ENWAT Project
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Publication date: Oct 5, 2023
| Position-ID: | 1340 |
| Faculty/ Facility: | Civil- and Environmental Engineering |
| Institute/ Facility: | Civil- and Environmental Engineering : IWS – Institute for Modelling Hydraulic and Environmental Systems |
| Research Association: | Environment Water (ENWAT) |
| Teaching Obligation: | No |
| Application deadline: | 11/05/2023 |
| Anticipated Start Date: | 10/01/2024 |
About Us
The international Doctoral Program “Environment Water” (ENWAT) of the Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering Sciences, University of Stuttgart, Germany, in collaboration with the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) opens a call for max. 2 PhD positions for research in Environment Water. Each project involves high-quality research and state-of-the-art techniques and is supervised by excellent researchers. We are looking for highly motivated and talented students with a passion for science. Candidates must demonstrate an excellent performance in their previous academic education.
Advisor: apl. Prof. Dr.-Ing. Holger Class
Research group / department: Department of Hydromechanics and Modelling of Hydrosystems, Institute for Modelling Hydraulic and Environmental Systems (IWS)
Keywords
density-driven enhanced dissolution, CO2, carbonate rock, reactive transport, Navier-Stokes equation, Darcy equation, numerical modelling, measurements
Introduction / Background
Karst systems are found in many parts all over the world, e.g. [4]. They are characterized by the dissolution of carbonate rocks in the presence of carbonic acid. The CO2 to replenish the dissolution potential of waters in contact with the rock is produced in the soil by microbes that degrade organic matter. Classical textbook explanations require mobile meteoric water that takes up CO2 during the passage of the soil zone. This leads to denudation of the karst landscape but can also lead to corrosion deep in the rock due to mixing corrosion, when two (or more) water streams mix [1]. Mixed water is always carbonate-aggressive. Only recently, it was proposed that replenishment of CO2 deep inside karstic waters can occur also via a mobil gas phase even without percolating meteoric water [2]. Density-driven enhanced dissolution can take place at the karst-water table, even if it is stagnant, and convective mixing inside the stagnant water body is an efficient transport process for CO2 from the gas phase into the water. Thus, this so far in the literature unaddressed process may contribute to speleogenesis and further research is required to quantify how big such a contribution may be and under which conditions it is relevant [2,3].
References
[1] Bögli, A.: Karst Hydrology and Physical Speleology, Springer Berlin Heidelberg, 1980
[2] Class, H., Bürkle, P., Sauerborn, T., Trötschler, O., Strauch, B., Zimmer, M.: On the role of density-driven dissolution of CO2 in phreatic karst systems, Water Resources Research 57, e2021WR030912, 2021
[3] Class, H., Weishaupt, K., Trötschler, O.: Experimental and simulation study on validating a numerical model for CO2 density-driven dissolution in water, Water 12, 738, 2020
[4] Ford, D.C., Williams, P.W.: Karst Hydrogeology and Geomorphology, Wiley, 2007
Your Tasks
Research goals
The overall aim of this research is an assessment of the relevance of two fundamental processes for speleogenesis: (i) gas-phase transport of CO2 in the soil zone and the epikarst region, and coupled with that (ii) density-driven enhanced dissolution (convective mixing) in karst-water bodies (stagnant or at very small flow velocities).
Therefore, it is planned to address long-term effects on karst dissolution rates based on the results of currently ongoing related projects (see above).
Methods to be used
Numerical modelling using Dumux (www.dumux.org) or other suitable software packages (e.g. OpenFOAM), experimental (field and lab) measurements as required and dependent on funding.
Your Profile
The position requires very good background in computational fluid mechanics and programming. Good knowledge of geochemistry is also highly appreciated.
Further Prerequisites:
- Resume/CV showing the applicant’s background, professional skills, a list of publications and oral and poster presentations as well as additional achievements (scholarships, awards etc.)
- M.Sc., Dipl.-Ing. or equivalent degree in Civil Engineering, Water Resources Management, Environmental Engineering or related sciences
- B.Sc. in Civil Engineering, Water Resources Management, Environmental Engineering or related sciences
Copies of Certificates and Transcripts, including all undergraduate level certificates and university degrees. All documents, which are not in English or in German, must be accompanied by copies of a legally certified English translation (for the application we will accept copies; but please be aware, that originals or legally certified copies will be needed for the final phase. In case any differences between the copies and the originals show up, the application will be dismissed.)
Please make sure, that the copies of the transcripts show not only the grades but also explain the home grades’ system (please add copy of the description of grade scale).
- At the time of application, generally no more than 6 years should have passed since the last degree was gained.
- Only international (non-German) applicants can be accepted. At the time of application the candidate must not have been resident in Germany for more than the last 15 months.
- Unless native speaker: proficiency in English (e.g. TOEFL, IELTS, etc.), or proof that M.Sc. and B.Sc. programs were held in English.
- 2 reference letters from university professors from the applicants home university, issued during the last 2 years.
- Motivation letter describing the applicant’s work experience and research goals (1 page)
Our Benefits
The research is embedded in currently three projects which are all funded by the German Research Foundation (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft – DFG) and related to the Collaborative Research Cluster 1313 ( Interface-driven multi-field processes in porous media – flow transport and deformation) and to the SimTech Cluster of Excellence (EXC 2075).
EXC 2075: Coupled flow, transport, and geochemical processes in fractures/fissures with a focus on geothermal and karstic systems
DFG, CL 190/4-1 Experimental and numerical investigations on density-driven dissolution of CO2 and related carbonate dissolution in karst water
SFB 1313, C04 Pore-scale and REV-scale approaches to biological and chemical pore-space alteration in porous media
Employment and compensation information
Maximal Funding Period or Duration of Employment: 36 Monate
Type of Funding: Scholarship
Compensation: 1200 per month
Percentage of weekly working hours (usually 39.5h = 100%):100%
Employment at the cooperation partner: No
Location: Stuttgart, Campus Vaihingen
If Location other than Stuttgart or additional location(s): N/A
Contact Details
Contact person: Gabriele Hartmann
Mail: gabriele.hartmann@f02.uni-stuttgart.de
Phone: +49 711 685 66585
Website: https://www.enwat.uni-stuttgart.de/
At the University of Stuttgart, we actively promote diversity among our employees. We have set ourselves the goal of recruiting more female scientists and employing more people with an international background, as well as people with disabilities. We are therefore particularly pleased to receive applications from such people. Regardless, we welcome any good application.
Women who apply will be given preferential consideration in areas in which they are underrepresented, provided they have the same aptitude, qualifications and professional performance. Severely disabled applicants with equal qualifications will be given priority.
As a certified family-friendly university, we support the compatibility of work and family, and of professional and private life in general, through various flexible modules. We have an employee health management system that has won several awards and offer our employees a wide range of continuing education programs. We are consistantly improving our accessibility. Our Welcome Center helps international scientists get started in Stuttgart. We support partners of new professors and managers with a dual-career program.
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