Postdoctoral Fellow, Petroleum and Geosystems Engineering, Cockrell School of Engineering

Postdoctoral Fellow, Petroleum and Geosystems Engineering, Cockrell School of Engineering

Join the role of Postdoctoral Fellow, Petroleum and Geosystems Engineering, Cockrell School of Engineering at The University of Texas at Austin
. This position is open to all applicants and is scheduled for 40 hours per week, with a weekly start immediately and a duration until May 31, 2025. The role is located on the UT Austin main campus.

• Hiring Department:
  Hildebrand Department of Petroleum and Geosystems Engineering
• Position Open To:
  All Applicants
• Weekly Scheduled
  
  Hours:
  
  40
• FLSA Status:
  Exempt
• Earliest
  
  Start Date:
  
  Immediately
• Position Duration:
  Expected to Continue Until May 31, 2025
• Location:
  
  UT MAIN CAMPUS

As a member of the prestigious Cockrell School of Engineering, you will work within a globally recognized engineering program—home to 11 undergraduate and 13 graduate programs, over 20 research centers, and a faculty community that includes many National Academy of Engineering members. The campus, located in Austin, is a hub for innovation and hosts major companies such as Dell, Apple, IBM, Google, and more.

• Competitive health benefits (employee premiums covered at 100%, family premiums at 50%)
• Voluntary Vision, Dental, Life, and Disability insurance options
• Generous paid vacation, sick time, and holidays
• Teachers Retirement System of Texas, a defined benefit retirement plan, with 7.75% employer matching funds
• Additional Voluntary Retirement Programs:
  Tax Sheltered Annuity 403(b) and a Deferred Compensation program 457(b)
• Flexible spending account options for medical and childcare expenses
• Robust free training access through Linked In Learning plus professional conference opportunities
• Tuition assistance
• Expansive employee discount program including athletic tickets
• Free access to UT Austin’s libraries and museums with staff
• Free rides on all UT Shuttle and Austin Cap Metro buses with staff

This is a temporary training position that may be renewed annually, for a maximum of five years, based upon performance review, progress towards research goals, and continuation of funding.

The Postdoctoral Fellow will conduct world‑leading research, produce deliverables on time, keep projects within budget, meet project reporting and publication requirements, and ensure that the project is appropriately resourced.

• Conduct state‑of‑the‑art drilling research in hydraulics and multi‑phase flow dynamics, managed pressure drilling, drill string dynamics, and geothermal well construction.
• Work on proposals, R&D plans, schedules, and completion of reports on detailed phases of research projects.
• Supervise undergraduate and graduate students and staff associated with R&D projects.
• Write papers and present results at relevant professional meetings and conferences.
• Provide input on research and development inquiries, insight, and direction for testing procedures and research.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Ph.D. in Mechanical / Petroleum Engineering received within three years of start date. Background in computational science and multi‑physics modeling, including computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and multibody dynamics. Strong experience developing scientific computational software; proven programming skills in multiple languages (Python, Matlab). Strong record of peer‑reviewed publications in these areas. Prior experience with supervision.

Research background in modeling multiphase flow in pipe and porous media coupled with heat transfer. Modeling of drill string dynamics, preferably using the multibody dynamics method. Familiarity with drilling and well‑completion technologies and drilling tools. Experience in software secondary development. Successful experience in patent application. Previous project supervision experience.

$65,000 + depending on qualifications.

• May work around chemical fumes.
• May work around mechanical hazards.
• May work in standard office conditions.

• Repetitive use of a keyboard at a workstation.
• Use of manual dexterity.
• May require climbing stairs.
• May require lifting and…