PhD Student / PhD Student

Your Tasks

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

To achieve this goal, we will develop a batch-type geochemical modeling workflow utilizing open-source tools (e.g., Marimo, Jupyter) that calculates 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 scaling of pipes, will be imported from separate sub-models or surrogate models. This robust workflow will model reactive fluids, phase behavior, and coupled process interactions during heat extraction, in conjunction with microbial, physical, or chemical extraction of critical materials such as 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.

Incorporating machine learning-based sensitivity analysis will help identify the parameters that significantly influence model outcomes. This component will assist in quantifying uncertainty, highlighting key leverage points for operational decision-making, and evaluating 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) for use 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 there. This position is part of the Marie Sklodowska Curie Action (MSCA) Doctoral Network (DN) - MiningBrines - (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, the University of Neuchâtel in Neuchâtel, Switzerland, Collaboration Betters the World (CBTW) in Germany, and VITO in Mol, Belgium for approximately 2 months each. You will work closely with the 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 knowledge 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.).

Horizon Europe MSCA Mobility Rule: Candidates must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the country of the host organization (Switzerland) for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before the recruitment date, unless as part of a compulsory national service or a procedure for obtaining refugee status under the Geneva Convention. Horizon Europe MSCA Eligibility Criteria: Doctoral Candidates (DC) must, at the date of recruitment by the host organization, not have been awarded a doctoral degree. Applicants must be eligible to enroll in a PhD program at the University of Bern.

We Offer

PSI: Our institution fosters interdisciplinary, innovative, and dynamic collaboration. You will benefit from systematic on-the-job training, along with opportunities for personal development and our robust vocational training culture. We support work-life balance with modern employment conditions and on-site infrastructure.

MiningBrines: An international network of 32 academic and industrial partners across multiple disciplines offers 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, featuring a competitive salary, allowances, and additional funding for technical training and conference participation.

Interested candidates are invited to apply online using the form below.

Application Deadline

April 30th, 5 PM CET. Only applications matching the job profile will be considered.

Expected Starting Date

October 1st, 2026. Please refrain from inquiring about the status of the selection process; we will inform you as soon as there is an update.

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

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