Two, linked, postdoctoral positions are now available at Imperial College London and at Cambridge University to improve understanding of polymer support fluids.  The positions are funded by the UK EPSRC.

The position at Cambridge will experimentally examine the polymer conductivity of a range of polymer fluids in sand, while the position at Imperial College London will use computational fluid dynamics and pore network modelling to advance understanding of the fundamental interactions between polymer fluids and sand grains.

Details of the positions can be found here and informal inquiries can be made to Prof. Catherine O’Sullivan (cath.osullivan@imperial.ac.uk) or Dr. Brian Sheil (bbs24@cam.ac.uk).  Closing date: August 24 2023.

A PhD position is now open at ESTP (École Spéciale des Travaux Publics, du Bâtiment et de l’Industrie, Cachan, France) and at IC2MP (Institut de Chimie des Milieux et Matériaux, University of Poitiers, UMR CNRS 7285, France). The subject is : “Inorganic reactive gels for the in-situ stabilization-solidification of mercury contaminated subsoils”

ESTP is specialized in hydraulic binders and geopolymers, and the chemical and geotechnical characterization of treated matrices. The research carried out at IC2MP is at the interface between chemistry and geosciences. IC2MP has expertise in fluid injection into soils and treatment processes. It will be involved mainly in injection and treatability tests in relation with depollution goals.

More information on that pdf file.

NTNU – Norwegian University of Science and Technology: The Department of Geoscience and Petroleum has a vacancy for a PhD position in Chalk mechanics – IV-99/23

About the position

We have a vacancy for a 3-year PhD fellowship at the Department of Geoscience and Petroleum (IGP). The position is within the area of mechanics of chalk for wellbore stability, chalk influx and solids production, and methods of failure mitigation. The study can be experimental, analytical, or numerical depending on the background, qualifications, and interests of the candidate.

Geomechanics describes the behavior of rock and soils, and is essential to hydrocarbon production, geological CO2 storage, geothermal energy, and other underground operations. The Norwegian Continental Shelf has several large chalk fields, and chalk presents interesting and quite unique properties such as the possibility of liquefying and almost flowing under certain conditions. Over time, operators face increasing challenges with wellbore stability and chalk influx into wells.

The goal is to integrate new research and technology in AkerBP field operations through close interaction with AkerBP and by analyzing field data and operational practices. The candidate will collaborate with SINTEF and benefit from an ongoing joint research project between NTNU, SINTEF and AkerBP for transfer and application of technology developed in both projects. The position gives unique insight into field operations and industry relevant research, and the successful completion of the PhD may lead to employment opportunities. The research and gained competence are relevant to many fields of geoscience, energy, civil, and mechanical engineering, and engineering physics that involve coupled problems and failure.

The PhD student will be assigned to the Department of Geoscience and Petroleum and will be supervised by Prof. Alexandre Lavrov and co-supervised by Dr. Euripides Papamichos. 

https://www.jobbnorge.no/en/available-jobs/job/246456/phd-position-in-chalk-mechanics-iv-99-23

Application deadline 03 Sept 2023.

Applications are welcome for a 4-year fully-funded PhD position at Uppsala University, Sweden. This PhD project will have a focus on developing numerical models for predicting the geometrical and hydrological (e.g., flow and transport) properties of fracture networks as well as coupled hydromechanical effects, based on field experimental data. The research aims to provide implications for the long-term safety assessment of deep geologic repositories, including related risks and uncertainties. The research will be done in the context of the international DECOVALEX project (https://decovalex.org/), a large international research collaboration with the objective to advance the understanding and modeling of coupled thermo-hydro-mechanical-chemical (THMC) processes in geological systems.

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

At KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm (Sweden), the Division of Soil and Rock Mechanics is looking for a doctoral student for the research project “Developed compaction control for future quality assurance”. Compaction is the most common ground improvement method and is used extensively in construction of roads and railways. An important part of the process is to quantify and verify the compaction result. However, the current methods for acceptance control of compaction are ineffective and uncertain. This project aims to develop the continuous compaction control (CCC) technique to better correlate with tests like Plate load tests (PLT) and thus decrease the need of manual acceptance control. The work tasks include a series of full scale tests in the roller manufacturer Dynapac’s road laboratory, evaluation of measurement data, numerical calculations, writing scientific articles, taking postgraduate courses, and teaching. Knowledge in geodynamics is considered a merit for the position.

The vacancy ad and further details about the project and the employment can be found here:
https://www.kth.se/en/om/work-at-kth/lediga-jobb/what:job/jobID:631742/type:job/where:4/apply:1

Last application date is 11 August 2023.