Near Surface Geophysics Focus Group

Hydrogeophysics PhD Studentship: Lancaster University, UK. Applications are invited for a 3 year funded PhD studentship in Hydrogeophysics at Lancaster University.   The studentship will contribute to a larger collaborative (US NSF funded) research project on “Hydrogeophysical quantification of hydraulic conductivity from electrical measurements of the effective properties of porous media” which is led by Lee Slater (Rutgers University) in collaboration with Warren Barrash (Boise State University) and André Revil (Colorado School of Mines). 
There is growing interest in the potential use of measurements of electrical polarisation for field-scale mapping of hydraulic conductivity (e.g. Kemna et al., 2004; Slater & Lesmes, 2002), particularly given recent empirical evidence of links between electrical spectra characteristics and hydraulic conductivity (Binley et al., 2005).  This project is a multi-scale program of research directed towards the quantification of hydraulic conductivity from complex conductivity (σ*) measurements on coarse alluvial deposits of the Boise Hydrogeophysical Research Site (BHRS). The proposal is motivated by our observation that σ* provides quantitative measures of: (a) the interconnected pore volume, and (b) the interconnected pore surface area, controlling fluid flow, that can be embedded into an Electrical-Kozeny Carman (K-C-E) type equation for K prediction. The project will employ a series of geophysical and hydraulic experimental studies at the laboratory and field scale.  Laboratory scale experiments will provide petrophysical relationships linking electrical geophysical, physical and hydraulic properties on sediments extracted from the field site.  Field scale measurements will include: single hole and cross borehole electrical geophysical surveys and multi-level slug tests.
The Lancaster PhD studentship will make use of existing complex conductivity inversion tools developed at Lancaster and focus on the development of numerical schemes for deriving the spatial distribution of hydraulic conductivity from the hydraulic and geophysical data available. Two strategies for inverting σ* datasets for tomographic estimates of K are: (1) direct conversion of σ* images to K images assuming a stationary K-C-E equation, and (2) a structural inversion whereby the K zonation is estimated without having to state a single K-C-E relationship. These strategies will be assessed via comparison with spatial K distribution at the BHRS estimated from kriging of borehole-based K measurements, as well as hydraulic tomography datasets available from a separate project.
Candidates should have a good honours degree in Geophysics, Earth Science, Environmental Science or a related discipline.  Experience of inverse modelling or numerical modelling of electrical and/or hydraulic potential fields would be an advantage but are not necessary.
Deadline for applications is the 31st August 2008.  Interviews will be held in September 2008 and the studentship will start as soon as possible thereafter.
For informal enquiries with regard to the research, please contact Andrew Binley by e-mail (a.binley@lancaster.ac.uk).  For further information on making an application, please contact Andy Harrod by email (lec.pg@lancaster.ac.uk)  or telephone (+44 (0)1524 593478).
 

PhD Position in Applied Geophysics/Hydrogeophysics/Soil Science. The Applied Geophysics Group at University of Bonn has an opening for a Ph.D. student on the recently funded FP7 EU research project iSOIL (Interactions between soil related sciences—linking geophysics, soil science and digital soil mapping), involving 19 partners from 9 European countries. The appointment will be for a period of three years. The Ph.D. work will focus on the use of the spectral induced polarization (SIP) method for soil characterization at the field scale. The ideal candidate has a degree in applied geophysics, soil sciences, or related discipline. Previous experience with geoelectrical methods is preferred. Good knowledge of English is essential, and a working understanding of German is welcome. Research will be conducted in close collaboration with project partners at Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ) and University of Padua. To apply please email your resume together with the names of two referees to Professor Andreas Kemna (application@geo.uni-bonn.de).
   Deadline for receipt of applications is August 31, 2008.