PhD Student for Mining Brines / PhD Student for Mining Brines

Your Tasks

The project - Modeling workflow development and application for fluid chemistry evolution from extraction to re-injection - aims to enhance the understanding and prediction of fluid behavior in complex geo-energy systems from extraction to re-injection. A key objective is to quantify how geological, geochemical, and engineering factors collectively influence fluid composition, ultimately affecting the efficiency of geothermal energy production and the extraction of critical minerals.

To achieve this, a batch-type geochemical modeling workflow will be developed using open-source tools (e.g., Marimo, Jupyter) to calculate chemical processes (e.g., precipitation/dissolution of minerals) during the transport and processing of geothermal fluids with the PSI GEMS thermodynamic solver. More complex coupled reactive transport processes, such as pipe scaling, will be imported from separate sub-models or as surrogate models. The workflow will enable robust modeling of reactive fluids, phase behavior, and coupled process interactions during heat extraction, in combination with microbial, physical, or chemical extraction of critical materials like lithium. Once established, the workflow will be tested and refined through case studies provided by industrial partners, ensuring direct relevance to real-world challenges and facilitating technology transfer.

Machine learning-based sensitivity analysis will be incorporated to identify the parameters that most significantly influence model outcomes. This component will help quantify uncertainty, highlight critical leverage points for operational decision-making, and evaluate the robustness of predictions under varying operational conditions.

Expected Outcomes

• Develop an easy-to-use computational workflow based on open-source software and the GEMs3K Gibbs-Energy Minimization (GEM) thermodynamic solver.
• Establish a thermodynamic model (fluid model, thermodynamic database) that can be utilized in PSI GEM software to model CRM and heat extraction.
• Implement interfaces to results/models from other projects (e.g., Thermo-Hydro-Mechanic (WP2, WP3), Thermo-Hydro-Chemical (WP3) or Biological (WP4) processes) to understand their influence on CRM and heat extraction.
• Conduct ML-based sensitivity analysis to identify influential parameters and evaluate prediction robustness.
• Test and apply the workflow to case studies from industrial partners.

You will be enrolled at the University of Bern and receive your PhD title from the University of Bern. This position is part of the Marie Sklodowska Curie Action (MSCA) Doctoral Network (DN) - MiningBrines - focusing on Multidisciplinary Integration and Networking for Increased sustainability and multi-resources valorization of Geothermal BRINES. You will hold the status of a -SERI-funded MSCA DN Grantee-. As part of the MSCA DN, you will visit the Geological and Mining Bureau (BRGM) in Orléans, France, University of Neuchâtel in Neuchâtel, Switzerland, Collaboration Betters the World (CBTW) in Germany, and VITO in Mol, Belgium for approximately two months each. You will collaborate closely with other MiningBrines research projects and participate in network training and workshops.

Your Profile

Required Qualifications:

• Master's degree in geosciences (such as geochemistry, geology, geophysics, or a related discipline) with a solid understanding of (geo)chemistry, or alternatively, a Master's degree in chemistry, chemical engineering, or a related discipline with a strong interest in geoscience applications.
• Strong motivation for interdisciplinary research.
• Excellent command of spoken and written English (mandatory).

Desirable Skills:

• Familiarity with thermodynamic and/or (geo-)chemical software.
• Experience with programming or scripting languages (e.g., Python, R, Matlab, etc.).

We Offer

PSI: Our institution is rooted in interdisciplinary, innovative, and dynamic collaboration. You will benefit from systematic on-the-job training alongside personal development opportunities and our robust vocational training culture. If you wish to effectively balance work and family life or pursue other personal interests, we offer modern employment conditions and on-site infrastructure to support you.

MiningBrines: An international network of 32 academic and industrial partners across multiple disciplines provides an innovative doctoral training program to address Europe’s strategic need for sustainable access to critical raw materials, energy gases, and renewable energies. You will gain interdisciplinary training in geosciences, biogeochemistry, artificial intelligence, and socio-economic analysis. The position is funded for 36 months with a competitive salary, allowances, and additional funding for technical training and conference participation.

Interested candidates are invited to apply online using the form below. Only applications matching the job profile will be considered.

Expected Starting Date: October 1, 2026

For further information, please contact Dr. Georg Kosakowski at georg.kosakowski@psi.ch.

Paul Scherrer Institute, Human Resources Management, Serdal Varol, 5232 Villigen PSI, Switzerland