Laramie, WY

Position Title: PhD Research Assistant Position in Water for Low-Carbon Energy Production

Organization: University of Wyoming

Location: Laramie, WY

Organization Overview: The Laboratory for Low-Carbon Energy and Environmental Sustainability in the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences at the University of Wyoming has one PhD research assistant position in water for low-carbon energy production, which will be available from Spring or Fall 2023. The Laboratory for Low-Carbon Energy and Environmental Sustainability at the University of Wyoming (UW) promotes a long-term vision for the role of both technology and policy to cope with complex energy, environmental and natural resource challenges. The laboratory conducts systems research that addresses technical, economic, and policy issues related to energy and the environment. Current interests of research mainly include low-carbon energy systems, carbon capture and storage, bioenergy with carbon capture and storage, hydrogen production, and the energy-water nexus under carbon constraints for climate change mitigation. The laboratory pioneers the development of the Integrated Environmental Control Model (IECM), publicly available computer tool used worldwide for power plant modeling and assessment. The principal investigator is Prof. Haibo Zhai, the Roy & Caryl Cline Distinguished Chair in Engineering at UW. He is also Adjunct Faculty in the School of Energy Resources and the School of Computing at UW and in the Department of Engineering and Public Policy at Carnegie Mellon University.

Position Overview: The laboratory will hire a graduate research assistant (at the PhD level) to work on a new research project on water for low-carbon energy production in the western United States. In particular, this project will address all technical, economic, and social issues related to water use for potential hydrogen production and carbon capture and storage and provide an integrated assessment of resource adequacy and water rights trading in support of sustainable low-carbon energy production. Perspective students in environmental science and engineering or energyrelated disciplines are strongly encouraged. For any questions about this position, please feel free to contact Prof. Haibo Zhai by email at hzhai@uwyo.edu.