Graduate student assistantship to help safeguard the climate and coasts of tomorrow

We are seeking a highly motivated student to join a high-profile, interdisciplinary research project focused on climate mitigation and adaptation using biomass injection for their PhD dissertation research. This project aims to develop innovative solutions for carbon removal and storage by integrating cutting-edge techniques in field operations; monitoring, reporting and verification; geomechanics and transport modeling; and sustainability. The successful candidate will contribute to advancing understanding of the interactions between biomass-derived carbon, subsurface environments, geomechanical processes, and sustainability.  We will develop new methods at field sites near Clemson, in western South Carolina and demonstrate them at full scale at a field site along the coast near Charleston, South Carolina.  The ultimate goal is to develop and demonstrate a novel method of securely storing carbon to protect the climate, while also raising ground elevations to protect infrastructure and quality of life from flooding. 

The ideal candidate will have a background that includes a BS or MS degree or equivalent in mechanical engineering, environmental engineering, petroleum or chemical engineering, earth sciences, or a related field.  Preferred experiences include (a) biomass utilization and/or carbon storage techniques,  (b) field measurement techniques and equipment, (c) geomechanics and/or fate and transport modeling, (d) sustainability and life cycle assessment,  (e) computation and data processing (f) written and oral communication. 

Clemson University is in the rolling foothills of the southern Appalachians in western South Carolina with beautiful scenery and excellent opportunities for outdoor activities.  The department of environmental engineering and earth science has state-of-the-art facilities, a broad interdisciplinary faculty, and a welcoming, collegial workplace.    

Individuals interested in applying for this position should contact Larry Murdoch at lmurdoc@clemson.edu.  Please send a CV and use “Biomass Injection Grad Student Position” as the email subject.