Postdoctoral Research Associate in Experimental and Computational Geomechanics, Subsurface Fluid Flow, and Superhot Geothermal Well Integrity

About the Role

The Fractured Earth Laboratory in Analytical Earth Science (EES-15) group at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) is seeking one or two Postdoctoral Research Associates to conduct integrated experimental and computational research in geomechanics, subsurface fluid flow, and well integrity for next-generation superhot geothermal systems. The work will examine the coupled behavior of reservoir rock, fractures, well cement, casing, and material interfaces under subcritical, supercritical, and superhot conditions.

Supported by sponsored research programs focused on advanced geothermal energy, the position will connect laboratory measurements with finite-element and multiphysics models to evaluate deformation, fluid transport, material degradation, failure mechanisms, and long-term well performance.

Responsibilities

• Develop, commission, and operate high-temperature, high-pressure experimental systems (up to 500 °C and 140 MPa) for triaxial, core-flooding, and dynamic flow-through experiments on intact and fractured rock and well cement.
• Design and conduct experiments to study stress-strain behavior, brittle-to-ductile transitions, porosity and permeability evolution, fracture aperture and conductivity, pressure- and thermally driven fluid flow, cement initial stress, thermal and pressure cycling, interface behavior, and thermochemical degradation.
• Integrate sensors and data-acquisition systems, develop safe and reproducible experimental procedures, and analyze data to identify coupled processes governing subsurface fluid flow, geomechanical response, and well-integrity performance.
• Develop, verify, validate, and apply two-dimensional and three-dimensional finite-element and multiphysics models using Abaqus and complementary simulation tools. Models may represent laboratory specimens, fractured rock, pressure-containing components, and casing-cement-rock systems, incorporating heat transfer, porous-media flow, contact, cohesive interfaces, poromechanics, temperature-dependent elasticity and plasticity, creep, damage, and fracture.
• Use Python scripting and Abaqus user subroutines to automate model generation, conduct parametric studies, calibrate constitutive and transport behavior, and evaluate effects of material properties, construction variability, and operational loading on fluid flow, damage, interface opening, and leakage-pathway development.
• Collaborate across institutions, publish in peer-reviewed journals, and present results at technical conferences.
• Opportunities may include inverse calibration, uncertainty quantification, surrogate modeling, optimization, and integration with AI/ML tools.

The position is for a two-year term, with the option to extend for a third year based on performance and funding availability.

Requirements

• Ph.D. in geoscience, geophysics, materials science, applied physics, computational mechanics, or geological, civil, mechanical, petroleum, geothermal, or a related engineering field, with education or research experience in geomechanics, solid mechanics, porous-media flow, fluid mechanics, or numerical methods.
• Demonstrated research experience in one or more of the following: experimental geomechanics or materials testing; subsurface fluid-flow, core-flooding, or fracture-flow experiments; or finite-element or computational mechanics using Abaqus or comparable software.
• Interest in integrating experiments with modeling.
• Experience with quantitative data analysis and scientific programming, along with experience in experimental instrumentation, numerical model development, constitutive or transport analysis, or comparison of results with analytical, laboratory, or field data.
• A record of peer-reviewed publication, including at least one lead-author article, and demonstrated written, oral, and collaborative communication skills.
• Candidates must have received a Ph.D. within the last five years in a STEM field or will have completed all Ph.D. requirements by commencement of appointment.

Qualifications

• Experience safely operating high-temperature and/or high-pressure triaxial, core-flooding, flow-through, autoclave, or other pressure-rated experimental systems.
• Experience measuring permeability, fracture aperture or conductivity, multiphase or supercritical fluid flow, pressure-dependent transport, or coupled deformation-flow behavior in rock, cement, fractures, or porous materials.
• Experience designing test fixtures or pressure systems; selecting seals, sensors, tubing, and materials; and integrating instrumentation, data acquisition, or laboratory automation.
• Advanced experience with Abaqus/CAE, Abaqus/Standard, and/or Abaqus/Explicit, including meshing, nonlinear materials, contact, solution controls, convergence analysis, postprocessing, and interpretation of results.
• Experience with Abaqus Python scripting, automated parametric workflows, or user subroutines such as UMAT, VUMAT, USDFLD, UEXPAN, DLOAD, or comparable customization methods.
• Background in rock, cement, concrete, metals, or material interfaces and in poromechanics, thermo-elastoplasticity, creep, damage, fracture, cohesive-zone behavior, porous-media flow, or coupled thermo-hydro-mechanical-chemical processes.
• Knowledge of geothermal or well-integrity applications, including cement initial stress, casing-cement-rock interaction, interface debonding, microannulus formation, thermal or pressure cycling, stimulation, material degradation, subsurface flow, or leakage-pathway development.
• Experience with X-ray or CT imaging, acoustic or ultrasonic methods, fiber-optic sensing, microfluidics, microscopy, mineralogy, model calibration and validation, sensitivity analysis, uncertainty quantification, surrogate modeling, optimization, high-performance computing, or AI/ML tools.
• Proficiency in Python, MATLAB, LabVIEW, R, C++, or Fortran.

No applicant is expected to have all of the desired qualifications. Anyone who meets the minimum requirements is encouraged to apply.

Schedule

This position may require 24/7 coverage, which could involve working a shift or weekend schedule. Employees may be eligible for shift differential pay when assigned by their manager.

Benefits

• PPO or High Deductible medical insurance with a large nationwide network.
• Dental and vision insurance.
• Free basic life and disability insurance.
• Paid childbirth and parental leave.
• Award-winning 401(k) (6% matching plus 3.5% annually).
• Learning opportunities and tuition assistance.
• Flexible schedules and time off (PTO and holidays).
• Onsite gyms and wellness programs.
• Extensive relocation packages (outside a 50-mile radius).