Switzerland – PhD in Geomechanics at École Polytechnique Fédérale EPFL

University: École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL)

Country: Switzerland

Deadline: Not specified

Fields: Geomechanics, Geophysics, Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Earth Science

Are you passionate about advancing the understanding of fluid-driven fractures in geomaterials and seeking to contribute to solutions for critical challenges in geo-energy, environmental engineering, or seismology? If you aspire to develop both theoretical and experimental expertise in geomechanics while working in a world-class research environment, then the fully funded PhD opportunities at EPFL’s Geo-Energy Lab may be the ideal next step in your academic journey.

École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) stands as one of Europe’s leading institutions for science and engineering. Located in Lausanne, Switzerland, EPFL is renowned for its vibrant international community, innovative research, and state-of-the-art facilities. The university is situated on the scenic shores of Lake Geneva, offering a stimulating academic atmosphere and access to a network of global collaborations. EPFL’s commitment to excellence is reflected in its consistently high international rankings and its role as a hub for interdisciplinary research.

The Geo-Energy Lab, led by Associate Professor Brice Lecampion, is part of the School of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering (ENAC) and is distinguished for its pioneering contributions to geo-energy, geomechanics, and rock mechanics research.

Switzerland itself is celebrated for its high quality of life, safety, and multicultural environment. As a country at the forefront of scientific innovation, it provides an exceptional setting for doctoral studies, combining strong academic traditions with access to natural laboratories and industrial partners in the heart of Europe.

The central research focus of this PhD opportunity is the mechanics of fluid-saturated geomaterials, particularly the growth and dynamics of fluid-driven discontinuities such as fractures and faults. This research has profound implications across several domains:

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– Geo-energy:
Enhancing geothermal energy extraction and optimizing CO2 geological storage.

– Environmental engineering and hydrology:
Improving strategies for radioactive waste management.

– Geotechnical engineering:
Advancing understanding of landslides and rock falls.

– Seismology:
Investigating the mechanics of fluid-induced seismicity.

– Volcanology:
Studying diking events and magma intrusion processes.

The project aims to bridge the gap between observational data and theoretical models of fluid-induced ruptures at both laboratory and field scales. By jointly analyzing seismic and quasi-static (aseismic) signals associated with rupture processes, the research will contribute to safer and more efficient exploitation of subsurface resources, risk mitigation in geotechnical engineering, and deeper insights into natural hazards.

The Geo-Energy Lab at EPFL, under the leadership of Prof. Brice Lecampion, provides a unique environment for multidisciplinary research in geomechanics. The doctoral research project will focus on integrating distributed fiber-optic strain sensing into a true-triaxial experimental setup for decimeter-scale fluid-driven fracture propagation. This novel approach will complement an existing high-resolution acoustic imaging system, enabling the collection of unprecedented multimodal datasets.

• Laboratory-scale experiments combining fiber-optic strain sensing and acoustic imaging.
• Development of inverse-problem modeling frameworks to interpret experimental data within the mechanics of fluid-driven fracture.
• Evaluation and application of laboratory…