Research Scientist

About the role

The Department of Geosciences at Virginia Tech invites applications for a Research Scientist in geothermal energy and subsurface geomechanics, working under the supervision of Manoochehr Shirzaei.

Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, and apply advanced poromechanical fluid-diffusion and fault-failure models to better understand induced seismicity processes associated with geothermal stimulation and production.
• Closely connect observational constraints (e.g., seismicity catalogs, surface deformation, injection and production records) to this work.
• Contribute to mentoring graduate and undergraduate students, fostering interdisciplinary collaborations, and participating in the development of competitive research proposals.

Requirements

• Ph.D. in civil and environmental engineering, mechanical engineering, applied mathematics, physics, earth sciences (geophysics, geomechanics, or related disciplines), or a closely related field.
• Demonstrated expertise in poromechanical and hydro-mechanical modeling of subsurface systems, including fluid diffusion, stress evolution, and fault or fracture mechanics relevant to geothermal reservoirs and induced seismicity.
• Strong proficiency in scientific and technical programming, with experience in one or more of the following languages: MATLAB, Python, C++, or equivalent high-performance computing environments.
• Experience developing research-grade numerical codes, implementing custom solvers, or working with large datasets is expected.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with geospatial analysis and visualization tools (e.g., GIS platforms, spatial databases) for integrating seismic, geodetic, and subsurface datasets.
• Prior experience with numerical modeling of coupled subsurface processes, including fluid flow, deformation, and fault or fracture mechanics, particularly in geothermal or induced seismicity contexts.
• Demonstrated leadership and collaboration skills, including experience mentoring students, coordinating small research efforts, or contributing meaningfully to interdisciplinary teams.
• Evidence of effective scientific communication, including peer-reviewed publications, technical reports, and proposal contributions, as well as the ability to clearly document and present complex modeling results.