# Postdoctoral Fellowship: EAR-PF: Global Rare Earth Element Cycles: Constraining Fluxes Through Subducting Systems

> **NSF 01002425DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT** · Connop, Charlotte H (PA) · $180,000

## Abstract

Dr. Charlotte Connop has been awarded an NSF EAR Postdoctoral Fellowship to perform research, professional development, and outreach activities under the mentorship of Dr. Mark Caddick at Virginia Tech. Rare earth elements (REEs) are important for geology as well as society. In geology, REEs have many uses, and their applications all rely on understanding if or when REEs are mobilized. Moreover, minerals with high amounts of REEs are designated as “critical minerals” as they are essential for defense, industry, and the economy. Through lab and modeling work, this project will better constrain the mobility of REEs in subduction zones. During subduction, a tectonic plate slides under another and experiences changes in temperature and pressure that may allow for REEs to be mobile. This work will create research and mentoring opportunities for undergraduates from diverse backgrounds not well represented in the Earth Sciences. Furthermore, a summer workshop series will be created for high school Earth Science teachers to help them teach geosciences to students.

Subduction zones are a key tectonic environment in which to assess the mobility of REES, as subduction is the primary geochemical cycling mechanism in the top ~300 km of Earth’s surface. This proposal uses a forward model validated with natural samples to test the hypotheses that (1) REEs sequestered in subduction zone minerals are generally immobile and are predominantly transported to the deep mantle, (2) when REEs are

## Key facts

- **NSF award ID:** 2403614
- **Awardee organization:** Connop, Charlotte H (PA)
- **PI:** Charlotte H Connop
- **Primary program:** 01002425DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT
- **All programs:** POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIPS
- **Estimated total:** $180,000
- **Funds obligated:** $0
- **Transaction type:** Fellowship Award
- **Period:** 07/01/2025 → 06/30/2027

## Primary source

NSF Award Search: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2403614

## Citation

> US National Science Foundation, Award 2403614, Postdoctoral Fellowship: EAR-PF: Global Rare Earth Element Cycles: Constraining Fluxes Through Subducting Systems. Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-08 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nsf/2403614. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NSF Awards dataset](/datasets/nsf-awards) · CC0 1.0*