Research Fellow in modeling salt precipitation during CO2 storage

About the position

Position as PhD Research Fellow in on modeling formation dry-out and salt precipitation during CO2 storage is available at Department of Geosciences, the University of Oslo (UiO).

No one can be appointed for more than one PhD Research Fellowship period at the University of Oslo. Starting date no later than March 1, 2025, preferable starting date is between 01/01/2025 and 01/03/2025. 

The fellowship period is 3 years.

A fourth year may be considered with a workload of 25 % that may consist of teaching, supervision duties, and/or research assistance. This is dependent upon the qualification of the applicant and the current needs of the department.

Knowledge development in a changing world - Science and technology towards 2030.

The Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences

Job description

The Section of Environmental Geosciences at the University of Oslo (UiO) seeks a highly motivated candidate for a PhD research fellowship aimed at de-risking CO2 storage in hypersaline reservoirs. The project targets modeling formation dry-out and salt precipitation during CO2 storage. We seek a candidate with a strong background in numerical modeling and programming and with geo-scientific knowledge,  preferably within stratigraphy and/or geochemistry. The candidate will work on modeling salt precipitation at continuum-scale, discretizing sedimentary strata at various scales to capture heterogeneities in capillarities and how this affects capillary backflow to the salt-dryout zone. The main focus will be CO2 storage in hypersaline aquifers. The candidate will work in a team of geologists, geochemists, and sedimentologist, as well as staff with a strong background in numerical modeling. There will be a close collaboration between UiO and NORCE, with co-supervision from the latter.

The PhD will be part of the new FME GigaCCS centre. The centre will advance Norway’s expertise in CCS, as well as support the global implementation of CCS at a gigatonne scale. One part of the project is to analyse CO2 storage in hypersaline aquifers. These have salinities close to the saturation limit, and pose especially challenging because of expected fast and pervasive salt precipitation, low solubilities of CO2 in the formation waters, little/no convective vertical mixing, strong corrosion potentials, etc.

The goal is to gain a better understanding of salt formation in the near-well region, and how the pore-scale physics (salt structures and capillarities, wettability and capillary backglow etc.) can be properly implemented at continuum scale (near-well scale to reservoir scale). A detailed project plan will be developed in collaboration with the successful candidate at the start of PhD.

Qualification requirements

The Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences has a strategic ambition to be among Europe’s leading communities for research, education and innovation. Candidates for these fellowships will be selected in accordance with this, and expected to be in the upper segment of their class with respect to academic credentials.

• Master’s degree or equivalent in.
• Foreign completed degree (M.Sc.-level) corresponding to a minimum of four years in the Norwegian educational system
• Fluent oral and written communication skills in English evt. and a Scandinavian language.

•  Experience with numerical modeling with relevance to the geo-scientific problem described above 
•  Master’s degree or equivalent in applied mathematics, computational fluid dynamics, reservoir engineering, or similar. 
•  Foreign completed degree (M.Sc.-level) corresponding to a minimum of four years in the Norwegian educational system.   
•  Candidates without a Master’s degree must submit their thesis within 30th Nov, 2024 and present a date for the final exam.

• Insight into sedimentology and reservoir geology
• Insight into CCS

Candidates without a master’s degree have until 30 March 2024 to complete the final exam.

Grade requirements
The norm is as follows:

• The average grade point for courses included in the Bachelor’s degree must be C or better in the Norwegian educational system
• The average grade point for courses included in the Master’s degree must be B or better in the Norwegian educational system
• The Master’s thesis must have the grade B or better in the Norwegian educational system
• English requirements for applicants from outside of EU/ EEA countries and exemptions from the requirements:

The purpose of the fellowship is research training leading to the successful completion of a PhD degree. 

The fellowship requires admission to the PhD programme at the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences. The application to the PhD programme must be submitted to the department no later than two months after taking up the position.

For more information see: 

http://www.uio.no/english/research/phd/
 
http://www.mn.uio.no/english/research/phd/

Personal skills

• Being motivated and enthusiastic to perform the research tasks.
• To be able to work in a team and have good communication and interpersonal skills.
• Being focused and at the same time be able to deliver tasks before deadlines.

We offer

• Salary NOK 532 200 – 575 400 per annum depending on qualifications and seniority as PhD Research Fellow (position code 1017)
• Attractive welfare benefits and a generous pension agreement 
• Vibrant international academic environment
Career development programmes
• Oslo’s family-friendly surroundings with their rich opportunities for culture and outdoor activities

How to apply

The application must include:

• Cover letter - statement of motivation and research interests
• CV (summarizing education, positions and academic work - scientific publications)
• Copies of the original Bachelor and Master’s degree diploma and transcripts of records
• Documentation of English proficiency if applicable
• List of publications and academic work that the applicant wishes to be considered by the evaluation committee
• Names and contact details of 2-3 references (name, relation to candidate, e-mail and telephone number)

The application with attachments must be delivered in our electronic recruiting system (please follow the link “Apply for this job”). Foreign applicants are advised to attach an explanation of their University's grading system. Please note that all documents should be in English or a Scandinavian language.

Interviews with the best qualified candidates will be arranged.

Formal regulations

Please see the guidelines and regulations for appointments to Research Fellowships at the University of Oslo.

According to the Norwegian Freedom and Information Act (Offentleglova) information about the applicant may be included in the public applicant list, also in cases where the applicant has requested non-disclosure.

UiO has an agreement for all employees, aiming to secure rights to research results a.o.

Inclusion and diversity are a strength. The University of Oslo has a personnel policy objective of achieving a balanced gender composition. Furthermore, we want employees with diverse professional expertise, life experience and perspectives.

If there are qualified applicants with disabilities, employment gaps or immigrant background, we will invite at least one applicant from each of these categories to an interview.

Contact information

For further information about the position please contact: Prof. Helge Hellevang (helghe@geo.uio.no)

For questions regarding the recruitment system, please contact HR adviser Ørjan Pretorius, orjan.pretorius@matnat.uio.no