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

** What You Will Do*
* 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.

The experimental component will involve developing, commissioning, and operating high-temperature, high-pressure systems and designing triaxial, core-flooding, and dynamic flow-through experiments on intact and fractured rock and well cement. These systems will operate at temperatures up to 500 °C and pressures up to 140 MPa. Research topics may include 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.

The candidate will integrate sensors and data-acquisition systems, develop safe and reproducible experimental procedures, and analyze the resulting data to identify the coupled processes governing subsurface fluid flow, geomechanical response, and well-integrity performance.

The computational component will include developing, verifying, validating, and applying two-dimensional and three-dimensional finite-element and multiphysics models using Abaqus and, where appropriate, complementary flow or wellbore-simulation tools. Models may represent laboratory specimens, fractured rock, pressure-containing components, and casing-cement-rock systems and may incorporate heat transfer, porous-media flow, contact, cohesive interfaces, poromechanics, temperature-dependent elasticity and plasticity, creep, damage, and fracture. The candidate will use Python scripting and, where appropriate, Abaqus user subroutines to automate model generation, conduct parametric studies, calibrate constitutive and transport behavior, and evaluate the effects of material properties, construction variability, and operational loading on fluid flow, damage, interface opening, and leakage-pathway development.

Candidates may enter the position with a stronger background in experimental geomechanics, subsurface fluid-flow experimentation, or computational mechanics. Available capabilities include high-temperature/high-pressure triaxial and core-flooding systems, X-ray imaging, microfluidics, fiber-optic sensing, cement testing equipment, supercritical flow-through reactors, and advanced computational resources. Opportunities may also include inverse calibration, uncertainty quantification, surrogate modeling, optimization, and integration with AI/ML tools. The candidate will collaborate across institutions, publish in peer-reviewed journals, and present results at technical conferences.

The position is for a two-year term, with the option to extend for a third year based on performance and funding availability. U.S. and non-U.S. citizens are encouraged to apply, subject to the eligibility restrictions stated below.

** What You Need*
* ** Minimum

Job Requirements:

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* + 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 areas: experimental geomechanics or materials testing; subsurface fluid-flow, core-flooding, or fracture-flow experiments; or finite-element or computational…