Job description:

The PhD student will work on the research project “Mathematical modeling and optimization of OCP’s seawater intake pumping stations”. The aim of this project is to contribute promoting computational fluid dynamic (CFD) applications to enhance operating performance of pumping stations, especially for OCP’s seawater plants. The ANSI-HI 9.8 standard is widely used to set up physical models for intake pump design. However, the use of CFD analysis instead of physical models to check ANSI requirements has been increasingly implemented by researchers and engineers, and further research to fully accept CFD analysis as an alternative to physical models is highly anticipated. The present PhD will actively contribute to this worldwide effort.

Key duties:

• Conduct a state-of-the-art review on seawater pumping in RO-based desalination plants, with a special focus on operational performances and costs, and energy requirements
• Be actively involved in the development of the research plan.
• Conduct calculations and analyses on mathematical hydraulic modeling, and any other task in relation with the research plan
• Collect, treat and interpret the generated data, and publish in peer-reviewed journals.
• Be involved in other projects at IWRI.

Skills:  Ideal candidate should be strongly self-motivated, keen to innovate, can work well in an interdisciplinary research environment, and with rigorous work ethics. He/she should be able to deliver outputs (scientific publications, presentations, and the dissertation) in the targeted timeframes, and according to the international standards of excellence.

The skill set sought in an ideal applicant includes:

• Prior hands-on involvement in water supply systems and pumping stations
• Experience with CFD analysis
• IT knowledge, good knowledge and skills of scientific software packages
• English and French language proficiency
• Good writing skills

Criteria of the candidate:   

The potential applicant must have a higher university degree (Engineering, MSc or equivalent) in a relevant field (Modeling engineering, Hydraulic engineering, or process engineering), and the ability to complete the doctoral studies within the targeted timeframe of four years. Candidates with backgrounds in one of the aforementioned engineering fields with a previous related industrial experience are particularly encouraged to apply.