PhD & MS Scholarship Opportunity: Louisiana State University (LSU), Baton Rouge, invites applications from highly motivated candidates for 1–2 prospective PhD (preferred) or MS positions under the supervision of Prof. Yuanhang Chen in the Department of Petroleum Engineering. The positions are open for Spring, Summer, or Fall 2026.
The research will focus on Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS), Geothermal Systems, Well Control/Managed Pressure Drilling (MPD), and Process Safety, combining advanced multiphase modeling with large-scale experimental work at LSU’s world-class PERTT Lab.
📘 Summary Table
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Title | PhD & MS Positions in Petroleum Engineering – CCUS, Geothermal, and Process Safety |
| Designation | PhD (preferred) & MS Students |
| Research Areas | CCUS, Geothermal Systems, Multiphase Flow, Well Control/MPD, Process Safety |
| Location | Louisiana State University (LSU), Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA |
| Supervisor | Prof. Yuanhang Chen |
| Start Term | Spring, Summer, or Fall 2026 |
| Number of Positions | 1–2 |
| Application Deadline | Open until filled (Apply early for consideration) |
🎯 Designation
PhD (preferred) & MS Students in Petroleum Engineering
🔬 Research Area
The selected students will engage in cutting-edge research combining multiphase flow modeling, heat and mass transfer, and experimental field testing at LSU’s PERTT Lab.
Focus areas include:
- CO₂ transport safety and subsurface injection
- CO₂, LNG, and hazardous-liquid atmospheric dispersion during accidental releases
- Machine learning–accelerated multiphase simulation and surrogate modeling
- Geothermal drilling and thermo-hydraulic systems
- MPD and well control for offshore, geothermal, and CO₂ well operations
📍 Location
Louisiana State University (LSU)
Department of Petroleum Engineering, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA
🎓 Eligibility/Qualification
- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Petroleum, Mechanical, Chemical, Nuclear, Environmental Engineering, or a closely related field.
- Strong background in fluid mechanics, heat transfer, and thermodynamics.
- CFD experience in multiphase and thermofluid problems is highly desirable.
- Programming proficiency in Python or MATLAB.
- Experience with instrumentation/DAQ systems, experimental setups, or machine learning techniques for scientific modeling is an advantage.
🧪 Job Description
- Conduct advanced modeling and simulation of multiphase and thermal systems.
- Perform hands-on experiments and data acquisition using field-scale setups at PERTT Lab.
- Contribute to machine learning–based model acceleration and process safety studies.
- Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams on CO₂ and geothermal energy research.
- Publish research results in high-impact journals and present at international conferences.
📨 How to Apply
Interested candidates should email the following documents to Prof. Yuanhang Chen at
📧 yuanhangchen@lsu.edu
Include:
- Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- A brief cover note (indicating research interests and earliest start term)
- Representative publications (if available)
- Academic transcripts
⏰ Last Date to Apply
Open until filled. Early applications are encouraged for Spring, Summer, or Fall 2026 consideration.
