Want to work at GCCC?
Prospective Students and Researchers
GCCC is a research consortium with 6-8 full-time research staff at the Bureau of Economic Geology at the University of Texas at Austin. The Bureau and GCCC are embedded within the Jackson School of Geosciences, ranked the number one geology graduate program in the country in 2018 by the U.S. News & World Report. Despite our size and reputation, students and researchers still get the personal attention needed to succeed in the classroom and workplace.
Our students and researchers thrive on the interdisciplinary and productive working atmosphere for academic research afforded by the GCCC connections. And we have high job placement. Our students and postdocs have gone on to work at Anadarko, Occidental, ExxonMobil, Chevron, the Department of Energy (DOE), among many other top institutions. The Carbon Center consistently receives multimillion-dollar DOE federal grants, academic funding, in addition to industrial sponsorship that offers a more stable funding cycle.
At the GCCC our guiding principle is to apply new knowledge to carbon capture and storage. We have structural geologists, geophysicists, hydrogeologists, petroleum geologists, petroleum engineers, mechanical engineers, chemical engineers, geochemists, and other cross-disciplinary specialists.
Read more about our research themes here.
Read more about pursuing Jackson School of Geosciences graduate studies here.
For a list of carbon capture and storage career opportunities outside of GCCC, visit this webpage.
We are currently recruiting for the following projects:
(You can also find these positions listed on the Jackson School's website).
- Seeking graduate and undergraduate researchers in geologic sequestration of CO2
Gulf Coast Carbon Center supports a team of students and post docs working in geologic sequestration (deep subsurface long-duration storage) of the major greenhouse gas CO2, as a method to reduce release to the atmosphere. Student projects are wide ranging, from sedimentology to policy, linked in that they are 1) multidisciplinary and 2) applied to current issues. Students are typically jointly supervised by faculty in geology or petroleum geosystems engineering and staff at the GCCC. A class in geologic sequestration is offered in the fall some years.
- Seeking a graduate student to continue high-resolution 3D marine seismic for fluid studies
Opportunities exist to become involved in the design, acquisition, processing, and interpretation of high-resolution 3D marine seismic data. Current applications include characterization for subsurface storage of carbon dioxide and natural fluid migration studies. We anticipate development into imaging modern systems as reservoir analogs.
- Seeking a post-doctoral researcher to continue engineered sand packs to study fluid flow research. Contact Tip Meckel.
Purpose of the position: To conduct research in numerical simulation of fluid flow using both traditional Darcy flow simulators as well as Invasion Percolation methods, sandbox flow modeling, and development of a strong publication record on the topic. Essential functions: Develop numerical simulations of fluid flow CO2 in mm to m scale models informed by geologic depositional heterogeneity. Assist in designing and implementing laboratory validation experiments of sandbox flow modeling to support theoretical and numerical simulations. Publish results in peer-reviewed outlets, assist in project reporting and make presentations, as needed to support the project. Required qualifications: Ph.D. in hydrogeology, environmental engineering, or closely related geoscience field earned within the last three years. Relevant laboratory experience with
sandbox scale flow experiments. Demonstrated research interest in forward and inverse modeling of subsurface flow and transport pertaining to multi-phase flow. Preferred qualifications Demonstrated strong oral and written communication skills. Demonstrated ability to conduct experimental studies. Demonstrated experience in presenting and publishing results, including CO2 or CCS.
Read about the success of past students and why they enjoyed working at GCCC:
“I have loved working with the GCCC in large part because it is such an interdisciplinary group. The researchers of the GCCC set a welcoming tone of applied intellectual inquiry through many different disciplines--I have learned far more than I ever thought I would in grad school from both my colleagues in GCCC and through feedback from industry sponsors.”
—Emily Beckham, master’s graduate, 2018, now at ExxonMobil“The GCCC was everything I had hoped for in my graduate education experience. From collaborative researchers, to challenging and engaging research, the GCCC is a world-class institute that continues to be at the forefront of CCS research. I count myself fortunate for having the opportunity to spend time there and at the BEG!”
—Sean Porse, master’s graduate, 2013, now at D.O.E.’s Geothermal Technologies Office“Working as a GRA for GCCC has provided me with a respectful, rewarding, and positive working environment where together, people can work, collaborate, and grow in order to achieve common goals.”
—Reynaldy Fifariz, Graduate Research Assistant, 2018“It was a pleasure to do my research as part of the GCCC. There is such a broad range of backgrounds and expertise, which truly helped develop my understanding of the subject and maximize my own contribution as a mechanical engineer.”
—Peter Tutton, master’s graduate, 2018“My experience as a GRA in the GCCC not only helped me build a strong technical foundation in subsurface characterization and modeling for CO2 storage but it has also helped me evaluate the viability of carbon utilization technologies in my current role.”
—Stuart Coleman, master’s graduate, 2012, now at Chevron Technology Ventures
