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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 6,500 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 18,500 people, including over 14,000 students and 4,000 researchers from more than 120 different countries.

Scientific Assistant - R&D engineer

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 innovative monitoring tools to study geological CO2 storage (GCS).
LMS is a research lab addressing real-world challenges related to climate change, global energy demand, sustainable urban design and construction, and safe and environmentally friendly waste disposal systems, through the development of unique analytical tools and innovative technologies.
This project aims to develop a novel monitoring system for investigating subsurface geomechanical processes in 3D. In the context of GCS, understanding the evolution of mechanical and hydraulic processes in the entire subsurface system (reservoir and caprock) during and after CO2 injection is essential for ensuring the safety and durability of storage.
To address the limitations of sparse field data and the lack of spatial distribution in lab studies, LMS has developed an original metre-scale physical model of GCS at EPFL. The goal is to achieve high-resolution hydromechanical measurements of the caprock/reservoir system in 3D, targeted in space and time, with an advanced monitoring system of distributed optical fibres, and pressure and temperature transducers. Methods and technologies from both lab and field-scale monitoring campaigns will be assessed for their suitability in this novel intermediate-scale experiment. The resulting data will improve our understanding of multi-scale GCS phenomena and enhance data-driven modelling approaches, including constitutive and machine learning modelling.

Main duties and responsibilities

• Review existing commercial sensors and related technologies.
• Evaluate the suitability and limitations of commercial sensors for the specific GCS application.
• Perform integration and validation research in the lab of the different monitoring solutions.
• Develop analytical tools for calibrating and reading the acquired data.
• Collaborate closely with our technical workshop team.
• Prepare technical reports.

Profile

• Background in physics and mechanics (e.g., HES mechanical engineering, EPF Master's degree in physics or mechanics, recently graduated PhD in mechanics with experimental background).
• Demonstrated knowledge or experience in developing monitoring practices and experimental setups with a good understanding of sensor characteristics.
• Experience working with optical fibres is a strong asset.
• Proficiency in data acquisition and analysis (Python, C, C++).
• Self-driven with strong problem-solving skills and creative thinking.
• Excellent English communication skills (oral and written). Knowledge of French is a plus.

We offer

• The opportunity to contribute to a competitive and innovative project at a top-ranked engineering
institution.
• A stimulating, dynamic, and interdisciplinary research environment.
• EPFL is an equal opportunity employer offering a competitive salary aligned with its internal scale.

Informations

Contract Start Date : 09/01/2025 

Activity Rate Min : 100.00 

Activity Rate Max : 100.00 

Contract Type: CDD

Duration: 6 months 

Reference: 1641 










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