Call for PhD Student in Efficient and Robust Reservoir Simulation

Simula Research Laboratory is seeking a PhD student to work in the SIRIUS Centre for Research-based Innovation in the field of high-erformance scientific computing and optimization, with a specific focus on reservoir simulation.

About Simula and SIRIUS

Simula Research Laboratory AS is a publicly owned research institute located at Fornebu outside of Oslo, Norway. It is a multi-cultural organization, employing about 150 individuals from 29 countries. Simula conducts ICT research in the fields of communication technology, scientific computing and software engineering. Simula's main objective is to generate new understanding and create vital knowledge about fundamental scientific challenges that are of genuine value for society. This is achieved through high quality research, education of graduate students, industry collaboration, technology transfer and commercialization.

The SIRIUS Centre for Scalable Data Access in the Oil & Gas Domain, is a Centre for Research-based Innovation (SFI) located at the University of Oslo. The centre started operations in 2016 and is funded by the Research Council of Norway. Partner companies include Equinor, Schlumberger, IBM, Evry, DNV-GL, Computas, Kadme, Numascale, Dolphin Interconnect, OSISoft, fluidOps AG. Academic partners are the University of Oxford, Simula Research Laboratory and NTNU. The aim of the centre is to provide a vehicle for delivering industrially-relevant, innovative research through collaboration between the centre's partners and through associated projects. SIRIUS has a central role in the innovation ecosystem around the University of Oslo and the engineering, IT and oil companies in South-East Norway.

About the Position

Simula Research Laboratory is seeking a PhD student to work in the field of high-performance scientific computing and optimization, with a specific focus on reservoir simulation. The contractual period is 3 years. The starting date is as soon as possible, no later than October 1, 2019.

The PhD project is a part of the SIRIUS centre. The project’s primary objective is to solve several correlated optimization problems in the context of oil reservoir simulation. It is to be achieved by applying multiple techniques including algorithmic optimization, code optimization, high-performance computing, performance prediction, dynamic tuning, job scheduling and machine learning. As secondary objectives, the PhD project aims to improve the oil field planning and operation capabilities of Equinor, as well as bringing a synergy of researching and applying the related optimization techniques within the SIRIUS centre.

The host institute of the PhD project is Simula. Furthermore, the PhD student will spend time at the SIRIUS premises at the University of Oslo on a regular basis. The PhD student is to enroll in the PhD program of University of Oslo, and obtain the PhD from University of Oslo upon completion.

Responsibilities

The PhD student is expected to use modern techniques of high-performance computing and optimization, as well as the latest developments in HPC hardware and middleware, to enable efficient and robust reservoir simulation ensembles. Possible research topics include (but not limited to)

• algorithmic optimization of the underlying numerical scheme for reservoir simulation;
• software optimization of the parallel reservoir simulator;
• performance prediction and job schduling optimization for reservoir simulation ensembles;
• investigation of the applicability of machine learning techniques in the above topics.

Required profile

The candidate must hold a master's degree (or equivalent education) in a subject of computational science or computer science. The candidate must have solid knowledge of numerical methods, parallel computing and programming. Expertise with computational geoscience and/or machine learning is preferred. It is also expected that the candidate has good skills in scientific communication (both oral and written).

Simula offers

• Excellent opportunities for doing high quality research, as part of a highly competent and motivated team of international researchers 
• Generous support for travels and equipment 
• Good office facilities located close to the Oslo fjord and 10 minutes drive from the centre of Oslo, the capital of Norway. 
• Competitive salaries

Note that all attachments must be submitted in PDF format. To avoid misplacement, please make sure to include your first and last name in the filenames of all documents that you submit to us.

The application deadline is July 7, 2019.

Inquiries about the PhD student position can be made by email to Prof. Xing Cai (xingca@simula.no) or Prof. Tor Skeie (tskeie@simula.no).

According to the Norwegian Freedom and Information Act (Offentleglova) information about the applicant may be included in the public applicant list, also in cases where the applicant has requested non-disclosure. 

Simula Research Laboratory uses Semac’s background check in our recruitment process.