Post Doctoral Associate (Bunger) at UPMC

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States -

Full Time

Start Date

Immediate

Expiry Date

30 Dec, 25

Salary

0.0

Posted On

01 Oct, 25

Experience

0 year(s) or above

Remote Job

Yes

Telecommute

Yes

Sponsor Visa

Yes

Skills

Geomechanics, Experimental Geomechanics, Non-Destructive Evaluation, Numerical Methods, Analytical Methods, Machine Learning, Computational Mechanics, Rock Physics, Effective Communication, Leadership, Organizational Skills

Industry

Hospitals and Health Care

Description

POSTDOCTORAL POSITION IN GEOMECHANICS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH The University of Pittsburgh Hydraulic Fracturing and Geomechanics Laboratory invites applications for a position of Post-Doctoral Research Associate in Geomechanics. The successful candidate will be hired to work on newly funded research associated with the Utah FORGE geothermal project, and therefore will support a major national initiative to unlock vast but challenging geothermal energy reserves in hot crystalline rocks. The candidate must have effective communication skills (oral and written), experience with experimental geomechanics and/or non-destructive evaluation, and excellent capabilities in numerical and analytical methods applied to problems in mechanics and geomechanics. The University of Pittsburgh is a state-related research university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. With around 29,000 of undergraduate and graduate students, the university consists of 17 undergraduate and graduate schools and colleges at its main campus in urban Pittsburgh. The university has an annual operating budget of around $2 billion, which includes around $950 million in research and development expenditures, which is a figure that ranks Pitt among the top 20 universities in the nation. Pitt is a member of the Association of American Universities, and it is regularly ranked among the top 50 research universities in the United States and among the top 100 globally. The university is located in the heart of Pittsburgh, which provides a rare combination of big city amenities with a small-town feel and is consistently rated as one of the most livable and affordable cities in the US. RESPONSIBILITIES The Post-Doctoral Research Associate’s responsibilities will include: · Experimentally characterizing the behavior of proppant materials used in hydraulic fracturing under conditions relevant to Enhanced Geothermal Systems. · Experimentally connecting proppant deformation and crushing to propped fracture conductivity. · Developing a model for propped fracture conductivity that accounts for the dependence of proppant behavior on time, temperature, stress, and pore fluid chemistry. · Preparing technical reports and presentations required for the project and publishing results in journals and conference papers. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS 1. PhD in civil engineering or related field with specialization/interest in experimental geomechanics and/or nondestructive evaluation of materials. 2. Demonstrated research publication record. 3. Effective oral and written communication skills 4. Demonstrated leadership and organizational skills. PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS Research experience in applications of machine learning, computational mechanics, and rock physics is considered a preferred qualification. POSITION This is a full-time (37.5 hours/week) position with a guaranteed contract for 12 months and an opportunity to extend the contract for up to a total of 3 years. The salary package is commensurate with post-doc experience, and it includes excellent health insurance (but does not include retirement or other benefits). Applicants must be able to legally work in the US. International citizens eligible for Post-Completion Optional Practical Training (OPT), who are already in the US, are welcome to apply. International scholars may be eligible for a short-term J1 visa, but the University of Pittsburgh cannot guarantee that such a visa will be issued. Visiting scholars of higher ranks at their domicile institutions will also be given due consideration. The position is expected to start on October 15, 2025. Hiring of non-US citizens will be contingent on the candidate satisfying the US Department of Energy Foreign National Approval. APPLICATION Interested applicants should send a cover letter, curriculum vitae, a brief research statement, and contact information for three professional references (no reference letters are needed in the initial stage of the review process) in a single PDF file to Dr. Andrew Bunger (bunger@pitt.edu). The applicants are encouraged to submit their applications as soon as possible. Short-listed applicants will be invited for an online interview.

Responsibilities

The Post-Doctoral Research Associate will experimentally characterize proppant materials used in hydraulic fracturing and develop a model for propped fracture conductivity. They will also prepare technical reports and publish results in journals and conference papers.