Assistant Professor - Sustainable Subsurface Energy Systems

Overview

The Department of Energy Science and Engineering (ESE) at Stanford University invites applications for a tenure-track faculty appointment at the Assistant Professor level. We seek exceptional candidates with a strong commitment to research and teaching in the broad area of sustainable subsurface energy systems, with a particular emphasis on geothermal energy and/or subsurface hydrogen production and storage
.

Research Focus:

We are particularly interested in candidates who use theoretical, numerical and/or experimental research to address fundamental and applied problems in geothermal energy and hydrogen in the subsurface. Potential areas of research include, but are not limited to:

• Geothermal Energy:
• Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS), superhot rock (SHR), and advanced geothermal concepts.
• Subsurface fluid flow, heat transfer, and rock mechanics in geothermal reservoirs
• Advanced drilling and completion technologies for geothermal wells
• Geophysical and geochemical characterization of geothermal systems
• Modeling, simulation, and optimization of underground geothermal processes
• Hybrid geothermal systems and integrated energy solutions

• Hydrogen:

• Underground hydrogen detection and production (e.g., serpentinization, radiolysis, pyrolysis).
• Hydrogen retention and loss mechanisms in the subsurface
• Subsurface hydrogen storage (e.g., in depleted reservoirs, salt caverns)
• Assessment and verification of hydrogen storage
• Modeling, simulation, and optimization of underground hydrogen processes
• Hybrid geological hydrogen and geothermal systems

The successful candidate is expected to develop an internationally recognized, externally funded research program, contribute to the teaching mission of the department at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, and advise Ph.D. students. Stanford offers an exceptional environment for interdisciplinary collaboration across departments such as Geophysics, Civil & Environmental Engineering, Earth and Planetary Science, Materials Science & Engineering, Chemical Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering, as well as institutes like the Precourt Institute for Energy and the Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment.

Qualifications:

Applicants must possess a Ph.D. by the time of appointment, in a relevant field such as Energy Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Petroleum Engineering, Civil & Environmental Engineering, Geophysics, Geology, or a closely related discipline. We seek candidates with a demonstrated record of research excellence and a strong potential for developing innovative research and teaching programs.

Application Materials:

Candidates should submit the following:

Final date to receive applications: Application materials need to be submitted online at the portal:

The deadline to submit your application is October 31, 2025, 11:00pm PST
. Late applications will not be accepted.