PhD fellowship within reservoir engineering (CO2-EOR and storage modelling for sustainable...

Updated: about 2 years ago
Job Type: FullTime
Deadline: 15 Feb 2022

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NTNU is a broad-based university with a technical-scientific profile and a focus in professional education. The university is located in three cities with headquarters in Trondheim.

At NTNU, 9,000 employees and 42,000 students work to create knowledge for a better world.

You will find more information about working at NTNU and the application process here.


About the position

We have a vacancy for a three-year PhD Fellowship at Department of Geoscience and Petroleum (IGP), NTNU within reservoir engineering (CO2 EOR and storage modelling for sustainable utilization of the subsurface). The project should start no later than mid-August 2022. For a position as a PhD candidate, the goal is a completed doctoral education up to an obtained doctoral degree.

The position is part of the activities of the CEORS Gemini-Centre (CO2 Enhanced Oil Recovery & Storage,https://www.ntnu.edu/ceors ). Subsurface modelling is traditionally performed using numerical reservoir simulation with challenges in uncertainty analysis, optimization, and decision-making. The objective of the proposed project is to develop new solutions for real-time modelling and optimization of CO2 injection for storage and enhanced recovery purposes. The new techniques can be applied to study the potential of H2 storage.

The successful candidate will be supervised by Associate Professor Ashkan Jahanbani Ghahfarokhi and co-supervised by Professor Curtis Hays Whitson. The position is in reservoir engineering and petrophysics group, and reports to the Head of the Department for employee matters and to the supervisors for project management and supervision.


Duties of the position

The work will involve: 

  • Numerical and data-driven modelling to investigate issues related to CO2 injectivity, storage capacity and safety.
  • Optimization studies to serve as a smart decision-support tool for CO2 injection projects.
  • Collaborating with CEORS Gemini-Centre (CO2 Enhanced Oil Recovery & Storage, https://www.ntnu.edu/ceors ), focusing on storage and enhanced recovery, where knowledge, education and research help to maximize the utilization of oil and gas resources and at the same time contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Collaboration with other PhD and master students in the group working on similar topics is foreseen.
  • Writing conference and journal articles and scientific reports.

Required selection criteria
  • You must have a professionally relevant background in Applied Mathematics/Statistics, Data Science, Petroleum Engineering, Geophysics, or similar, with a strong focus on numerical and data-driven modelling and optimization methods
  • Your education must correspond to a five-year Norwegian degree programme, where 120 credits are obtained at master's level 
  • You must have a strong academic background from your previous studies and an average grade from the master's degree program, or equivalent education, which is equal to B or better compared with NTNU's grading scale. If you do not have letter grades from previous studies, you must have an equally good academic basis. If you have a weaker grade background, you may be assessed if you can document that you are particularly suitable for a PhD education. 
  • You must meet the requirements for admission to the faculty's doctoral program in Engineering (https://www.ntnu.edu/iv/doctoral-programme )
  • Master students who expect to complete their master’s degree by summer 2022 are also encouraged to apply. Employment will then be postponed until the master’s degree is finished (but no later than mid-August 2022).

Applicants are strictly advised to address the following additional qualification requirements in their application:

  • Expertise in Programming (e.g., Python, Matlab, R, C ++)
  • Competence in modelling and optimization
  • Excellent written and oral English language skills (the following tests may be used as such documentation: TOEFL, IELTS).

The appointment is to be made in accordance with the regulations in force concerning State Employees and Civil Servants  and Regulations concerning the degrees of Philosophiae Doctor (PhD) and Philosodophiae Doctor (PhD) in artistic research national guidelines for appointment as PhD, post doctor and research assistant  


Preferred selection criteria

We prefer higly motivated candidates with research experience in:

  • CO2 injection for storage and/or EOR purposes 
  • Numerical reservoir simulation
  • Applications of artificial intelligence/machine learning
  • Uncertainty quantification 

High-quality publication on related topics is desired.


Personal characteristics

The candidate should:

  • Be motivated and able to engage in multi-disciplinary collaboration.
  • Have good communication and networking skills and, be proactive and forthcoming, and able to work independently if needed.
  • Be creative, with a strong ability to work problem-oriented and take keen interest in learning and working in teams.

We offer
Salary and conditions

PhD candidates are remunerated in code 1017, and are normally remunerated at gross from NOK 491 200 per annum before tax, depending on qualifications and seniority. From the salary, 2% is deducted as a contribution to the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund.

The period of employment is 3 years without required duties.

Appointment to a PhD position requires that you are admitted to the PhD programme in engineering  (https://www.ntnu.edu/iv/doctoral-programme ) within three months of employment, and that you participate in an organized PhD programme during the employment period.

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The engagement is to be made in accordance with the regulations in force concerning State Employees and Civil Servants, and the acts relating to Control of the Export of Strategic Goods, Services and Technology. Candidates who by assessment of the application and attachment are seen to conflict with the criteria in the latter law will be prohibited from recruitment to NTNU. After the appointment you must assume that there may be changes in the area of work.

It is a prerequisite you can be present at and accessible to the institution daily.


About the application

The application and supporting documentation to be used as the basis for the assessment must be in English.

Publications and other scientific work must follow the application. Please note that applications are only evaluated based on the information available on the application deadline. You should ensure that your application shows clearly how your skills and experience meet the criteria which are set out above. 

The application must include: 

  • CV, certificates and diplomas 
  • transcripts and diplomas for bachelor's and master's degrees. If you have not completed the master's degree, you must submit a confirmation that the master's thesis has been submitted. 
  • A copy of the master's thesis. If you recently have submitted your master's thesis, you can attach a draft of the thesis. Documentation of a completed master's degree must be presented before taking up the position. 
  • Cover letter specifically addressing how the candidate complies with the required qualifications for the position in particular highlighting previous modeling and optimization research experience.
  • Academic works - published or unpublished - that you would like to be considered in the assessment. Also, any other relevant research work.
  • 2-page research proposal and plan.
  • Name and address of three referees

If all, or parts, of your education has been taken abroad, we also ask you to attach documentation of the scope and quality of your entire education, both bachelor's and master's education, in addition to other higher education. Description of the documentation required can be found here . If you already have a statement from NOKUT, please attach this as well.

Joint works will be considered. If it is difficult to identify your contribution to joint works, you must attach a brief description of your participation.

In the evaluation of which candidate is best qualified, emphasis will be placed on education, experience and personal and interpersonal qualities. Motivation, ambitions, and potential will also count in the assessment of the candidates. 

NTNU is committed to following evaluation criteria for research quality according to The San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment - DORA.


General information

Working at NTNU

A good work environment is characterized by diversity. We encourage qualified candidates to apply, regardless of their gender, functional capacity or cultural background. 

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The city of Trondheim is a modern European city with a rich cultural scene. Trondheim is the innovation capital of Norway with a population of 200,000. The Norwegian welfare state, including healthcare, schools, kindergartens and overall equality, is probably the best of its kind in the world. Professional subsidized day-care for children is easily available. Furthermore, Trondheim offers great opportunities for education (including international schools) and possibilities to enjoy nature, culture and family life and has low crime rates and clean air quality.

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As an employee at NTNU, you must at all times adhere to the changes that the development in the subject entails and the organizational changes that are adopted.

In accordance with The Public Information Act (Offentleglova), your name, age, position and municipality may be made public even if you have requested not to have your name entered on the list of applicants.

If you have any questions about the position, please contact Associate Professor Ashkan Jahanbani Ghahfarokhi, e-mail [email protected] . If you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact senior executive officer Anne-Lise Brekken, e-mail: [email protected] .

Please submit your application electronically via jobbnorge.no with your CV, diplomas and certificates. Applications submitted elsewhere will not be considered. Diploma Supplement is required to attach for European Master Diplomas outside Norway. Chinese applicants are required to provide confirmation of Master Diploma from China Credentials Verification (CHSI) .

Please refer to the application number SO IV-25/22 when applying.

Application deadline: 15.02.2022.

NTNU - knowledge for a better world

The Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) creates knowledge for a better world and solutions that can change everyday life.

Department of Geoscience and Petroleum

We conduct teaching and research related to management of Earth’s geological resources. Norway’s rich resources of wind, water, oil, gas and minerals have been and are essential to the country’s prosperity, and will continue to be in the future. The Department plays a key role in the development of technology and the education of graduates who enable value creation based on our natural resources. The Department of Geoscience and Petroleum  is one of eight departments in the Faculty of Engineering.



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