PhD position: Reactive Transport Modeling for Sustainable Groundwater Management. (Ref. 10277510001)

Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC)- BarcelonaTECH; España; On-site; EUR 20,000 - 25,000; Full time

Job summary

Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC)- BarcelonaTECH seeks a predoc researcher to develop and apply reactive transport models in groundwater within the MARMED project. You will build numerical models for groundwater flow, solute transport, and reactive transport, and analyze hydrogeological data to validate models.

You will implement computational tools, run HPC simulations, and collaborate with multidisciplinary teams in Barcelona and across the consortium.

Qualifications

• Experience with HPC, CFD, particle tracking and modeling tools such as MODFLOW 6.
• Proficiency in Python and scientific languages (C/C++, Fortran).
• Experience in research projects related to flow and transport modeling in subsurface environments.

Responsibilities

• Develop numerical models for groundwater flow, solute transport and reactive transport in MAR systems.
• Analyze field and laboratory data to validate numerical models.
• Investigate transport and reaction processes from lab to field scales.
• Develop computational tools for reactive transport and coupling with codes like MODFLOW 6.
• Run HPC simulations for complex reactive transport problems.
• Perform scenario analyses for MAR configurations to assess pollutant mitigation.
• Collaborate with experimental/field teams in the Besòs river basin.
• Contribute to MARMED consortium activities and scientific dissemination.

Skills

HPC

CFD

Particle tracking

Pore-scale simulation

Stochastic transport

MODFLOW 6

Python

C/C++

Fortran

Tools

MODFLOW 6

Job description

Organisation/Company Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC)- BarcelonaTECH Research Field Engineering » Civil engineering Environmental science Engineering » Chemical engineering Geosciences » Hydrology Computer science Mathematics » Applied mathematics Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Positions PhD Positions Application Deadline 16 Nov 2026 - 23:00 (Europe/Madrid) Country Spain Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Hours Per Week 37.5 Offer Starting Date 15 Jan 2027 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Interreg Reference Number 10277510001 Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

Mission:

Conduct predoctoral research within the framework of the European MARMED project, developing and applying reactive transport models in groundwater to investigate the transport and transformation of contaminants (with emphasis on emerging contaminants) during Aquifer Recharge Management (MAR)

Functions to be developed:

• Develop numerical models for groundwater flow, solute transport and reactive transport in MAR systems.
• Analyze field and laboratory data generated in the MARMED project (hydrogeological, hydrochemical and contaminant concentration) to validate the numerical models.
• Investigate transport and reaction processes at different scales (from laboratory to field).
• Develop and implement computational tools for reactive transport, including coupling with environments such as MODFLOW 6.
• Run high-performance computing (HPC) simulations for complex reactive transport problems.
• Conduct scenario analysis to investigate pollutant mitigation under different MAR operational configurations.
• Collaborate closely with the experimental and field teams of the Spanish pilot (Besòs river basin).
• Contribute to the activities of the MARMED consortium (scientific meetings, project deliverables, presentations at conferences and scientific publications).
• Programming skills and development of computational tools for scientific calculation.
• Coupling of numerical simulation codes.
• Analysis and processing of hydrogeological and water quality data.
• Programming in scientific languages (Python, C/C++, Fortran).

Other requirements to consider:

• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a multidisciplinary and international research team

Specific Requirements

Knowledge:

• Fluid flow in porous media.
• Transport of solutes.
• Reactive and hydrogeochemical processes.
• Numerical modeling methods.
• Computational methods.

Experience Professional:

• In high-performance computing (HPC), computational fluid dynamics (CFD), particle tracking, pore-scale simulation, stochastic transport and familiarity with modeling tools such as MODFLOW 6
• Scientific writing in English.
• In research projects, master's theses or academic collaborations related to the modeling of flow and transport in the subsoil, the analysis of environmental data or the development of scientific code/software.
• Experience in functions similar to those described will be valued, specifically in the development of research activities, both in the university and industrial environment.

Languages CATALAN Level Basic

Languages ENGLISH Level Good

Languages SPANISH Level Good

Research Field Engineering » Civil engineeringEnvironmental scienceEngineering » Chemical engineeringGeosciences » HydrologyComputer scienceMathematics » Applied mathematics Years of Research Experience 1 - 4

Additional Information

• 1st year: €20,364.96
• 2nd year: €20,364.96
• 3rd year: €25,456.20
• 4th year: €25,456.20

Eligibility criteria

All the candidates who cannot prove the required academic degree will be immediately withdrawn from the selection process.

The CVs will be assessed according the following general criteria:

• The maximum score for the candidates who accomplish all the eligibility criteria stated in the job offer will be 10 points.
• Threshold: 5 points.
• The maximum score (10 points) will be distributed as follows:
• 1 point for required speciality.
• 2 points for required academic training.
• 2 points for technic competences.
• 1 point for organisational competences.
• 3 points for professional experience.
• 1 point for any aspect of the candidate’s professional profile to be determined as specially relevant by the Selection committee.

If the selection committee decide to include a personal interview as additional step of the selection process, only the candidates scored 5 or above for their CV will be retained for the interview step.

The interview will be assessed according the following criteria:

• Threshold: 3 points.
• The maximum score will be distributed according the following criteria:
• 2 points for adequacy to functional competences of the job.
• 2 points for adequacy of professional experience.
• 1 point for any aspect of the candidate’s professional profile to be determined as especially relevant by the Selection committee.

The eligible candidates will be ranked from highest to lowest score, being this the selection criteria.

Selection process

The planned selection process is as follows:

• The members of the selection committee will decide for each case what the selection process will be, if an assessment is made only for the curriculum vitae or any other procedure is planned: interview, tests, etc ...
• Each phase of the selection process will be reported on the website where the offer is published. If applicable, indicate your request.
• Finally, the name of the person selected will be published on the same website where the offer is published.

Additional comments

Remember that the resume should not include any personal data or photographs.

Work Location(s)

Number of offers available 1 Company/Institute Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (DECA) Country Spain State/Province Barcelona City Barcelona Postal Code 08034 Street Jordi Girona, 1-3 Geofield