Ph. D. Research Assistantship in Geothermal Energy Engineering

The Subsurface Energy Laboratory in the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences at Clemson University is seeking an enthusiastic doctoral student interested in geothermal energy. The successful candidate will work under the supervision of Professor Adam Hawkins in a microfluidic transport lab. Experiments will be designed to investigate advective transport of temperature-responsive hydrogel microspheres for hydraulic control of subsurface fluid flow paths with direct applications in geothermal engineering. This is a fully-funded research position, including guaranteed tuition, stipends, and travel support for at least four years.

The successful applicant will have a GPA of 3.0 or higher and will have completed both a Bachelors and a Masters of Science prior to beginning the Ph. D. program at the start of the Fall 2025 semester. Because this is a multi-disciplinary research program, students with training from a wide variety of disciplines will be considered, especially those that combine two or more of the following: 1.) Geochemistry, Hydrogeology, or Environmental Science; 2.) Chemical, Mechanical, Civil, Environmental, or Petroleum Engineering; and 3.) Soft Matter Physics or Geophysics). The ideal student will have experience working in an analytical laboratory and have expertise in one or more of the following: 1.) microscopy or microfluidics; 2.) polymer synthesis/characterization; 3.) rheological characterization; and/or 4.) Proportional-Integral-Derivative process control. Experience or interest in computer programming (e.g., Python, Matlab, Julia), numerical simulation, inverse modeling, 3D printing, and/or field experiments is preferred but not required.

As part of the Subsurface Energy Lab, students are expected to present their research at conferences and publish in high-impact, peer-reviewed journals. Students should also regularly attend department seminars and be motivated to interact with a multi-disciplinary team, including those with a computational focus and those performing field work in remote locations. In addition, students are expected to be self-motivated, curious, and committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

For full consideration, please email Dr. Hawkins at ahawki9@clemson.edu by December 31, 2024. Interested candidates should include the following in their email: 1.) Curriculum Vitae (CV) or resume; 2.) short statement of academic interests and research experience (e.g., 2-3 paragraphs); 3.) unofficial transcripts; and 4.) contact information for one to three professional references. After reviewing the applications, encouraged individuals will then be instructed to apply to the graduate school by January 31, 2025.

For more information, please see:

CEEES School website: https://www.clemson.edu/cecas/departments/ceees/index.html

Admissions: https://www.clemson.edu/graduate/admissions/preparing-to-apply/supporting-materials.html

Hawkins Lab website: https://www.clemson.edu/cecas/departments/eees/people/facultydirectory/hawkins.html

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Adam J. Hawkins, Ph. D. (he/him)

Assistant Professor

School of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Earth Science

Clemson University

ahawki9@clemson.edu