Postdoctoral Associate positions:

Area: Basalt carbonation in Atlantic Canada

Timeframe: 2 years with the possibility of extension, depending on progress and funding

Start date: Fall 2023 (negotiable)

Salary: $60,000/year plus benefits

Application Deadline: Applications will be evaluated on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

Applications are invited for Postdoctoral Associates to work on coupling a unique, Canadian-made, direct air capture (DAC) technology with accelerated carbon mineralization as a key carbon dioxide removal (CDR) technique under the supervision of Dr. Benjamin Tutolo at the University of Calgary and Dr. Adedapo Awolayo at McMaster University. This project, a joint collaboration between Gaia Refinery Inc., McMaster University, and University of Calgary, is aimed at understanding the processes governing CO₂ mineralization in basalts of Atlantic Canada. Together, project participants (including PIs, postdocs, and students) will characterize the rock and in-situ fluid flow properties to evaluate CO2 mineralization potential;  perform elevated temperature-pressure laboratory experiments to examine the rate of carbon mineralization based on the scheme and scale of injection; utilize numerical models to optimize carbonation rates; and employ and develop data-driven machine learning models to calibrate the modelling efforts and adapt this approach to conduct techno-economic assessment for optimizing site location and cost benefit analysis.

The successful candidate(s) will have the opportunity to work on other active research projects at McMaster University (https://www.eng.mcmaster.ca/faculty/adedapo-awolayo/) and the University of Calgary (www.geoscience.ucalgary.ca/reactive-transport/). Successful candidate(s) will have routine access to the McMaster Research & High-Performance Computing, University of Calgary’s Advanced Research Computing, and Digital Research Alliance of Canada clusters and hydrogeologic, geochemical, and reactive transport modeling software as well as an extensive suite of experimental and analytical tools for characterizing water-rock-gas interactions.

Candidates should have a PhD in Geoscience, Civil, Environmental, Chemical, or Reservoir Engineering, or a related field. The ideal candidate will have experience characterizing rock mineralogy and/or physical properties or using numerical models to simulate fluid flow and chemical reactions in geologic formations. Knowledge and experience in coding and machine learning are also valuable. The position generally requires excellent communication and interpersonal skills, as well as intellectual independence.

Major Duties/Responsibilities:

• Characterize basalt flow properties and reactivity in the context of carbonate mineralization.
• Experimentally or numerically simulate the fate of injected CO₂ and methods for optimizing carbonation rates.
• Interact with collaborators to optimize injection strategies and cost analysis.
• Present and report research results at conferences, in peer-reviewed journals, and to funding agency in a timely manner
• Maintain a safe, collegial, interactive, and welcoming research environment.

Application details: 

Interested applicants should contact please contact Dr. Benjamin Tutolo (benjamin.tutolo@ucalgary.ca) and Dr. Adedapo Awolayo (awolayoa@mcmaster.ca) to apply and/or inquire for more details. Members of underrepresented groups, particularly women and people of color, are specifically encouraged to apply.

Attach in ONE single PDF document the four documents listed below:

• a CV with a list of publications;
• a 2-page cover letter expressing interest in this position and summarizing previous research experience;
• the contact information of two referees that are familiar your research and academic experience.

The application package should be sent to benjamin.tutolo@ucalgary.ca and awolayoa@mcmaster.ca. The review of applications will begin on June 1, 2023, and continue until the position is filled; however, only those who have been selected for interviews will be contacted further.

About University of Calgary Department of Geoscience

The University of Calgary recognizes that a diverse staff/faculty benefits and enriches the work, learning and research experiences of the entire campus and greater community. We are committed to removing barriers that have been historically encountered by some people in our society. We strive to recruit individuals who will further enhance our diversity and will support their professional success while they are here.

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