Description

EPFL, the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne, is one of the most dynamic university campuses in Europe and ranks among the top 20 universities worldwide. The EPFL employs more than 6,000 people supporting the three main missions of the institutions: education, research and innovation. The EPFL campus offers an exceptional working environment at the heart of a community of more than 16,000 people, including over 12,000 students and 4,000 researchers from more than 120 different countries.

Scientific Assistant – R&D engineer

Your mission : The Laboratory of Soil Mechanics (LMS) at the School of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering at EPFL Switzerland is seeking a scientific assistant to support the technological development of a technology transfer project named InSituStreTech. LMS is a research lab dedicated to giving priority to the protection from geo- hazards and industrial damage to the environment, landforms and structure, mobilizing its experimental and modeling resources to understand, describe and predict the environmental impact of the technologies of future days, such as Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS). CCS technology is nowadays recognized as crucial for mitigating climate change. Storing CO2 in geological formations (e.g., depleted hydrocarbon fields and deep saline aquifers) is currently considered the most attractive option. Geomechanical analyses for ensuring the efficiency and safety of CO2 storage require knowledge of the in-situ stress state. Compared to conventional geotechnical applications (e.g., foundations, retaining structures), the knowledge of the in-situ stress state for this engineering application has additional complexities due to the high depth (up to kilometers), complex stress history (current tectonic stresses, and residual stresses associated with past tectonic events, erosive and diagenetic processes) and often anisotropic stress states. Existing estimation methodologies have innumerable limitations and do not allow reliable determination of the complete stress state. The InSituStreTech project is developing an innovative technology suitable for in-situ stress estimation for CO2 geological storage. The proposed technology has a theoretical basis; it will use ad-hoc measurement tools, measurement protocols, and data analysis tools. InSituStreTech will contribute to today's sustainability challenge by proposing, on the one hand, a technology for improving the CCS mitigation strategy. On the other hand, it will be environmentally sustainable (from production to end-of-life, with particular emphasis on the chosen materials and the reusability of the tools). The target customers of the technology belong to the public and private sectors and involve all those entities responsible for the design and verification activities of CCS projects.

Main duties and responsibilities include :

Reviewing commercially existing sensors and related technologies (referring to companies operating in different market segments)

Assess limitations and suitability of the various commercially available sensor solutions based on the specific application of interest

Contribute to the research, development, and integration of new features of the technology

Execute related activities such as making technical drawings and calculations

Reporting activities

Your profile :

You have a background in physics and mechanics that allow you to understand the sensor specificities easily (e.g., HES mechanical engineering, EPF Master's degree in physics, EPF Master's degree in mechanics, or any equivalent)

Already acquired knowledge or experience in sensors and/or pressure transducers is a plus

Proficient oral and written English skills

We offer :

Opportunity to work on cutting-edge projects at the heart of innovation in a top-ranked engineering school

As part of a technology transfer project, you will work in a stimulating, dynamic, and interdisciplinary environment

EPFL is an equal opportunity employer. We offer a competitive salary commensurate with skills and experience and subject to the EPFL pay scale

Start date : As soon as possible

Term of employment : Fixed-term (CDD)

Work rate : 100%

Duration : 3-4 months, possibly renewable

Contact : Please send your application with the subject line "InSituStreTech Scientific Assistant " to angelica.tuttolomondo@epfl.ch in a single PDF file containing all required information. Applications will be evaluated as soon as received.

Reference : Job Nb 2365