Pre-Doctoral Assistant

Required Qualifications

• Master's degree in Geoengineering or closely related field
• At least two years of research training
• Expertise in the theory of poroelasticity
• Familiarity with models of fluid-driven fracture in rock

Preferred Qualifications:

• Programming expertise with Matlab
• Demonstrated ability to produce high-quality publications
• Excellent written communication skills

About the Job:

Professor Emmanuel Detournay is seeking a Predoctoral Assistant who will help with the development of a mathematical model of a plane strain (“KGD”) hydraulic fracture propagating in a poroelastic medium. The duration of the research project is 6 months. This is a 50%-time (20 hours per week) appointment.

Research Tasks (95%):

• Help formulate a model that accounts (i) for fluid flow in the fracture according to lubrication theory, (ii) pore pressure diffusion and back stress according to poroelasticity, and (iii) a fracture propagation criterion.
• Perform a scaling analysis of the model
• Develop and write a Matlab to solve the governing equations.
• Calculate the numerical solution for varying values of the dimensionless parameters controlling the solution
• Prepare a manuscript for publication and work through the journal editorial process.

Other duties as assigned (5%)

The Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geo- Engineering resides within the College of Science & Engineering. More information about the department can be found at https://cse.umn.edu/cege

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