Post Doctoral Fellow - Petroleum Engineering - (497055 )

piece of research equipment. 4. May review and evaluate the effectiveness of personnel. 5. May plan for and assign personnel to projects under control. 6. Operates with latitude for unreviewed action. 7. May receive general supervision conferring with higher levels only in unusual situations. 8. Performs other job-related duties as required. The Department of Petroleum Engineering at the University of Houston invites applications for a Postdoctoral Researcher position in experimental and numerical modeling of reactive transport in subsurface porous media in Dr Yang’s research group. The start date is flexible but no later than Spring 2027.

The successful candidate will primarily work in the high-pressure, high-temperature (HPHT) phase behavior and flow laboratory within the Petroleum Engineering Department of UH. This lab incorporates state-of-the-art facilities, including an HPHT coreflood system with a radioactive source and an HPHT magnetic suspension balance for gas adsorption analysis, focusing on the nexus of multiphase flow and geochemistry. The primary responsibility of this position is to develop and apply experimental capabilities within world-class HPHT laboratory facilities to generate datasets that characterize reactive transport in subsurface porous media, with applications including, but not limited to, unconventional oil & gas production, CO2 mineralization, critical mineral recovery, and geologic hydrogen production. The successful candidate will join a collaborative and interdisciplinary research environment, with opportunities to work closely with collaborators at Los Alamos National Laboratory and beyond.

Additional Posting Information:

Start Date: Spring 2027

Appointment duration: Initially two years, with the possibility of extension depending on performance and funding availability.

Minimum Qualifications
• Candidates must have received a Ph.D. in a STEM field or will have completed all Ph.D. requirements by commencement of appointment.
• Strong expertise in conducting high temperature/pressure (HPHT) core flooding and gas adsorption experiments
• Record of publishing in peer-reviewed journals
• Strong written and oral communication skills in English

Desired Qualifications
• Experience with or strong interest in thermodynamic and reactive transport modeling (e.g., CrunchFlow)
• Experience with or strong interest in using synchrotron techniques (like CT) to resolve structure
• Experience characterizing techniques such as SEM or XRD
• Experience or exposure to proposal development and writing

Location: The University of Houston is nearing a century of academic excellence and community engagement. Founded in 1927, UH serves over 48,000 students and offers a comprehensive array of programs across 15 colleges, driving innovation in energy, medicine, health care, hospitality, business, education, law, STEM, and the humanities. With internationally renowned faculty, a rapidly expanding campus, transformational student success initiatives, and a steadfast commitment to public service, UH equips students to excel both in the classroom and beyond. Located in the heart of America’s fourth-largest city, UH benefits from extensive industry partnerships and abundant experiential learning opportunities. Houston, renowned for the Texas Medical Center, NASA’s Johnson Space Center, and its status as an energy hub, is also celebrated for its world-class museums, acclaimed theaters, and diverse culinary scene. As a vibrant center for innovation, education, and the arts, Houston offers a unique blend of community charm and modern progress.

Application Materials: The application package consists of a CV and a cover letter, with peer-reviewed publication record. Your cover letter should explicitly address how you meet each of the minimum requirements and any of the desired skills, if applicable. No applicant is expected to have all of the desired skills. Anyone who meets the minimum requirements is encouraged to apply. Applications will be reviewed immediately and will continue until the position is filled.
We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those individuals selected for an interview will be contacted.

MQ: Requires singular knowledge of a specialized advanced professional discipline or the highest level of general business knowledge, normally acquired through attainment of a directly job-related terminal degree or equivalent formal training in a recognized field of specialization that is directly related to the type of work being performed. No experience is required.

All positions at the University of Houston-System are security sensitive and will require a criminal history check.

The University of Houston System and its universities are Equal Opportunity Institutions. Everyone is encouraged to apply.