PhD Position (f_m_x) - Laboratory-Scale Hydraulic Flow-Through Experiments GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences

Temporary

Part Time

Apply by: 2026-05-05

Published: 2026-04-09

Potsdam

I am interested

Go to employer profile

GFZ is Germany's national centre for solid Earth research. We advance the understanding of dynamic processes to address global challenges, from mitigating the impacts of natural hazards and sustaining our habitat amid global change to responsibly managing georesources. We are part of the Helmholtz Association, the largest German scientific organisation. With around 1,200 employees as well as ca. 500 guest researchers, we contribute to the Helmholtz Research Field Earth and Environment, aligning cutting-edge research with societal relevance and international collaboration. Our work integrates multidisciplinary studies across Earth's system components, leveraging advanced technologies and infrastructure to research solutions and to transfer our knowledge to society. We are doing this in line with our vision: “Taking the pulse of our Earth to safeguard a habitable planet”.

For the EU-funded project UPLIFT in section 4.3 Geoenergy (department "Geosystems") we are looking to fill a:

PhD Position (f_m_x) – Laboratory-Scale Hydraulic Flow-Through Experiments

Reference Number 11210

UPLIFT (Unlocking Petrothermal Lithologies through Innovative Fracture Technologies) brings together key European EGS industry and research institutions to demonstrate, at Czechia’s leading energy research site RINGEN, how multi-stage Enhanced Geothermal System (EGS) stimulation can be efficiently implemented in Europe, while reducing technical, social, and environmental risks.

This includes adaptive stimulation designs for more efficient and safe permeability enhancement and micro-turbine drilling for improved reservoir access. To support this, we will investigate the self-propping behaviour of European basement rocks through laboratory experiments and benchmark these results against acid and proppant-based stimulation methods, and we will compare water-only with proppant-based stimulation treatments in the Bedretto Underground Laboratory. Additionally, we will develop high-fidelity, physics-based Digital Twins to guide stimulation designs, as well as fast surrogate models for real-time operational decision-making.

This PhD position offers the opportunity to investigate hydro-mechanical processes in fractured rocks through advanced laboratory experiments, contributing to a better understanding of permeability evolution and stimulation techniques in subsurface systems.

Your responsibilities:

Conduct laboratory experiments using triaxial compression cells to investigate permeability enhancement and fracture stiffness of generated shear fractures
Quantify fracture permeability parallel and perpendicular to the flow direction to assess anisotropy
Plan and perform experimental series with different sample treatments, including chemical surface treatment to simulate chemical stimulation
Carry out additional experiments with proppant-filled fractures to evaluate their impact on permeability
Characterise fracture surface morphology before and after experiments using laser scanning
Analyse and interpret rock behaviour based on hydro-mechanical laboratory experiments

Your qualifications:

Essential qualifications:

A Master's degree (or equivalent) in reservoir/petroleum engineering, applied geosciences, geology, environmental sciences, geophysics, or equivalent
Background in Enhanced Geothermal Systems or laboratory experiments
Proficiency in spoken and written English
High motivation and creativity, as well as a result-oriented, structured and reliable working attitude
Excellent communication skills

Desirable qualifications:

German language skills are useful, but no requirement

What we offer:

Ambitious and varied tasks in a dynamic and international research environment
State-of-the-art equipment
Public service benefits
Extensive training opportunities
Professional career advice offered by our in-house Career-Centre
Flexible working hours and conditions
Support with finding a good work-life balance offered by benefit@work
Institute day-care centre on site
Working at the Albert Einstein Science Park on the Telegrafenberg in Potsdam
Workplace within walking distance of Potsdam main train station, or just a short ride on the shuttle bus

Start date:

As soon as possible

Fixed term:

3 years

Salary:

The position is classed as salary group 13 according to “TVöD Bund (Tarifgebiet Ost)”. The salary group is determined on the basis of the Collective Wage Agreement and the respective personal qualifications.

Working hours:

Part-time (currently 29,25h/ week)

Place of work:

Potsdam

Job location

Additional actions

I am interested

Go to employer profile

About the employer

GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences

Potsdam + 6

> 1000 employees

German + 1

Established 1992

9 Jobs

GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences

The GFZ is Germany’s national center for research on the solid Earth. We advance the understanding of dynamic processes to address global challenges—ranging from mitigating the impacts of natural hazards and preserving our environment in times of global change to the responsible management of natural resources. We are a member of the Helmholtz Association, Germany’s largest scientific organization. With approximately 1,200 staff and around 500 visiting researchers, we contribute to the Helmholtz research area “Earth and Environment,” combining cutting-edge research with societal relevance and international collaboration.

Our work integrates multidisciplinary studies of Earth’s systems and leverages advanced technologies and infrastructures to explore solutions and bring our knowledge into society. We do all this in line with our vision: “In tune with the Earth—to preserve it as a habitable planet.”