Researcher in Subsurface Modelling

Fixed Term 12 Months

The Discipline of Environmental Sciences in the College of Science and Engineering, incorporates Earth Sciences, GeoEnergy, Biological Sciences and Environmental Science and Sustainability. We work with colleagues across the College and University, including Mineral Products, Engineering, Computing, Maths, and Business, to contribute to critical research. We have a 130-year pedigree in geoscience teaching and research, reflected in our high impact international research, collaboration with external companies, and recognised excellence in teaching and learning.

About the Role

RESCUE is a €1,000,000 international collaboration funded by Water4All and Horizon Europe to investigate the potential for Offshore Freshened Groundwater (OFG) resources to mitigate drought during extreme climate events. An international consortium of researchers from the University of Derby (UK), University of Trieste (Italy), OGS (Istituto Nazionale di Oceanografia e Geofisica Sperimentale, Italy), University of Malta (Malta), and RudenAS (Norway) work across 4 work packages to improve knowledge and understanding of technical, social, legal and economic frameworks that underpin the discovery and use of OFG across Europe.

You will join the University of Derby as a RESCUE project Co-Investigator to contribute to the development and application of technical methods, workflows, datasets, and dissemination outputs relating to large-scale modelling of subsurface reservoir systems in the Southern North Sea. The machine learning subsurface modelling tool EMBER will be used within Petrel workflows to efficiently derive cutting-edge subsurface porosity and permeability models from large-scale 3D seismic and well datasets. The RESCUE team will then perform dynamic flow simulations for the Southern North Sea using MODFLOW6 and Flopy.

About You

For this research role, you will hold a PhD or equivalent (pending or awarded) in a relevant discipline. You will have experience working with methodologies and techniques in subsurface reservoir modelling using seismic reflection and wireline log data. You will be self-motivated and able to work independently, as well as being communicative and an effective team worker. You will have experience working with seismic reflection and wireline log data, which is essential for this role. You may also have an interest working with Petrel, seismic attributes, machine learning tools, and/or dynamic flow simulations, which are desirables for this role.

Key Contact

For further information and informal enquiries regarding the role, please contact Dr Jordan Phethean, Senior Lecturer in Earth Sciences via j.phethean@derby.ac.uk

For enquiries regarding your application and for sponsorship eligibility, please contact the recruitment team via recruitment@derby.ac.uk

Important Information

This role may be eligible for sponsorship by the University. 

The offered salary for this role is less than the going rate for the occupation and the minimum salary threshold for the Skilled Worker route (£41,700 per annum, as of 22^nd July 2025). Therefore you will only be eligible to apply for a Skilled Worker visa subject to your individual circumstances which must meet one of the following criteria set out by UKVI: 

• Your job is on the Immigration Skills List
• You’re under 26, studying or a recent graduate, or in professional training
• You have a PhD level qualification that’s relevant to your job 
• You have a postdoctoral position in science or higher education

You must also meet the English Language requirement.

Please note that the University will assess your individual eligibility for sponsorship at the shortlisting stage.

For more information, visit our website.

For more information and to apply on-line, please click the “Apply” button above.

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