Research Associate, Hildebrand Department of Petroleum and Geosystems Engineering, Cockrell School of Engineering

Job Posting Title:

Research Associate, Hildebrand Department of Petroleum and Geosystems Engineering, Cockrell School of Engineering

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Hiring Department:

Hildebrand Department of Petroleum and Geosystems Engineering

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Position Open To:

All Applicants

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Weekly Scheduled Hours:

40

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FLSA Status:

Exempt

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Earliest Start Date:

Immediately

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Position Duration:

Expected to Continue

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Location:

UT MAIN CAMPUS

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Job Details:

General Notes

As a top-10 engineering school with the No. 1 program in Texas, the Cockrell School of Engineering at The University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin) has been a global leader in technology innovation and engineering education for over a century. With 11 undergraduate and 13 graduate programs, over 20 research centers and a faculty community that boasts one of the highest numbers of National Academy of Engineering members among U.S. universities, Texas Engineering has launched some of the nation’s most accomplished leaders and pioneered world-changing solutions in virtually every industry, from space exploration to energy to health care. Situated in the heart of Austin — named “America’s Coolest City” by Expedia and “The Best Place to Live in the U.S.” by U.S. News and World Report — the Cockrell School embodies the city’s innovative spirit. Major companies with Austin campuses, such as Dell, National Instruments, Apple, IBM, Samsung, Google and many others, continue to recruit Cockrell School students at a remarkable rate, launching thousands of successful careers and developing Texas Engineers into industry leaders. 

Purpose

To conduct research and development of the University of Texas Rig Automation and Performance Improvement in Drilling (UT-RAPID) Industry Affiliate Program (IAP) under the supervision of Dr. Eric van Oort.

Responsibilities

• Contribute significantly to the R&D mission of the UT-RAPID IAP by carrying out meaningful research in relevant technical areas, writing and publishing high-quality peer-reviewed journal papers and conference papers, and presenting original work at conferences, workshops, and RAPID-sponsored events.

• Co-supervise graduate and undergraduate students, helping them progress their day-to-day work with state-of-the-art guidance and mentorship.

• Play an integral role in securing future funding for the RAPID IAP and its various activities.

• Propose new areas of inquiry and activity for the UT-RAPID IAP based on the interests and gaps/needs of a variety of sponsors, as well as the drilling industry at large.

• Report to the UT-RAPID industry affiliate program (IAP) leadership team.

• Help shape the vision and mission of the UT-RAPID IAP for the foreseeable future, with its continuing traditional activities in the oil & gas industry but also forays into new areas, including geothermal energy, carbon storage, hydrogen exploration and production, well re-use and re-purposing, etc.

• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering or Petroleum Engineering with a strong academic record, including an undergraduate and graduate GPA of 3.7 or higher

• Specialized focus on drilling mechanics, dynamic system modeling, and automation and control

• Four (4) years of relevant industry or academic experience in well engineering research and development

• Proven track record in managing R&D projects and supervising undergraduate and graduate students

• Demonstrated history of publishing research, with over 10 manuscripts in peer-reviewed journals and refereed conference proceedings

• Experience presenting R&D work at major oil & gas conferences, workshops, and industry events

• Expertise in computational mechanics and numerical modeling methods such as finite element analysis (FEA) and multi-body dynamics for hydro-mechanical drilling systems

• Proficient in structural dynamics modeling and system vibration analysis techniques

• Strong understanding of drilling automation systems and modern control theories, including multivariable control, learning-based control, nonlinear dynamics, convex optimization, and digital control

• Familiarity with drilling data processing, bottom hole assembly (BHA) dynamics, bit-rock interactions, geomechanics, drilling hydraulics, and well control

• Expert-level programming skills in Matlab, Python, and C++, with proven software development experience

• Excellent communication and presentation skills for technical and non-technical audiences

• Strong problem-solving capabilities and ability to work effectively in interdisciplinary teams

• Ability to manage complex research projects and mentor students

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) applications in drilling optimization

• Experience with software development dealing with well design and drilling evaluation/optimization

• Hands-on experience with experimental drilling research and lab testing

Salary Range

$70,000 + depending on qualifications

Working Conditions

• Repetitive use of a keyboard at a workstation

• Repetitive use of standard office equipment

• Access to the internet is required for remote work

Required Materials

• Resume/CV

• 3 work references with their contact information; at least one reference should be from a supervisor

• Letter of interest

Important for applicants who are NOT current university employees or contingent workers: You will be prompted to submit your resume in the first step of the online job application process. Then, any additional Required Materials will be uploaded in the My Experience section; you can multi-select the additional files or click the Upload button for each file. Before submitting your online job application, ensure that ALL Required Materials have been uploaded.  Once your job application has been submitted, you cannot make changes.

Important for Current university employees and contingent workers: As a current university employee or contingent worker, you MUST apply within Workday by searching for Find Jobs. Before you apply though, log-in to Workday, navigate to your Worker Profile, click the Career link in the left-hand navigation menu and then update the sections in your Professional Profile. This information will be pulled in to your application. The application is one page and you will need to click the Upload button multiple times in order to attach your Resume, References and any additional Required Materials noted above.

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Employment Eligibility:

Regular staff who have been employed in their current position for the last six continuous months are eligible for openings being recruited for through University-Wide or Open Recruiting, to include both promotional opportunities and lateral transfers. Staff who are promotion/transfer eligible may apply for positions without supervisor approval.

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Retirement Plan Eligibility:

The retirement plan for this position is Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS), subject to the position being at least 20 hours per week and at least 135 days in length. This position has the option to elect the Optional Retirement Program (ORP) instead of TRS, subject to the position being 40 hours per week and at least 135 days in length.

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Background Checks:

A criminal history background check will be required for finalist(s) under consideration for this position.

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Equal Opportunity Employer:

The University of Texas at Austin, as an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action. The University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, religion, or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions.

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Pay Transparency:

The University of Texas at Austin will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information.

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Employment Eligibility Verification:

If hired, you will be required to complete the federal Employment Eligibility Verification I-9 form.  You will be required to present acceptable and original documents to prove your identity and authorization to work in the United States.  Documents need to be presented no later than the third day of employment.  Failure to do so will result in loss of employment at the university.

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E-Verify:

The University of Texas at Austin use E-Verify to check the work authorization of all new hires effective May 2015. The university’s company ID number for purposes of E-Verify is 854197. For more information about E-Verify, please see the following:

• E-Verify Poster (English) [PDF]
• E-Verify Poster (Spanish) [PDF]
• Right To Work Poster (English) [PDF]
• Right To Work Poster (Spanish) [PDF]

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Compliance:

Employees may be required to report violations of law under Title IX and the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act). If this position is identified a Campus Security Authority (Clery Act), you will be notified and provided resources for reporting. Responsible employees under Title IX are defined and outlined in HOP-3031.

The Clery Act requires all prospective employees be notified of the availability of the Annual Security and Fire Safety report. You may access the most recent report here or obtain a copy at University Compliance Services, 1616 Guadalupe Street, UTA 2.206, Austin, Texas 78701.