A conceptual hydrogeological model for fault-related geothermal energy resources in northern Britain
PhD Studentship
The School of Engineering at the University of Glasgow is seeking a highly motivated graduate to undertake an exciting 3 year NERC CASE PhD project
“A conceptual hydrogeological model for fault-related geothermal energy resources in northern Britain”
The project is co-sponsored by Cluff Geothermal Ltd and will be supervised by Professor Paul L Younger FREng
Project Description
The School of Engineering of the University of Glasgow is seeking a highly motivated graduate to undertake an exciting 3-year PhD project entitled ‘A conceptual hydrogeological model for fault-related geothermal energy resources in northern Britain’ within the Systems, Power and Energy Division. You will join the UK’s largest geothermal research team, comprising seven academic staff and five PhD students, with a wide range of disciplinary backgrounds. The first supervisor will be Professor Paul Younger FREng, Rankine Chair of Engineering and Professor of Energy Engineering. The second supervisor will be Dr Daniel Koehn, a structural geologist in the School of Geographical and Earth Sciences. The industrial supervisor will be Dr Michael Feliks of Cluff Geothermal Ltd.
The aim of the project is to develop a generic conceptual hydrogeological model for the occurrence, and likely response to development, of naturally warm groundwaters inferred to be circulating in and near major faults in northern England and the Midland Valley of Scotland. The project will involve collation, collection and critical analysis of data (geological, geophysical, hydraulic, geochemical) from existing and new, deep geothermal boreholes in the study region, and from analogous sources of information (such as archival analyses of waters found near faults in deep mines of the region when they were working). On this evidence, a formal, conceptual hydrogeological model will be developed to describe the occurrence of sufficient quantities of deep groundwaters abundant and hot enough to support direct and indirect geothermal resource exploitation. Consistency between the conceptual model and available data will then be tested using numerical simulations (using codes such as FEFLOW), and guidance for practical resource quantification will be derived, for later use by industry.
Although based in the School of Engineering, this project will require a considerable amount of geological knowledge, and as such will be best suited to candidates with strong undergraduate backgrounds in applied Earth Sciences and / or geotechnical engineering. An MSc in hydrogeology or groundwater engineering would be a decided advantage. Whatever the background of the successful candidate, they will be expected to embrace the problem-solving paradigm of engineering with enthusiasm, and to interact creatively with the diverse team of geologists, mechanical engineers, civil engineers and mining engineers already working in the Glasgow geothermal team.
Funding
The studentship is supported by the UK government’s Natural Environment Research Council (NERC; www.nerc.ac.uk), Cluff Geothermal Ltd (www.cluffgeothermal.com) and the College of Science and Engineering of the University of Glasgow, and it will cover home tuition fees and provide a stipend of £13,726 per annum for 3 years.
To be eligible for this funding, applicants must have ‘settled status’ in the United Kingdom and must have been ‘ordinarily resident’ for the past three years. EU nationals are generally eligible to receive a fees-only award, and would have to find their own funds for subsistence.
It should be noted that other terms may also apply. For full details about eligibility please visit: http://www.nerc.ac.uk/funding/available/postgrad/eligibility.asp
How to apply
Application for this scholarship is made by using the online system at the following link for admission as a postgraduate research student to the admission team in the Recruitment and International Office: http://www.gla.ac.uk/research/opportunities/howtoapplyforaresearchdegree/
It should be noted that this application is to gain admission to our PGR programme with the decision on this being based on your academic achievements, and an offer of admission may be sent out before a decision on this Scholarship is made. Candidates applying for this Scholarship will have their applications further vetted as to acceptability to this Scholarship and will most likely have an interview/discussion with the supervisor before any decision is made.
Closing date for applications is 10th January 2014.
Contact
For an informal discussion or for further information on this project, potential applicants are encouraged to contact Professor Paul Younger (paul.younger@glasgow.ac.uk; tel. 07711 391 066).