Job: Assistant/ Associate Professor Geothermal Engineering, TU Delft

Delft University - Elektro Delft (Soruce: Flickr, CC, By: Eelke)

Alexander Richter 22 Aug 2018

TU Delft in the Netherland has advertised a position of Assistant or Associate Professor of Geothermal Engineering (Tenure-Track)

• Department/faculty: Faculty Civil Engineering and Geosciences
• Level: Doctorate
• Working hours: 36-40 hours weekly
• Contract: Tenure Track
• Salary: EUR 3,545 – 5,978 monthly (full-time basis)

Faculty Civil Engineering and Geosciences

The Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences (CEG) is committed to outstanding international research and education in the field of civil engineering, applied earth sciences, traffic and transport, water technology and delta technology. The research covers global social issues and is closely connected to education as well as the work of a wide range of knowledge institutions. CEG is convinced that Open Science helps to realise these goals and supports its scientists in integrating Open Science in their research practice. The Faculty of CEG comprises 28 research groups in the following seven departments: Materials Mechanics Management & Design, Engineering Structures, Geoscience and Engineering, Geoscience and Remote Sensing, Transport & Planning, Hydraulic Engineering and Water Management.

The Department of Geoscience and Engineering conducts a programme for inventive exploration, exploitation and use of the Earth’s resources and subsurface space. It employs ca. 150 staff members (including PhD students) and teaches ca. 300 BSc and MSc students. It has an internationally leading role in research related to Applied Geophysics and Petrophysics, Petroleum Engineering, Applied Geology, and Geoengineering. It owns a new, sophisticated laboratory where processes are observed and measured under in-situ conditions.

The Petroleum Engineering Section is internationally oriented, with many staff members and students from outside the Netherlands, and a large number of international research and educational contacts. The Section’s key areas of expertise include enhanced oil recovery, in particular foam flow and chemical flooding, efficient numerical simulation methods, and Smart Fields, i.e. optimisation and control of subsurface flow. In addition, geothermal engineering has become one of the focal points for developments in the last few years, taking advantage of the changes in the energy provision in the Netherlands and of the plans to drill a deep geothermal research-well doublet on campus. While the core of deep geothermal research activities is currently within the section, a “geothermal theme” has been established as a platform cross-cutting all sections within the department. The section combines an extensive programme of laboratory research with numerical simulation and in-depth mathematical analysis.

Job description

The new Assistant or Associate Professor is expected to conduct research into scientific challenges in the field of geothermal science and engineering, for example in geothermal reservoir characterisation, reservoir and production engineering, e.g. the understanding of breakthrough mechanisms of thermal and chemical fronts in relation to subsurface heterogeneities, the interaction of geothermal fluids with rocks and technical installations, or the thermal and mechanical fracture development in reservoir rock. In addition to these subsurface-related challenges there are numerous scientific and engineering questions emerging from geothermal energy production in the Netherlands. These involve, for example, drilling technology, optimisation and up-scaling of geothermal operations, as well as other economic, legal and policy aspects. The candidate is therefore expected to have a broader perspective on geothermal energy research than just the subsurface flow aspects, and he/she is meant to build and maintain intensive contacts with other stakeholders within and outside the University. The university has a project under development to install a research and operational geothermal well, where the candidate will have the opportunity to influence the design and have access to the data.

The candidate is expected to contribute to the growing educational programme in geothermal engineering, through courses taught at both the BSc and MSc levels and in thesis project supervision. As a start-up grant, the candidate will be able to recruit at least one PhD student.

Requirements

The successful candidate should have a drive to innovate through research-based solutions as well as the capacity to effectively communicate with internal and external stakeholders. He/she should possess a PhD degree in a related subject and have published relevant papers in the peer-reviewed geothermal literature. He/she should have proven expertise in an area related to the characterisation of geothermal reservoirs, subsurface reservoir flow and/or production technology aspects of geothermal energy. He/she should be an outgoing and inspiring personality, with the capacity to create lasting and effective connections between researchers in other groups inside and outside TU Delft, and act as a driver for the development of geothermal energy in the Netherlands and beyond. An ambition for acquiring external funding is required. Teaching of BSc, MSc and PhD students will form part of his/her duties, and the ability and willingness to acquire a university teaching qualification are therefore necessary. Industrial experience may be an advantage but is not required, and he/she should feel comfortable in contacts with industrial and governmental stakeholders and be able to represent TU Delft – jointly with colleagues – in the national and international geothermal community.

Conditions of employment

At the start of the tenure-track you will be appointed as Assistant or Associate Professor for the duration of six years. Your section leader, department leaders and you will agree upon expected performance and (soft) skills. You will receive formal feedback on performance and skills during annual assessment meetings and the mid-term evaluation. If the performance and skills are evaluated positively at the end of the tenure track, you will be appointed in a permanent Assistant or Associate Professor position.

TU Delft offers a customisable compensation package, a discount for health insurance and sport memberships, and a monthly work costs contribution. Flexible work schedules can be arranged. An International Children’s Centre offers childcare and an international primary school. Dual Career Services offers support to accompanying partners. Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities.

TU Delft sets specific standards for the English competency of the teaching staff. TU Delft offers training to improve English competency.

Inspiring, excellent education is our central aim. If you have less than five years of experience and do not yet have your teaching certificate, we allow you up to three years to obtain this.

Contract type: Temporary, Tenure Track

Information and application

For more information about this position, please contact Prof. D. Bruhn, d.f.bruhn@tudelft.nl, or Dr. P. Vardon, +31 (0)15-2781456,  p.j.vardon@tudelft.nl. To apply, please e-mail a detailed CV, a clear vision addressing the requirements, a list of publications, three references and a letter of application by 31 October 2018 to D.W.A.M. Verbunt, Recruitment-CiTG@tudelft.nl.

Please e-mail all your application information in one single PDF entitled Lastname_CITG18-35.pdf

For more information about this position, please contact Prof.dr. Milan Veljkovic, full professor, phone: +31 (0)15-2785816, e-mail: m.veljkovic@tudelft.nl. Send your application by 15 September 2018 to Recruitment-CiTG@tudelft.nl.

Source: TU Delft