PhD student in Applied Physics to Environment (M/F)

The PhD candidate will study the physical mechanisms producing chaotic advection in laminar fluid flows through porous structures. The candidate will use 3D printing tools to reproduce natural porous architectures (rocks, fractures, vessels, membranes) and image scalar transport using novel tomography techniques. We are looking for a motivated and daring student who wishes to pursue his/her studies with a PhD in experimental science. The student will hold a master's degree or engineering diploma in physics, engineering or earth sciences, and must demonstrate a particular interest in the subject of the thesis. Students will be able to demonstrate their ability to work in a team, work independently, report and write in English (level B2 to C1 Common Framework of Reference for Languages). He/she will be familiar with basic concepts in fluid mechanics and statistics.

Fluid flow in porous media plays a central role in a large spectrum of geological, biological and industrial systems. Recent advances have shown that microscale chemical gradients are sustained by pore-scale chaotic flow dynamics. This fundamentally challenges the current macrodispersion paradigm that assumes that porous transport processes occurs under well-mixed microscale conditions. Using novel experimental, numerical and theoretical approaches, the candidates will explore the origin, diversity and consequences of chaotic mixing in porous and fractured media. He will develop a new generation of imaging techniques coupling laser induced fluorescence, refractive index matching and additive manufacturing of complex and realistic porous and fractured architectures.