for Results in Earth Sciences. I am the lead Editor for issue 'Geochronology and Critical Minerals Systems' at Ore Geology Reviews. More information could be found here.
Teaching activities: My teaching duties range from delivering introductory courses, upper-year disciplinary courses, to research training courses. Here's a YouTube video of my first-year course [Link]. Also, here's a sneak peek into my SCIE4000 research course [Link].
Availability
- Dr Renjie Zhou is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Bachelor (Honours) of Engineering, Jilin University
- Masters (Research) of Earth Sciences, University of Toronto
- Doctor of Philosophy, University of Toronto
Works
Search Professor Renjie Zhou’s works on UQ eSpace
2025
Journal Article
Subtropical humid forests as a refuge for Late Miocene hominoids in Yunnan, southwestern China
Li, Xiabo, Yang, Qing, Ji, Xueping, Li, Shufeng, Zhou, Renjie, Zou, Zining, Yang, Wanshu, Wang, Zhenzhen and Zheng, Hongbo (2025). Subtropical humid forests as a refuge for Late Miocene hominoids in Yunnan, southwestern China. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 679 113282, 113282. doi: 10.1016/j.palaeo.2025.113282
2025
Journal Article
Early Paleozoic Transition From Intra-Oceanic Subduction to Arc-Continent Collision in the NE Proto-Tethys Ocean: Insights From Oceanic and Continental Forearc Basins
Yan, Zhen, Fu, Changlei, Aitchison, Jonathan C., Zheng, Jianbin, Niu, Manlan, Zhou, Renjie, Xiao, Wenjiao and Buckman, Solomon (2025). Early Paleozoic Transition From Intra-Oceanic Subduction to Arc-Continent Collision in the NE Proto-Tethys Ocean: Insights From Oceanic and Continental Forearc Basins. Tectonics, 44 (9) e2025TC008953. doi: 10.1029/2025TC008953
2025
Journal Article
Syn-tectonic deposits uncover uplift and expansion of the Qilian Shan along the Northeastern Tibetan Plateau since the Middle Miocene
Wu, Xiancan, Wang, Weitao, Li, Zhigang, Zhou, Renjie, Sun, Chuang, Wu, Lianwen, Long, Weiwang, Dai, Xiangming, Sun, Wen, Zhang, Yipeng, Liang, Hao and Zhang, Peizhen (2025). Syn-tectonic deposits uncover uplift and expansion of the Qilian Shan along the Northeastern Tibetan Plateau since the Middle Miocene. Tectonics, 44 (8) e2025TC008881. doi: 10.1029/2025tc008881
2025
Other Outputs
Supplementary files: Early Paleozoic transition from intra-oceanic subduction to arc–continent collision in the NE Proto-Tethys Ocean: Insights from oceanic and continental forearc basins (Version 2)
Yan, Zhen, Fu, Changlei, Aitchison, Jonathan C., Zheng, Jianbin, Niu, Manlan, Zhou, Renjie, Xiao, Wenjiao and Buckman, Solomon (2025). Supplementary files: Early Paleozoic transition from intra-oceanic subduction to arc–continent collision in the NE Proto-Tethys Ocean: Insights from oceanic and continental forearc basins (Version 2). The University of Queensland. (Dataset) doi: 10.48610/cb6427c
2025
Journal Article
Recycling Subducted Organic Carbon as Diamonds: An Example From the New Caledonia Forearc Ophiolite
Aitchison, Jonathan C., Patias, Daniel, Cluzel, Dominique, Ireland, Trevor R., Zhou, Renjie, Lian, Dongyang, Yang, Jingsui and Yan, Zhen (2025). Recycling Subducted Organic Carbon as Diamonds: An Example From the New Caledonia Forearc Ophiolite. Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems, 26 (4) e2025GC012250, 1-15. doi: 10.1029/2025gc012250
2025
Journal Article
Late Oligocene formation of the Qaidam Basin revealed by calcite U-Pb dating: Insights into the northward growth of Tibetan Plateau
Ge, Mengjia, Wu, Lei, Wu, Shitou, Li, Xuhang, Zhou, Renjie, Lin, Xiubin, Xiao, Ancheng, Yang, Shufeng and Chen, Hanlin (2025). Late Oligocene formation of the Qaidam Basin revealed by calcite U-Pb dating: Insights into the northward growth of Tibetan Plateau. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 653 119208, 1-15. doi: 10.1016/j.epsl.2025.119208
2025
Journal Article
Geochemical constraints on subduction-related mantle metasomatism of the Tiébaghi ophiolitic lherzolite in New Caledonia
Cai, Pengjie, Lian, Dongyang, Aitchison, Jonathan C., Cluzel, Dominique, Zhou, Renjie, Rui, Huichao, Bo, Rongzong, Ma, Haitao, Yang, Jingsui and Masoud, Ahmed E. (2025). Geochemical constraints on subduction-related mantle metasomatism of the Tiébaghi ophiolitic lherzolite in New Caledonia. Lithos, 496-497 107948, 107948-496. doi: 10.1016/j.lithos.2025.107948
2025
Journal Article
Carbon isotope (δ13Ccarb) stratigraphy of the Ordovician of northern Guizhou, South China: implications for global correlation
Cui, Ya, An, Xianyin, Zhang, Yujie, Zhou, Renjie, Wang, Xin, Gao, Yongjuan, Wang, Yang and Wang, Yuejun (2025). Carbon isotope (δ13Ccarb) stratigraphy of the Ordovician of northern Guizhou, South China: implications for global correlation. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 659 112637. doi: 10.1016/j.palaeo.2024.112637
2025
Journal Article
Devonian–Permian sedimentation in the Central Yunnan basin, SW Yangtze block (South China): insights into provenance and paleogeography of Li-rich bauxitic claystone
Yan, Zhen, Fu, Changlei, Chen, Hui, Aitchison, Jonathan C., Xue, Chuandong, Zhang, Jiahui, Chen, Lei, Wang, Denghong, Wang, Xiaohu and Zhou, Renjie (2025). Devonian–Permian sedimentation in the Central Yunnan basin, SW Yangtze block (South China): insights into provenance and paleogeography of Li-rich bauxitic claystone. Geological Society of America Bulletin, 137 (5-6), 2523-2544. doi: 10.1130/b37896.1
2025
Journal Article
Introduction to the thematic collection ‘Mesozoic and Cenozoic tectonics, landscape and climate change in and around the Tibetan Plateau and southeast Asia’
Tian, Yuntao, Cheng, Feng, Zhou, Renjie and Xiao, Wenjiao (2025). Introduction to the thematic collection ‘Mesozoic and Cenozoic tectonics, landscape and climate change in and around the Tibetan Plateau and southeast Asia’. Journal of the Geological Society jgs2025-170. doi: 10.1144/jgs2025-170
2024
Journal Article
Spatio-temporal evolution of the Paleo-Tethys in western Yunnan: insights from mafic rocks in the Lancang tectonic belt
Cui, Ya, Wang, Yuejun, Zhou, Renjie, Wang, Yang, Ubide, Teresa, Qian, Xin, Wang, Cheng and Wang, Xin (2024). Spatio-temporal evolution of the Paleo-Tethys in western Yunnan: insights from mafic rocks in the Lancang tectonic belt. Lithos, 488-489 107830, 107830. doi: 10.1016/j.lithos.2024.107830
2024
Journal Article
Cenozoic faulting leading to petroleum escape in SW Ordos Basin, China: evidence from fault-related calcite in situ U-Pb dating, rare earth elements and fluid inclusions
Yang, Peng, Ren, Zhanli, Nuriel, Perach, Nguyen, Ai Duc, Feng, Yue-xing, Zhou, Renjie and Zhao, Jian-xin (2024). Cenozoic faulting leading to petroleum escape in SW Ordos Basin, China: evidence from fault-related calcite in situ U-Pb dating, rare earth elements and fluid inclusions. Marine and Petroleum Geology, 170 107071, 1-16. doi: 10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2024.107071
2024
Journal Article
New approach to constraining Cr-mineralization and forearc processes: U-Pb dating and geochemistry of titanites in chromitites of the Dun Mountain ophiolite belt (New Zealand)
Patias, Daniel, Zhou, Renjie, Wang, Xin and Aitchison, Jonathan C. (2024). New approach to constraining Cr-mineralization and forearc processes: U-Pb dating and geochemistry of titanites in chromitites of the Dun Mountain ophiolite belt (New Zealand). Ore Geology Reviews, 174 106292, 1-14. doi: 10.1016/j.oregeorev.2024.106292
2024
Journal Article
Detrital zircon REE and tectonic settings
Hu, Pei-yuan, Zhai, Qing-guo, Cawood, Peter A., Weinberg, Roberto F., Zhao, Guo-chun, Zhou, Ren-jie, Tang, Yue and Liu, Yi-ming (2024). Detrital zircon REE and tectonic settings. Lithos, 480-481 107661, 1-12. doi: 10.1016/j.lithos.2024.107661
2024
Journal Article
Geophysical constraints on continental rejuvenation in central China: implications for outward growth of the Tibetan Plateau
Zhang, Yi-Peng, Zhang, Pei-Zhen, Lease, Richard O., Li, Min-Juan, Zhou, Renjie, Xu, Bin-Bin, Cheng, Si-Yuan, Shen, Xu-Zhang, Zheng, Wen-Jun, He, Xiao-Hui, Wang, Wei-Tao and Wang, Yue-Jun (2024). Geophysical constraints on continental rejuvenation in central China: implications for outward growth of the Tibetan Plateau. Geological Society of America Bulletin, 136 (9-10), 3690-3704. doi: 10.1130/b37220.1
2024
Journal Article
Zircon coupled dissolution-precipitation textures distinguish xenocrystic cargo from rare magmatic zircon in the Paleoarchean Bacuri Mafic-Ultramafic layered Complex, Brazil
Spier, Carlos Alberto, Daczko, Nathan R. and Zhou, Renjie (2024). Zircon coupled dissolution-precipitation textures distinguish xenocrystic cargo from rare magmatic zircon in the Paleoarchean Bacuri Mafic-Ultramafic layered Complex, Brazil. Precambrian Research, 404 107342, 107342. doi: 10.1016/j.precamres.2024.107342
2024
Journal Article
Oligocene-Miocene northward growth of the Tibetan Plateau: Insights from intermontane basins in the West Qinling Belt, NW China
Zhang, Yi-Peng, Zhang, Pei-Zhen, Lease, Richard O., Zhou, Renjie, Wang, Yue-Jun, Yan, Yong-Gang, Wang, Ying, Zheng, Wen-Jun, Liu, Bing-Xu, Li, Zhi-Gang, Liang, Hao, Hui, Ge-Ge, Sun, Chuang, Tian, Qing-Ying, Xu, Bin-Bin and Wang, Wei-Tao (2024). Oligocene-Miocene northward growth of the Tibetan Plateau: Insights from intermontane basins in the West Qinling Belt, NW China. Bulletin of the Geological Society of America, 136 (1-2), 131-157. doi: 10.1130/B36722.1
2024
Conference Publication
Timing of deformation in the Moravosilesian Foreland Basin – new insights from detrital zircon U-Pb dating
Yao, Xiao, Rembe, Johannes, Čopjaková, Renata and Zhou, Renjie (2024). Timing of deformation in the Moravosilesian Foreland Basin – new insights from detrital zircon U-Pb dating. EGU (European Geosciences Union) General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14-19 April 2024.
2024
Journal Article
Extremely low δ56Fe in arc tholeiites linked to ferrocarbonate recycling: Implications for Fe enrichment in the Awulale Arc, Central Asia
Yan, Shuang, Niu, He-Cai, Zhao, Zhenhua, Li, Ning-bo, Yang, Wu-bin, Zhou, Renjie, An, Yajun and Huang, Fang (2024). Extremely low δ56Fe in arc tholeiites linked to ferrocarbonate recycling: Implications for Fe enrichment in the Awulale Arc, Central Asia. Bulletin of the Geological Society of America, 136 (1-2), 184-200. doi: 10.1130/B36729.1
2024
Journal Article
Sedimentary record of Variscan unroofing of the Bohemian Massif
Xiao, Yao, Rembe, Johannes, Čopjaková, Renata, Aitchison, Jonathan C., Chen, Yichao and Zhou, Renjie (2024). Sedimentary record of Variscan unroofing of the Bohemian Massif. Gondwana Research, 128, 141-160. doi: 10.1016/j.gr.2023.11.003
Funding
Current funding
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Renjie Zhou is:
- Available for supervision
Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.
Available projects
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Fingerprinting critical minerals development in continental margins
This is an exciting PhD opportunity involving industry and government collaboration in Queensland. It aims to develop new workflows in supporting the discovery of critical minerals (tungsten and other related minerals) in Paleozoic (~542 to 252 Ma) magmatic units in NE Queensland. Outcomes will enhance our understanding of magmatic and hydrothermal events associated with mineral deposits in eastern Australia by undertaking research in multi-system geochronology and geochemistry. Multi-laboratory workflows for mineral system characterisation will be developed and tested. Get in touch to learn more about this position.
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Research Projects
I have projects available for Honours, MPhil, and PhD students. Please email me for details.
UQ offers a competitive scholarship package, including full tuition support, stipends, and additional opportunities for tutoring or teaching assistantships. PhD students could commence their studies at UQ in January, April, July, or October. Get in touch if you’re interested in learning more about possible projects with our team.
Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
Apatite fingerprinting in Iron Oxide-Copper-Gold (IOCG) systems: integrating geochemistry, petrochronology, and Sr -Nd isotopic signatures in the Cloncurry mineral province, Australia
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Jianxin Zhao
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Master Philosophy
Structural architecture of South DAguilar-Beenleigh Subprovinces: Implications for development of critical infrastructure in Southeast Queensland
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Mojtaba Rajabi
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Doctor Philosophy
Diamonds in Ophiolites: recycling deep mantle into supra-subduction zones
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Jonathan Aitchison
Completed supervision
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2025
Doctor Philosophy
Geochronological and geochemical constraints on models for convergent Gondwana margins: Delamerian, Mossman and Variscan Orogens
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Jonathan Aitchison
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2023
Doctor Philosophy
Understanding New Zealand and New Caledonia forearc ophiolites using rare accessory minerals
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Jonathan Aitchison
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2025
Doctor Philosophy
Understanding early radiolarian evolution: taxonomy, phylogeny and taphonomy through Micro-CT
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Jonathan Aitchison
Media
Enquiries
Contact Dr Renjie Zhou directly for media enquiries about:
- earthquake
- geological hazard
- geological resource
- geology
- mountain building
- plate tectonics
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