RESA III - Advanced EOR Formulation and Interface Physics in Nanoporous Rocks (Shale)

About the role

This is a one-year, fixed-term, in-person position located at the J.J. Pickle Research Campus in North Austin. The successful candidate will join an elite, fast-moving, and tightly integrated research cohort at the Bureau of Economic Geology (BEG), UT Austin.

Responsibilities

• Design and conduct advanced high-pressure, high-temperature (HPHT) injection, and microscale huff-and-puff experiments to evaluate CO2, gas, and chemical EOR performance.
• Quantify rock wettability and alterations, interfacial tension (IFT), and the aqueous stability/rheology of complex surfactant-nanoparticle suspensions.
• Formulate, test, and optimize multi-component injectants, including CO2-co-solvent blends, surfactant co-injections, and foam systems for mobility and conformance control.
• Document experimental workflows, author high-impact peer-reviewed publications, deliver technical presentations, and collaborate closely with numerical modeling team members to upscale laboratory findings.

Requirements

• An MS in Petroleum Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Geological Engineering/Geosciences, Material Science, Interfacial Science, or a closely related discipline and at least 2 years' experience.
• Extensive hands-on experience in an HPHT laboratory environment, specifically dealing with CO2 and shale oil and gas, high salinity brine, high-pressure pumps, and fluid handling.
• Proven expertise in evaluating fluid-fluid and fluid-rock properties (wettability, IFT, surfactant chemistry, or colloidal stability).
• Excellent technical writing skills with a verified track record of publication in top-tier journals.

Preferred Qualifications

• A PhD in the required disciplines is strongly preferred.
• PVT & Thermodynamic Modeling: Integrate laboratory observations with phase behavior modeling to characterize complex fluid mixtures and multi-phase behavior.
• Hands-on proficiency with PVT and thermodynamic phase behavior software (e.g., WinProp, PVTi) to match experimental fluid data.
• Demonstrated experience working with nanoparticles, colloidal suspensions, or advanced materials (specifically managing aqueous stability and transport in porous media).
• Experience with foam generation and foam rheology in porous media.

Qualifications

• MS in Petroleum Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Geological Engineering/Geosciences, Material Science, Interfacial Science, or a closely related discipline and at least 2 years' experience.
• Extensive hands-on experience in an HPHT laboratory environment, specifically dealing with CO2 and shale oil and gas, high salinity brine, high-pressure pumps, and fluid handling.
• Proven expertise in evaluating fluid-fluid and fluid-rock properties (wettability, IFT, surfactant chemistry, or colloidal stability).
• Excellent technical writing skills with a verified track record of publication in top-tier journals.

Skills

• Advanced laboratory skills in HPHT environments.
• Expertise in fluid-fluid and fluid-rock interface characterization.
• Ability to formulate and test multi-component injectants.
• Strong collaboration and documentation skills.

Benefits

The position offers a premier opportunity for an ambitious researcher to publish high-impact science, develop highly sought-after expertise in complex subsurface fluid transport, and collaborate directly with leading industry and federal stakeholders.

Pay

$72,000 - $76,000

Schedule

Weekly Scheduled Hours: 40