The TU Delft is opening a position in the project “REFLECT: Redefining geothermal fluid properties at extreme conditions to optimize future geothermal energy extraction”, funded by the European Commission - Horizon 2020 for 2+1 years. A key objective is to optimize future geothermal energy extraction by investigating challenges related to multiple chemical and physical reactions such as mineral precipitation or degassing. At TU Delft, the degassing kinetics of high temperature, highly saline fluids shall be investigated. 

Tasks:

• Upgrade a pre-existing high-pressure cell to function across the entire range of temperature and pressure conditions required. 
• Perform experiments to study the degasification kinetics at simulated geothermal reservoir conditions. 
• Perform experiments to study the degasification kinetics in a porous medium. 
• Contribute to the supervision of MSc and PhD students where applicable.

• Applicants should hold a PhD in geochemistry, chemistry, physics, petroleum engineering or equivalent with a strong experimental track record, preferably in geo-energy or even geothermal energy 
• Expertise in chemical modeling, foam generation and image processing methods will be considered as an advantage, but not a necessity for the application. 
• Ability and willingness to work independently in an interdisciplinary and international environment. 
• Excellent communication skills and proficiency in written and spoken English are mandatory.

Fixed-term contract: 24 months.

The TU Delft offers a customisable compensation package, a discount for health insurance and sport memberships, and a monthly work costs contribution. Flexible work schedules can be arranged. Coming to Delft Service organizes diverse events for new international employees and their accompanying partners, like Partner Career Workshops and Dutch Culture Workshops. Located on campus are the International Children’s Centre and an international primary school which are subject to availability as well as several bilingual schools in the nearby surrounding. Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities.       

Technische Universiteit Delft

Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) is a multifaceted institution offering education and carrying out research in the technical sciences at an internationally recognised level. Education, research and design are strongly oriented towards applicability. TU Delft develops technologies for future generations, focusing on sustainability, safety and economic vitality. At TU Delft you will work in an environment where technical sciences and society converge. TU Delft comprises eight faculties, unique laboratories, research institutes and schools.

Faculty Civil Engineering and Geosciences

The Faculty Civil Engineering and Geosciences houses the Department of Geoscience and Engineering, with the mission to “Reveal and explain the Earth’s underground resources and enable their use in an environmentally responsible manner”. The Department of Geoscience and Engineering (https://www.tudelft.nl/en/ceg/) encompasses 5 sections: Applied Geology, Applied Geophysics and Petrophysics, Geo-Engineering, Resource Engineering, and Petroleum Engineering. Within the department there is considerable scope and encouragement for inter-disciplinary research, and this position is positioned within the geothermal theme department. Current research into deep geothermal energy includes aspects of geology, well engineering, rock mechanics and geophysics. Geothermal projects benefit from the vast expertise and research infrastructure originally set up for hydrocarbon research, specifically an extensive rock mechanics laboratory, fluid flow laboratory, microstructural analyses possibilities, including 3D imaging.

There is a flourishing cross-disciplinary research group covering many of the multidisciplinary research challenges unique to geothermal exploration, where several times per year a Geothermal Get-Together is hosted, a Dutch platform to exchange ideas and projects between academia and the geothermal industry. The geothermal research group has been involved in several successful geothermal projects, including DAP, GEOCAP, SURE, DESTRESS. Of specific interest, the (student-initiated) Delft Geothermal Project (DAP) aims at drilling two wells at the TU Delft grounds to contribute to TU Delft’s aim to create a CO2-neutral campus, which will provide a geothermal test ground with possibilities for research and education.