Geothermal Engineering Postdoc: Flow Conformance Research

Phase2 Technology; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 39,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Texas at Austin’s Bureau of Economic Geology invites applications for a 1-year Geothermal Engineering Postdoctoral Fellow to advance reservoir flow conformance and flow control technologies for next-gen EGS. The successful candidate will model fracture connectivity, optimize heat sweep, and develop strategies for high-temperature settings.

Research will span reservoir simulation, data analysis, and coupled modeling, with collaboration across geosciences and engineering to

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in petroleum engineering, geothermal engineering, earth sciences, and related disciplines with experience in geothermal energy or unconventional oil and gas well completions.
• Demonstrated experience in porous and/or fractured-media flow and subsurface fluid transport.
• Demonstrated experience in reservoir flow conformance, flow control, fluid diversion, and well completions.
• Experience with simulation programs such as CMG, TOUGH, MOOSE, ResFrac, or similar tools.
• Strong understanding of multiphase flow, heat transport, and fractured reservoir behavior.
• Programming experience in Python, MATLAB, or similar scientific computing languages.
• Excellent data management skills
• Demonstrated scientific/technical writing and publications
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, and professional demeanor
• Ability to work effectively with multiple disciplines, including geosciences and engineering
• PhD must have been obtained within 3 years from date of hire

Responsibilities

• Conduct research to characterize and manage fracture connectivity and optimize fluid distribution within granites and sedimentary rocks, maximize heat sweep efficiency, reduce preferential flow through highly conductive fractures, delay thermal breakthrough, and enhance long-term thermal recovery from geothermal systems.
• Model, evaluate, and optimize innovative engineering solutions, including chemical, mechanical, completion-based, and operational flow control strategies.
• Write peer-reviewed journal publications and conference papers. Present at conferences.
• Identify new funding opportunities and help write proposals.

Skills

Geothermal engineering

Porous/fractured media

Reservoir flow conformance

Python/MATLAB

Data management

Scientific writing

Interdisciplinary collaboration

PhD in related field

Education

PhD in petroleum/geothermal engineering or earth sciences

Tools

CMG

TOUGH

MOOSE

ResFrac

Job description

The University of Texas at Austin’s Bureau of Economic Geology invites applications for a 1-year Geothermal Engineering Postdoctoral Fellow to advance reservoir flow conformance and flow control technologies for next-gen EGS. The successful candidate will model fracture connectivity, optimize heat sweep, and develop strategies for high-temperature settings.

Research will span reservoir simulation, data analysis, and coupled modeling, with collaboration across geosciences and engineering to