PDRA for ENI UK Energy Futures Project at University of Manchester

Job reference: SAE-031668
Salary: £37,694 - £46,049 per annum depending on experience
Faculty/Organisational Unit: Science and Engineering
Location: Manchester
Employment type: Fixed Term
Division/Team: Department of Chemical Engineering
Hours Per Week: Full Time (1 FTE)
Closing date (DD/MM/YYYY): 24/06/2026
Contract Duration: Fixed term for 19 months
School/Directorate: School of Engineering

We are seeking a motivated and collaborative individual to join our team as a Postdoctoral Research Associate. This role offers an exciting opportunity to contribute to cutting‑edge research supporting the UK’s energy transition, as part of the UK Energy Futures Research Partnership, a major collaboration between leading UK universities and industry.

The post will focus on advancing research into CO₂ Plume Geothermal (CPG) systems, an emerging low‑carbon technology that combines geothermal energy production with permanent CO₂ storage. You will work within a dynamic and inclusive research environment, collaborating closely with academic colleagues and industry partners, including Eni S.p.A., to develop innovative modelling approaches for sustainable geoenergy systems.

This is a fixed‑term Grade 6 role, starting July/August 2026, based at The University of Manchester.

You will be responsible for:

• Developing advanced thermodynamic and compositional reservoir simulations for CO₂‑based geothermal systems
• Investigating the impact of geological heterogeneity on CO₂ flow, heat extraction and long‑term storage
• Applying GPU‑based modelling frameworks and machine‑learning‑enhanced approaches to fluid flow in porous media
• Collaborating with academic and industry partners across the UK Energy Futures consortium
• Disseminating research through high‑quality peer‑reviewed publications, reports and conference presentations

We welcome candidates who bring diverse perspectives, experiences, and approaches to their work.

About You
We encourage applications from individuals with a wide range of backgrounds and experiences. You should demonstrate:

Essential Criteria :

• A PhD in a relevant engineering discipline (e.g. chemical engineering, fluid mechanics or reservoir engineering)
• Proven research expertise in fluid flow modelling in porous media
• Experience with advanced computational approaches, including GPU‑based modelling and/or data‑driven methods
• A strong publication record relevant to the project area
• Ability to work collaboratively within multidisciplinary and international research teams

Desirable Criteria :

• Expertise in fluid flow modelling across multiple length scales
• Experience contributing to supervision of postgraduate research projects
• Experience developing or working with in‑house or industry‑standard simulation tools

We value transferable skills, creativity and collaborative research practice as much as formal qualifications.

Our benefits include:

• Generous employer pension contribution
• 29 days annual leave plus bank holidays, along with Christmas closure
• Access to extensive professional development and industry collaboration opportunities

For more information, please see
https://www.manchester.ac.uk/connect/jobs/benefits-working-here/ 

You can also find information on Flexible and Hybrid working here:
https://www.staffnet.manchester.ac.uk/people/current-staff/flexible-and-hybrid-working/ 

We are an open place of enquiry and challenge. We embrace and celebrate difference, diversity and debate, and we pride ourselves on being a place of education, learning and community. Find out more from our Freedom of Speech Policy:
https://www.staffnet.manchester.ac.uk/news/display/?id=32905 

Enquiries about the role, shortlisting and interviews
Name: Masoud Babaei
Email Address: Masoud.babaei@manchester.ac.uk

General enquiries and administrative support
recruitmentservices.people@manchester.ac.uk 

Technical and job portal support
https://jobseekersupport.jobtrain.co.uk/support/home 

Applications close at midnight on the closing date.

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