General information

Reference

2025-2719  

Position description

Category

F09 Geology - Engineer / Researcher

Job title

PhD thesis in Geosciences

Contract

Thesis

Contractual hours

Full-time

Contract duration

3 years

Context and contributions of the position

Joining the French Geological Survey (BRGM) means becoming part of France's leading public institution for Earth Science applications bringing together 1,000 wholeheartedly committed experts across 29 bases in Mainland and Overseas France.

BRGM focuses on enhancing geological knowledge and understanding of surface and sub-surface-related phenomena, with a view to: meeting the challenges of environmental changes through innovative projects with societal implications.

Today, geophysical tools have long been considered essential to the geological interpretation of reservoirs, both in terms of their geometry and their petrophysical and hydrogeological properties. However, these tools do not provide a single solution, and their use is therefore limited. What's more, not all methods respond to the same parameters, and their combined use is still underdeveloped. The choice of these methods depends on the geological context and the target sought, requiring a high degree of expertise. In order to reduce the cost of exploration while improving de-risking, we need to ask ourselves what is/are the best method(s) or combination of methods for identifying a reservoir.

Job description

This exciting multi-disciplinary PhD, which will be carried out as part of the PEPR Sous-Sol Bien Commun - PC9 Géothermie dans le Fossé Rhénan (Subsoil Common Good - PC9 Geothermal energy in the Rhine Graben), will therefore aim to answer this question in the context of geothermal exploration of the Rhine Graben, a rift zone with high geothermal potential. It will be a multidisciplinary thesis supervised jointly and closely by two directors of the two themes, geology and geophysics, who already have extensive multidisciplinary experience of geothermal exploration, in collaboration with ITES lab of the University of Strasbourg.

Progress of the PhD:
1- revise and refine certain parts of existing geological models oh the Rhine Graben;
2- populate this model with various petrophysical properties based on data from boreholes and the surface;
3- simulate the geophysical responses of this model according to the various geophysical methods;
4- determine the most appropriate methods for imaging the geothermal target by solving the inverse problem specific to each method;
5- validate the recommendations made in 4/ on a real data set.

Profile

Requested start date : 28/04/2025
Contract type : PhD Student
Education : BAC + 5
Experience : Novice

The candidate should have a mixed geologist/geophysicist profile.

If they have come from one or other discipline, they should show an interest in the other and a genuine desire to combine the two.

Working conditions

3D geological modeling and Geophysical inversion.

Within an environment that promotes a healthy work/life balance, particularly thanks to remote working, BRGM prides itself on providing a friendly and caring place to work.

Awarded HRS4R certification in 2021, we are committed to supporting you throughout your career at BRGM. We provide you with a range of tools for developing your skills and expertise, with scope for career progression and geographic mobility.

At BRGM, you will gain from such benefits, days off compensating for unpaid overtime, a company canteen, sports facilities as well as holiday and leisure options.

At BRGM, you are guaranteed a transparent recruitment process. To apply, please send us your application (up-to-date CV and cover letter) by 26/03/2025.

Because diversity matters to us at BRGM, all of our job vacancies are open to everyone!

We will examine your application as soon as the closing date has passed. If your application is short-listed, we will contact you for recruitment interviews during which you will have the opportunity to talk with the recruitment and HR departments as well as a cross-functional department.

Position location

Job location

France, Centre-Val de Loire, Loiret (45)

Location