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.
-----------------------------------
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
2019
Conference Publication
Carboniferous and Triassic oceanic crust in the North Pamir: paleogeographic implications
Rembe, Johannes, Sobel, Edward R., Kley, Jonas, Terbishalieva, Baiansuluu, Zhou, Renjie, Chen, Jie and Liu, Langtao (2019). Carboniferous and Triassic oceanic crust in the North Pamir: paleogeographic implications. EGU (European Geosciences Union) General Assembly 2019, Vienna, Austria, 7–12 April 2019. Göttingen, Germany: Copernicus Gesellschaft.
2018
Journal Article
Two-phase exhumation along major shear zones in the SE Tibetan Plateau in the late Cenozoic
Wang, Yang, Zhang, Peizhen, Schoenbohm, Lindsay M., Zheng, Wenjun, Zhang, Bo, Zhang, Jinjiang, Zheng, Dewen, Zhou, Renjie and Tian, Yuntao (2018). Two-phase exhumation along major shear zones in the SE Tibetan Plateau in the late Cenozoic. Tectonics, 37 (8), 2675-2694. doi: 10.1029/2018tc004979
2018
Journal Article
Origin and tectonic implications of the Shiquanhe high-Mg andesite, western Bangong suture, Tibet
Liu, Wei-Liang, Huang, Qiang-Tai, Gu, Man, Zhong, Yun, Zhou, Renjie, Gu, Xiao-Dong, Zheng, Hao, Liu, Jing-Nan, Lu, Xing-Xin and Xia, Bin (2018). Origin and tectonic implications of the Shiquanhe high-Mg andesite, western Bangong suture, Tibet. Gondwana Research, 60, 1-14. doi: 10.1016/j.gr.2018.03.017
2018
Conference Publication
Exhumation of the Ladakh batholith, NW India
Zhou, R. (2018). Exhumation of the Ladakh batholith, NW India. Thermochronology and Noble Gas Geochronology and Geochemistry Organisation Conference (TANG3O 2018), Melbourne, VIC, Australia, 22-23 November 2018.
2018
Conference Publication
Emplacement and unroofing of the Ladakh batholith: implications for the evolution of the trans-Himalayan magmatic belt
Zhou, R., Aitchison, J., Lokho, K., Sobel, E., Seward, D., Stojanovic, D., Feng, Y. and Zhao, J. (2018). Emplacement and unroofing of the Ladakh batholith: implications for the evolution of the trans-Himalayan magmatic belt. Australian Geoscience Council Convention, Adelaide, Australia, 14-18 October 2018.
2018
Conference Publication
A rift basin in the External Pamir – paleogeographic implications for reconstructing the Cenozoic deformation history
Sobel, Edward R., Kley, Jonas, Rembe, Johannes, Terbishalieva, Baiansuluu, Chen, Jie and Zhou, Renjie (2018). A rift basin in the External Pamir – paleogeographic implications for reconstructing the Cenozoic deformation history. Thermochronology and Noble Gas Geochronology and Geochemistry Organisation Conference (TANG3O 2018), Melbourne, VIC, Australia, 22-23 November 2018.
2018
Conference Publication
How big was that ocean? - combining new and traditional techniques to inform understanding of ancient ocean basin evolution
Aitchison, J., Zhou, R. and Buckman, S. (2018). How big was that ocean? - combining new and traditional techniques to inform understanding of ancient ocean basin evolution. Australian Geoscience Council Convention, Adelaide, Australia, 14-18 October 2018.
2018
Conference Publication
Provenance study and the first radiometric age constraints on the Indus molasse in the India-Eurasia collision zone
Zhou, R., Aitchison, J., Lokho, K., Sobel, E., Stojanovic, D., Feng, Y. and Zhao, J. (2018). Provenance study and the first radiometric age constraints on the Indus molasse in the India-Eurasia collision zone. Australian Geoscience Council Convention, Adelaide, Australia, 14-18 October 2018.
2018
Conference Publication
Late Cenozoic exhumation history of the Gaoligong and Chongshan shear zones (SE Tibet)
Wang, Y., Zhang, P., Schoenbohm, L. M., Zheng, W., Zhang, B., Zhang, J., Zheng, D., Zhou, R. and Tian, Y. (2018). Late Cenozoic exhumation history of the Gaoligong and Chongshan shear zones (SE Tibet). AGU (American Geophysical Union) Fall Meeting 2018, Washington, DC, United States, 10-14 December 2018.
2017
Journal Article
Diverse sedimentary conditions during deposition Of coal and oil shale from the Meihe Basin (Eocene, NE China)
Bai, Yueyue, Liu, Zhaojun, Sun, Pingchang, Liu, Rong, Hu, Xiaofeng, Zhou, Renjie, Xu, Yinbo, Zhao, Hanqing and Wang, Jianpeng (2017). Diverse sedimentary conditions during deposition Of coal and oil shale from the Meihe Basin (Eocene, NE China). Journal of Sedimentary Research, 87 (10), 1100-1120. doi: 10.2110/jsr.2017.60
2017
Journal Article
Late Cenozoic landscape evolution along the Ailao Shan Shear Zone, SE Tibetan Plateau: evidence from fluvial longitudinal profiles and cosmogenic erosion rates
Wang, Yang, Schoenbohm, Lindsay M., Zhang, Bo, Granger, Darryl E., Zhou, Renjie, Zhang, Jinjiang and Hou, Jianjun (2017). Late Cenozoic landscape evolution along the Ailao Shan Shear Zone, SE Tibetan Plateau: evidence from fluvial longitudinal profiles and cosmogenic erosion rates. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 472, 323-333. doi: 10.1016/j.epsl.2017.05.030
2017
Journal Article
Mineralogy and geochemistry of fine-grained clastic rocks in the Eocene Huadian Basin (NE China): Implications for sediment provenance, paleoclimate and depositional environment
Meng, QingTao, Sachsenhofer, Reinhard F., Liu, ZhaoJun, Sun, PingChang, Hu, Fei, Zhou, RenJie and Wang, KeBing (2017). Mineralogy and geochemistry of fine-grained clastic rocks in the Eocene Huadian Basin (NE China): Implications for sediment provenance, paleoclimate and depositional environment. Austrian Journal of Earth Sciences, 110 (2). doi: 10.17738/ajes.2017.0014
2017
Conference Publication
River longitudinal profiles and basin-wide erosion rates along the Ailao Shan Shear Zone, SE Tibetan Plateau
Wang, Yang, Schoenbohm, Lindsay, Zhang, Bo, Granger, Darryl, Zhou, Renjie, Zhang, Jinjiang and Hou, Jianjun (2017). River longitudinal profiles and basin-wide erosion rates along the Ailao Shan Shear Zone, SE Tibetan Plateau. Asia Oceania Geosciences Society (AOGS) Annual Meeting, Singapore, Singapore, 6-11 August 2017.
2017
Journal Article
New constraints on orogenic models of the southern Central Andean Plateau: cenozoic basin evolution and bedrock exhumation
Zhou, Renjie, Schoenbohm, Lindsay M., Sobel, Edward R., Davis, Donald W. and Glodny, Johannes (2017). New constraints on orogenic models of the southern Central Andean Plateau: cenozoic basin evolution and bedrock exhumation. Geological Society of America Bulletin, 129 (1-2), 152-170. doi: 10.1130/B31384.1
2017
Conference Publication
Orogen-scale anticline revealed in the Southern Alps of New Zealand by structural thermochronology
Zhou, Renjie and Brandon, Mark (2017). Orogen-scale anticline revealed in the Southern Alps of New Zealand by structural thermochronology. EGU (European Geosciences Union) General Assembly 2017, Vienna, Austria, 23-28 April 2017. Göttingen, Germany: Copernicus Gesellschaft.
2016
Journal Article
Late Cenozoic tectonic evolution of the Ailao Shan-Red River fault (SE Tibet): implications for kinematic change during plateau growth
Wang, Yang, Zhang, Bo, Schoenbohm, Lindsay M., Zhang, Jinjiang, Zhou, Renjie, Hou, Jianjun and Ai, Sheng (2016). Late Cenozoic tectonic evolution of the Ailao Shan-Red River fault (SE Tibet): implications for kinematic change during plateau growth. Tectonics, 35 (8), 1969-1988. doi: 10.1002/2016TC004229
2016
Conference Publication
Late Cenozoic tectonic evolution of the Ailao Shan-Red River fault (SETibet): implications for kinematic change during Plateau growth
Wang, Yang, Zhang, Bo, Schoenbohm, Lindsay, Zhang, Jinjiang, Zhou, Renjie and Hou, Jianjun (2016). Late Cenozoic tectonic evolution of the Ailao Shan-Red River fault (SETibet): implications for kinematic change during Plateau growth. EGU (European Geosciences Union) General Assembly 2016, Vienna, Austria, 17-22 April 2016. Göttingen, Germany: Copernicus Gesellschaft.
2016
Conference Publication
Non-monotonic cooling history in the southern Central Andes recorded by multisystem low-temperature thermochronology
Zhou, R., Schoenbohm, L. M., Sobel, E. R., Glodny, J. and Stockli, D. F. (2016). Non-monotonic cooling history in the southern Central Andes recorded by multisystem low-temperature thermochronology. Thermochronology and Noble Gas Geochemistry and Geochronology Organization Workshop (TANG3O 2016), Perth, Australia, 29-30 November 2016.
2016
Conference Publication
New constraints on the origins of terranes within the New England Orogen, eastern Australia and their accretion to the eastern margin of Gondwana
Zhou, R., Aitchison, J. C., Flood, P. G. and Buckman, S. (2016). New constraints on the origins of terranes within the New England Orogen, eastern Australia and their accretion to the eastern margin of Gondwana. AGU (American Geophysical Union) Fall Meeting 2016, San Francisco, CA, United States, 11-15 December 2016.
2016
Journal Article
Sedimentary record of regional deformation and dynamics of the thick-skinned southern Puna Plateau, central Andes (26-27°S)
Zhou, Renjie, Schoenbohm, Lindsay M., Sobel, Edward R., Carrapa, Barbara and Davis, Donald W. (2016). Sedimentary record of regional deformation and dynamics of the thick-skinned southern Puna Plateau, central Andes (26-27°S). Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 433, 317-325. doi: 10.1016/j.epsl.2015.11.012
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
-
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.
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
Doctor Philosophy
Diamonds in Ophiolites: recycling deep mantle into supra-subduction zones
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Jonathan Aitchison
Completed supervision
-
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
-
2023
Doctor Philosophy
Understanding New Zealand and New Caledonia forearc ophiolites using rare accessory minerals
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Jonathan Aitchison
-
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
Need help?
For help with finding experts, story ideas and media enquiries, contact our Media team: