PhD Student / PhD Studentess

Your Tasks

The project Reactive Transport Modeling (Hydraulic Chemical) at the Pore Scale and Upscaling to Reservoir Scale aims to develop advanced pore-scale reactive transport modeling capabilities by enhancing an in-house lattice Boltzmann-based transport solver. This enhancement explicitly resolves microstructural evolution in reservoir rocks driven by mineral dissolution and precipitation. Through these simulations, we quantify how coupled flow, transport, and chemistry processes instigate dynamic changes in pore geometry, transport properties, and reactive surface area under geothermal conditions.

Building on these high-resolution models, the project establishes robust upscaling strategies to transfer pore-scale process understanding to geothermal reservoir-scale reactive transport formulations while preserving key mechanistic controls.

To enhance computational performance and multiphysics couplings, the work integrates AI/ML methods (e.g., neural networks, neural operators) to accelerate both pore-scale simulations and the associated upscaling workflows. These integrations enable realistic simulations, efficient parameter exploration, and reduced order model generation.

Expected Outcomes

• Implement Lattice Boltzmann (LB) solver for modeling processes at the pore scale in 2D/3D realistic multimineral pore structures (synthetic and tomography-driven).
• Develop surrogate models to accelerate simulation of chemistry and couple with LB.
• Quantify the impact of reactions and microstructural evolution on permeability and transport properties relevant to resource extraction, and derive mechanistic correlations for upscaling.
• Integrate AI/ML-assisted sensitivity analysis and uncertainty quantification to evaluate prediction reliability and account for input data variability.

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, focusing on the multidisciplinary integration and networking for increased sustainability and multi-resource valorization of geothermal brines. As a SERI-funded MSCA DN Grantee, you will collaborate closely with other MiningBrines research projects and participate in network training and workshops. You will also have the opportunity to visit several institutions in Italy, France, and Germany for approximately two months each.

Your Profile

Required Qualifications:

• Master's degree (or equivalent) in a relevant discipline.
• Strong motivation for interdisciplinary research.
• Excellent command of spoken and written English (mandatory).

Desirable Skills:

• Programming skills (e.g., Python or C). Familiarity with machine learning techniques is a plus.
• Background in porous media flows or CFD. Experience with lattice Boltzmann would be beneficial.
• Geochemical modeling and reactive transport fundamentals.

We Offer

PSI: Our institution is built on interdisciplinary, innovative, and dynamic collaborations. You will benefit from systematic on-the-job training, personal development opportunities, and our strong vocational training culture. We provide modern employment conditions and infrastructure to support a balance between work, family life, and personal interests.

MiningBrines: An international network of 32 academic and industrial partners across multiple disciplines offers an innovative doctoral training program addressing 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.

Application Information

Only applications matching the job profile will be considered. For more information and other vacant positions within the MiningBrines project, please visit our website.

If you require further information, please contact Dr. Nikolaos Prasianakis at nikolaos.prasianakis@psi.ch.

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