Postdoctoral Research Associate in Geomechanics, Geochemistry, or Geophysics

The Energy and Natural Resources Security group at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) has two openings for Postdoctoral Research Associates in experimental geomechanics. Successful candidates will join a diverse team of scientists who are working to address critical earth science challenges related to energy and national security. Specific research topics related to this opportunity include: (1) experiments using optical fibers to measure distributed strain and temperature inside high-pressure high-temperature vessels; (2) experiments to understand the thermo-chemo-mechanical properties of cementitious composites; and (3) near wellbore modeling with coupled thermo-poro-elasticity. As a member of our interdisciplinary team that includes experts in rock mechanics, well integrity, geophysics, and geochemistry, the candidate will be at the forefront of developing innovative experimental and modeling methodologies to support finding challenges in energy, the environment, and national security. Our facilities for this work include novel equipment such as our large high-pressure high-temperature (HTHP) quad-pore triaxial system, Fiber Brag gratings optical sensors for distributed strain and temperature sensing, HTHP cement curing vessels and calorimeters, HTHP viscometer and Parr reactors, and triaxial core-flood systems with integrated X-ray capabilities. The successful candidate is expected to publish results in high-impact peer-reviewed journals and present their work at conferences. The position is for a two-year term, with the option to extend a third year based on performance and funding availability.

Application link:  LinkedIn job listing at https://lnkd.in/gMiCt_qK LANL web https://lanl.jobs/search/jobdetails/postdoctoral-research-associate-in-geomechanics-geochemistry-or-geophysics/696c5bdf-1b15-4d1e-a1d4-fc841d63338b Following your application submission, please forward your application materials to mengm@lanl.gov. If you have any questions or require further information, feel free to reach out via this email address.

Duration: Up to 6 months but will open until filled.

Characterisation and Modelling of Veined Rocks: Integrity, Deformation, and Fluid Flow

Description

The Faculty of Science and Engineering of the University of Manchester is looking for a highly motivated student to undertake an exciting PhD project on fractured/veined rocks. The student will work in parallel with our ongoing EPSRC-funded INFORM project, where we aim to understand the impact of fracture heterogeneity on the mechanical behaviour of rocks.

This PhD project will increase confidence in the design, construction, and operation of a geological disposal facility (GDF), by integrating X-ray CT analysis and laboratory experiments to understand the influence of mineralised fractures (veins) on the integrity, deformation, and fluid flow behaviour of veined rocks that are often ignored or less researched so far. The student will characterise a range of crystalline and clay formations with veins at the nm scale and develop a bespoke hydrothermal fluid experiment to understand vein-forming mechanisms under subsurface conditions and evaluate its implications on the mechanical deformation of veined rocks. The outcome of this project will underpin the ongoing GDF programme, to isolate radioactive wastes that are incompatible with surface disposal permanently in the subsurface. Nuclear power is low-carbon energy. It now provides about 10% of the world’s electricity, contributing enormously to global Net Zero emissions. One main disadvantage of nuclear power is that its generation process produces radioactive waste that can remain hazardous for hundreds of thousands of years.

The student will be provided full training on Crystal-CT imaging and analysis and will have access to the UK National X-ray Computed Tomography Facility (University of Manchester – National X-ray Computed Tomography (nxct.ac.uk)) at the University of Manchester. The student will also get access to the world-leading rock deformation lab at Manchester (https://www.ees.manchester.ac.uk/research/facilities/). The student will also have opportunities to engage with our excellent project partners from NWS, GFZ, Jacobs, Northeastern University, and our INFORM research team members.

Eligibility

The successful candidates should have, or expect to achieve, at least a 2.1 honours degree and a master’s degree (or international equivalent) in a relevant science/engineering discipline (civil, mining, geotechnics, earth sciences, etc.). A track record of international publications as the first author can be a plus to this role.

Funding

This PhD position is fully funded by the University of Manchester (home student fee only). We also welcome enquiries from exceptional international students but need to find ways to cover the fee difference. Apart from this, we also welcome CSC-funded students to join the research team.

Application Deadline: Friday, 5 Jan 2024 (expected start date: 1 April or 1 Sept 2024)

If you are interested, please get in touch with Dr Junlong Shang (shangjunlongcsu@gmail.com), with a CV and a supporting statement by the deadline.

Postdoctoral Fellow in Geotechnical Engineering at NTNU, Norway

Geotechnical Engineering Group at NTNU, Trondheim, Norway invites applications for a Postdoctoral position in Geothermal Energy Pile field.

The postdoctoral fellow will investigate Thermal-Hydraulic-Mechanical (THM) behaviour of field scale geothermal energy piles using physical and numerical modelling. The main purpose of this research is to investigate the thermo-mechanical performance of energy piles installed in Norwegian ground conditions such as quick clay. An experimental (lab and field scale) and numerical study will be carried out to investigate the potential of geothermal energy piles in Norwegian climate.

The postdoctoral fellowship position is for 3 years where the main goal is to qualify to work in senior academic positions in future. The postdoctoral fellow will work with Professor Rao Martand Singh (rao.m.singh@ntnu.no). To apply for the position, please click the link below:

https://www.jobbnorge.no/en/available-jobs/job/254046/postdoctoral-fellow-in-geotechnical-engineering

Geomechanics and Geophysics Symposium at EMI 2024

The 2024 Engineering Mechanics Institute Conference will be hosted by the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and held in Chicago from May 28—31, 2024

Ghassan Shahin, John Rudnicki, and Giuseppe Buscarnera would like to invite you to contribute to the mini-symposium Advances in Geomechanics and Geophysics for Sub-surface Technology and Natural Hazard (MS 0502). Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:

  • multiscale mechanics and multiphysics of geomaterials
  • fault mechanics, rock fracturing, and strain localization
  • field and laboratory methods
  • constitutive, multiscale, and data-driven modelling
  • instability theories
  • field-scale studies

Abstract submission is now open and will remain open until December 31, 2023. Information on submitting an abstract may be found here.

We hope you will submit an abstract to the conference and meet in Chicago!

Mining Engineering Professor at Polytechnique Montréal

Polytechnique Montréal’s Department of Civil, Geological and Mining Engineering is seeking an applicant with qualifications and a particular interest and recognized expertise in the following areas: Mining engineering – Environment and mine waste management

  • Geotechnics and mining hydrogeology;
  • Design of infrastructures for mine waste disposal;
  • Mine closure and reclamation.

More information in this pdf file.

Faculty position in CEE at Cornell

The School of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Cornell University (Ithaca campus) invites applications for a faculty position (all ranks considered) in the broad areas of natural and engineered systems and their robustness, resiliency and sustainability in the face of climate change and extreme events. Review of applications will begin Dec 10, 2023 and will continue until the position is filled. Applications must be submitted online at: https://academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/26388

A detailed description of the position is attached in this pdf file.

PhD position at Uppsala University on Coupled Processes in Fractured Rocks

Applications are welcome for a 4-year fully-funded PhD position at Uppsala University, Sweden. This 4-year PhD project will have a focus on developing an advanced three-dimensional numerical model for simulating coupled hydro-mechanical processes in fractured and/or porous geological media (including heterogeneous bedrocks, soil layers, and fault zones). The simulation tool will be applied to model and predict groundwater drawdown and land subsidence during underground construction in dense urban areas. The model will be validated and calibrated against extensive measurement data available from a major ongoing underground construction project in Sweden. In addition to working at Uppsala University, the PhD candidate will have an opportunity to interact closely with the infrastructure industry.

The deadline for application is 1 December 2023. Please see attached pdf file for details.

EMI / Granular Materials Symposium

Dear Colleague,

The Engineering Mechanics Institute Conference and Probabilistic Mechanics & Reliability Conference 2024 will be held in Chicago, Illinois, from May 28 to 31, 2024.

With this email, Prof. Marcial Gonzalez, Prof. Ryan Hurley, and Alessandro F. Rotta Loria would like to invite you to submit an abstract to the mini-symposium “MS 0117: Mechanics and Physics of Granular Materials.” You will find the abstract associated with this minisymposium in this pdf file.

The deadline for abstract submissions is December 31, 2023. If you are planning to participate and contribute to this event, you may upload your abstract online through the following link: https://www.emi-conference.org/call-abstracts.

We hope we will have the pleasure of seeing you in Chicago and discussing your work as a part of this minisymposium.

PhD position at Heriot-Watt University

Applications are welcome for a PhD position within IAPETUS2 Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP), funded and accredited by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC). The project focuses on the fundamental mechanics of soils, rock formations and their interaction in consequence of thermo-mechanical actions through a cross-scale experimental campaign. It is co-led by supervisors from both Heriot-Watt University (HW) and Newcastle University (NU).

Detailed information on the project can be found below:

Stability controls in subsurface interfaces subjected to thermal and mechanical actions – IAPETUS2

The studentship is available to both Home and Overseas students.

Home students can directly submit their application from the following link before the 5th of January 2024.
https://iapetus2.ac.uk/how-to-apply/

The overseas students are requested to contact us first, no later than the 11th of December 2023, before submitting their applications. Otherwise, the application will not be considered valid. (More details on this under the “International Applicants” title).

The successful candidates should possess at minimum a MSc and undergraduate degree in civil engineering, geotechnical engineering, earth science or a similar field. Strong interest and experience in experimental soil and rock mechanics are essential requirements of this project.

Further enquiries on the vacancies can be directed to Dr. Melis Sutman (M.Sutman@hw.ac.uk), Dr. Sadegh Nadimi (nsn80@ncl.ac.uk) and Dr. Elli-Maria Charalampidou (ec10@hw.ac.uk).