Join the Paul Scherrer Institute, Switzerland's largest research hub. Be part of innovative projects addressing energy and health.
Overview
The Paul Scherrer Institute PSI is the largest research institute for natural and engineering sciences within Switzerland. It performs cutting‑edge research in the fields of future technologies, energy and climate, health innovation and fundamentals of nature. By performing fundamental and applied research, PSI works on sustainable solutions for major challenges facing society, science and economy. PSI is committed to training future generations. Therefore, about one quarter of its staff are post‑docs, post‑graduates or apprentices. Altogether, PSI employs 2,300 people.
Project
The Laboratory for Waste Management has conducted multidisciplinary research on safety and design of geological repositories for radioactive waste and related nuclear reactor technologies. For a Marie Skłodowska–Curie Doctoral Network (MSCA‑DN) project, the following role is requested.
Tasks
* Implement a Lattice Boltzmann (LB) solver for modelling processes at pore scale in 2D/3D realistic multimineral pore structures (synthetic and tomography driven).
* Develop surrogate models to accelerate simulation of chemistry and couple them with LB.
* Quantify the impact of reactions and microstructural evolution on permeability and transport properties relevant to resource extraction, and derive mechanistic correlations for upscaling.
* Integrate AI/ML‑assisted sensitivity analysis and uncertainty quantification to evaluate prediction reliability and account for input data variability.
Expected outcomes
1. Implement Lattice Boltzmann (LB) solver for modelling processes at pore scale in 2D/3D realistic multimineral pore structures (synthetic and tomography driven)
2. Develop surrogate models to accelerate simulation of chemistry and couple with LB
3. Quantify the impact of reactions and microstructural evolution on permeability and transport properties relevant to resource extraction, and derive mechanistic correlations for upscaling
4. Integrate AI/ML‑assisted sensitivity analysis and uncertainty quantification to evaluate prediction reliability and account for input data variability.
Profile
Required Qualifications:
* Master’s degree (or equivalent) in a relevant discipline.
* Strong motivation for interdisciplinary research.
* Excellent command of spoken and written English (mandatory).
Desirable Skills:
* Programming skills (e.g. Python or C). Familiarity with machine learning techniques is a plus.
* Background in porous media flows or CFD. Experience with the lattice Boltzmann would be beneficial.
* Geochemical modelling and reactive transport fundamentals.
Program Details
You will be enrolled at the University of Bern and receive your PhD title from the University of Bern. This position is part of the Marie Skłodowska‑Curie Action (MSCA) Doctoral Network (DN) “MiningBrines” (Multidisciplinary Integration and Networking for Increased sustainability and multi‑resources valorisation of Geothermal BRINES). You will have the status of a “SERI‑funded MSCA DN Grantee”. As part of the MSCA DN, you will visit the Instituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Osservatorio Vesuviano (INGV) in Naples, Italy, the Geological and Mining Bureau (BRGM) in Orléans, France, the GFZ Helmholtz‑Zentrum für Geoforschung in Potsdam, Germany and Collaboration Betters the World (CBTW) in Germany for approximately 2 months each. You will collaborate closely with the other MiningBrines research projects and participate in network training and workshops.
Eligibility and Mobility
Horizon Europe MSCA Mobility Rule: Candidates must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the country of the host organization (Switzerland) for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before the recruitment date – unless as part of a compulsory national service or a procedure for obtaining refugee status under the Geneva Convention.
Eligibility Criteria: Doctoral Candidates must, at the date of recruitment by the host organization, have not been awarded a doctoral degree. Applicants must be eligible to enroll on a PhD program at University of Bern.
Benefits
PSI: Our institution is based on interdisciplinary, innovative and dynamic collaboration. You will profit from systematic training on the job, in addition to personal development possibilities and a pronounced vocational training culture. If you wish to optimally combine work and family life or other personal interests, we support you with modern employment conditions and on‑site infrastructure.
MiningBrines: An international network of 32 academic and industrial partners across multiple disciplines offers an innovative doctoral training program to address Europe’s strategic needs for sustainable access to critical raw materials, energy gases and renewable energies. You will benefit from interdisciplinary training in geosciences, biogeochemistry, artificial intelligence and socio‑economic analysis. The position is funded for 36 months with a competitive salary, allowances, and additional funding for technical training and conference participation.
Application
Interested candidates are invited to submit their application online and send:
* their CV
* a letter of application
* a 1‑page critical summary of an article of their choice
* the name of two contact persons (former teachers or supervisors, who are asked to send a support letter)
* academic credentials
Application Deadline (date and time zone): April 30th, 5 PM CET
Applications and enclosures received after the deadline will not be considered.
Expected starting date: 1 October 2026
Please avoid any questions on the status of the selection process. We will inform you as soon as there is an update.
Candidates whose application is not compliant with the requirements above will not be considered. Applications and enclosures received after the deadline will not be considered.
Contact
For further information, please contact Dr Nikolaos Prasianakis, E-Mail schreiben.
Paul Scherrer Institute, Human Resources Management, Serdal Varol, 5232 Villigen PSI, Switzerland
www.psi.ch
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