Computational Geoscience Postdoc: THMC Multiphysics

Search Jobs - INL Professional Careers; Idaho Falls (ID); On-site; USD 95,000 - 116,000; Full time

Job summary

Idaho National Laboratory is seeking a Postdoctoral Research Associate in Computational Geoscience within the Department of Critical Minerals & Geothermal Energy. The role focuses on reactive transport and THMC simulations using FALCON and MOOSE to study geohydrogen production, electrofracturing stimulation, and carbon mineralization.

You will verify models, collaborate with experimental teams, and contribute to publications and proposals while advancing data-driven understanding of rock-fluid

Qualifications

• PhD required by start of appointment and within last 5 years.
• Hands-on multiphysics modeling using FALCON/MOOSE or similar tools with porous-media flow and THMC coupling.
• Strong foundation in finite-element methods and nonlinear solvers; experience with model verification/validation.
• Scientific programming in C++, Fortran, Python, or MATLAB; able to develop automated workflows.

Responsibilities

• Develop reactive transport models coupling advection, diffusion, dispersion, and chemistry with thermal, hydraulic, and mechanical processes.
• Implement reaction kinetics, surface area, porosity, permeability, and fracture–matrix exchanges; analyze transport vs. reaction limitations.
• Model hydrogen generation from water–rock reactions and mineral mobilization; evaluate effects of fluid chemistry on reaction progress.
• Couple electrofracturing/electrohydraulic stimulation with reactive transport to assess fracture connectivity and mineral accessibility; simulate circulation and heat extraction in EGS.
• Verify numerical implementations, calibrate/validate against lab or field data, and assess convergence and uncertainty.
• Automate workflows, improve parallel performance, collaborate with experimental teams, publish findings, and contribute to proposals.

Skills

Multiphysics modeling

Scientific programming (C++, Fortran,

Education

PhD in Geoscience/Geochemistry/Engineering/Materials Science/Computational Science

Tools

FALCON

MOOSE

COMSOL Multiphysics

MPI

Python

Job description

Idaho National Laboratory is seeking a Postdoctoral Research Associate in Computational Geoscience within the Department of Critical Minerals & Geothermal Energy. The role focuses on reactive transport and THMC simulations using FALCON and MOOSE to study geohydrogen production, electrofracturing stimulation, and carbon mineralization.

You will verify models, collaborate with experimental teams, and contribute to publications and proposals while advancing data-driven understanding of rock-fluid