Two PhD assistanceships studying rock fracture at New Mexico Tech

We are seeking two (2) PhD students for admission with funding at New Mexico Tech to study chemical and mechanical rate effects of rock fracture, going from creep rates, like the mechanical weathering of rock, to dynamic rates, like asteroid impacts. Students with a background in earth sciences, geotechnical or geological engineering, materials science, physics or physical chemistry are sought. We are proposing to understand how hydraulic and chemical – water – feedbacks change across fracturing rates through direct experiments (breaking rocks in real life) and using molecular dynamics and ab initio calculations. The combination of these experiments and simulations  will provide a first look at rock fracture across the full rate of deformation, and will formally test standing questions about how we universalize rock fracture.

A PhD student in the earth sciences (geophysics, geomechanics, hydrology) will focus on the experimental program. An understanding of mechanics or aqueous geochemistry is desired, as is an attention to detail and ability to work independently on a small team. Much of the work requires detailed manual work. This work will include development of methods, quantitative image analysis, and inverse modeling of rock fracture, with detailed environmental controls.

A PhD student in material science and engineering will focus on the modeling effort. Students with a background in quantum chemistry, or quantum mechanics, materials science, or solid state physics are desired. The student must show attention to detail, ability to work independently and in a team setting. They will be collaborating with earth scientists and working on a combination of solid state chemistry, fluid-surface interactions, and mechanics.

The project is funded by the US DOE Basic Energy Science program. International students may be subject to a government background check.

If you are interested, please contact Drs. Alex Rinehart (alex.rinehart@nmt.edu) and Deep Choudhuri (deep.choudhuri@nmt.edu).