2-year PostDoc opportunity : Accurate and efficient geophysical potential field response on imp[...]

2-year PostDoc opportunity: Accurate and efficient geophysical potential field response on implicit structural geological models

The integration of multi-modal geological and geophysical data is essential to gain knowledge on subsurface heterogeneity and sustainably manage associated resources (heat, H2 or CO2 storage capacity, mineral resources, groundwater, etc.). Three-dimensional numerical representation and simulation have undergone significant development, enabling the solution of joint inverse problems. However, a compromise often needs to be made between the representational accuracy of geological features, the accuracy of the geophysical computation, and computational speed. Geological structural models are typically converted to gridded models in potential field inversions, which induces geometric approximations that may raise problems in the presence of sharp variations caused by geological faults and rugged topography. The goal of this postdoc is to improve the accuracy of potential field response computation on realistic and accurate rock unit geometries while maintaining acceptable performance.

Several numerical and computational techniques will be tested and compared to assess and maximize the efficiency/accuracy ratio in practical inversion tasks. This will involve testing different numerical schemes and parallel implementations, starting from an existing in-house CPU/GPU C++ code. These methods will first be tested on synthetic models with known analytical solutions before considering more complex 3D geological models. The successful candidate may extend the approach to other geophysical problems (e.g., electromagnetics) or consider advanced geometric-based inversion techniques combining multiple level sets geomodel updating and transdimensional techniques.

Context

The postdoctoral researcher will be based at Université de Lorraine and will work in a multidisciplinary environment with numerical geologists, geophysicists, and mathematicians. The scientist will join the GeoRessources Laboratory in the RING team, a pluridisciplinary group of 12-15 researchers and graduate students, with a broad academic and industrial collaboration network. The successful candidate will collaborate closely with Prof. Guillaume Caumon, Dr. Ayoub Belhachmi, Dr. Modeste Irakarama, Dr. Jeremie Giraud, and Dr. Frédéric Dubois. The candidate will join the network of researchers involved in the Digital Earth project of the PEPR Sous-sol, Bien Commun.

The postdoctoral scholarship (2600 to 3500 EUR monthly depending on experience) includes full salary, social benefits (including 44 days of paid leave annually), and a budget to attend national and international conferences. The goal of the postdoc is to produce, present, and publish innovative methodologies and the associated open-source software. Particular attention will be put on the professional development of the successful candidate and on establishing connections with both industrial and academic partners.

Nancy is a UNESCO World Heritage city with a vibrant student life and a rich cultural agenda, only 90 minutes away from Paris, Luxembourg, and Strasbourg.

Candidate profile

The ideal candidate holds a PhD in numerical geophysics or applied mathematics. Experience in computer programming is required. A background or a proven interest in geoscience is appreciated but not mandatory. The candidate should have strong scientific writing and communication skills. Proficiency in English is required; knowledge of French is desirable but not necessary.

The contract is expected to start during Q1 of 2025, but may be shifted to Q2 or Q3 depending on the successful candidate’s availability.

• A CV, including a list of publications and contact information for two or more referees
• The PhD thesis
• If available, the PhD review and defense reports.

Research Field: Mathematics » Applied mathematics

Education Level: PhD or equivalent

Research Field: Computer science » Programming

Education Level: PhD or equivalent

Languages: ENGLISH

Additional Information

Work Location(s)

Number of offers available: 1

Postal Code: 54500

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Job details

Title: 2-year PostDoc opportunity: Accurate and efficient geophysical potential field response on implicit structural geological models

Application Deadline: 2025-01-05 23:59 (Europe/Paris)

Université de Lorraine promotes innovation through the dialogue of knowledge, taking advantage of the variety and strength of its scientific fields...