Postdoctoral Researcher - CO2 modeling

Louisiana State University • Goodwell, OK

10d

About The Position

This is a full-time position in the Craft & Hawkins Dept of Petroleum Engineering. The incumbent in this position will advance numerical and analytical modeling capabilities for coupled flow and heat transport in subsurface porous media, with direct applications to geologic CO₂ storage and geothermal reservoirs. The postdoc will develop, implement, and validate physics-based models (e.g., pressure/temperature transients, wellbore–reservoir coupling, multiphase/variable-property effects as needed) to improve prediction, interpretation, and decision-making for field-scale injection and energy extraction. The role supports our funded research by producing publishable methods and results, robust computational tools, and clear documentation that enables reuse by the research group and collaborators.

Requirements

• PhD in Petroleum Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering or closely related degree.
• Specific experience in fundamental understanding of the concepts and mathematics of the coupled fluid flow processes in porous media and its application in reservoir engineering a must.
• Additionally, must show proof of advanced knowledge/expertise in MATLAB/Python/COMSOL or more reservoir engineering specialized software, as appropriate.

Nice To Haves

• PhD in Petroleum Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering or closely related degree.

Responsibilities

• Develop and test numerical and semi-analytical/analytical models for coupled flow and heat transport relevant to CO₂ storage and geothermal systems. Tasks include deriving governing equations and solutions/approximations, implementing solvers and workflows (e.g., MATLAB/Python/Julia/COMSOL as appropriate), performing verification/validation (benchmarks, limiting cases, sensitivity analysis), and producing reusable, well-documented code.
• Translate modeling outcomes into high-quality publications and conference presentations; prepare figures, model descriptions, and reproducible computational packages for peer review.
• Contribute to proposal development by framing objectives, methods, and preliminary results, and by responding to collaborator needs with timely technical memos and model-based insights.
• Coordinate with PI and project partners to align modeling tasks with project milestones; mentor graduate students in modeling workflows, code practices, and interpretation of pressure/temperature data.
• Maintain organized documentation, version control, and internal training materials to ensure continuity and efficient knowledge transfer.
• Other duties, as assigned

Benefits

• LSU offers outstanding benefits to eligible employees and their dependents including health, life, dental, and vision insurance; flexible spending accounts; retirement options; various leave options; paid holidays; wellness benefits; tuition exemption for qualified positions; training and development opportunities; employee discounts; and more!

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree