Salary range: £35,308 - £37,386 per annum
FTE: 1.0 (35 hours per week)
Term: Fixed (18 months)
Closing date: 19 June 2023
We are seeking to appoint a
Research Associate for the EPSRC funded GigaWatt-Hour Subsurface Thermal Energy
Storage: Engineered structures and legacy Mine shafts: STEaM. The STEaM project
brings together expertise in civil engineering, geomechanics, geochemistry and
energy systems, from University of Strathclyde, the University of Edinburgh and
9 project partners. STEaM seeks to explore the use of flooded, abandoned
mineshafts for short term, interseasonal and multi-year thermal storage.
The Research Associate will
carry out baseline hydrogeological and geochemical sampling, develop
geochemical and hydrogeological site monitoring during the experiments:
including isotope analysis; analysis and integration of the data from the
baseline and during heat injections. You will perform lab analyses of fluid
flow and thermal properties of the wall rocks; assessment of mineral
composition and sulfide mineral isotopic signatures to inform hydrochemical
risk assessment. You will conduct PHREEQC modelling to assess water-rock and
water-shaft lining interactions for likely heat scenarios. You will assist the
PI in the management of the field trial research, installation and operations;
liaise with experimental equipment subcontractors and other stakeholders
(landowner, regulatory liaison); and help with development and delivery of
stakeholder workshops and demonstrator days. You will also help in development
of best practice technical guidance for mineshaft thermal energy storage site
appraisal
You should be able to work both
independently and collaboratively. Research will be written up for publication
in collaboration with colleagues, and results disseminated via peer reviewed
journal publications and presentation at conferences. You will join external
networks to share information and ideas, inform the development of research
objectives and to identify potential sources of funding. You would join the
highly multidisciplinary and collegiate Civil and Environmental Engineering
department and work with STEaM delivery team colleagues in Strathclyde’s Energy
Systems Research Unit and Edinburgh’s School of Geoscience.
To be considered
for the role, you will be educated to a minimum of PhD level in an appropriate
discipline, e.g., Geology, Earth Sciences, Hydrogeology, or cognate discipline. You will have sufficient breadth or depth of knowledge in groundwater
resources, thermogeology, applied geochemistry, and geological engineering and
be developing the capacity to conduct individual research work, to disseminate
results and to prepare research proposals. You will have an ability to plan and
organise your own workload effectively and an ability to work within a team
environment. You will have excellent interpersonal and communication skills,
with the ability to listen, engage and persuade, and to present complex
information in an accessible way to a range of audiences.
Informal enquiries about the post can be directed to Prof Zoe Shipton, (zoe.shipton@strath.ac.uk).
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