POSITION OPENING

A PhD and a PostDoctoral position :

Oil/water flows through microfluidic networks

A PhD and a PostDoc position are open in the laboratory, starting 2010. The general idea of the project is to investigate microfluidic models representing oil/water flows through porous media and investigate how the interface can be tracked with nanoparticles introduced in the system. Do the particles reach the interface ? Are they trapped by electrostatic, capillary, or other forces that are important in miniaturized systems, preventing them to reach their target ? In practice, we will microfabricate micrometric networks, with controlled wettabilities and we will seed the fluids with colloidal particles, simple or "smart". Nanoparticles penetrating micrometric features defines a situation that raises interesting issues in the field of micro/ nanofluidics. The extent to which such nanoparticles, detectable from outside the system, can help providing information on the front location will draw our attention. The position is supported by an important consortium formed by a group of oil and oil service companies, such as Total, Shell, BP, Petrobras, Schlumberger, Halliburton or Baker. Exchanges with US groups involved in the effort of coupling nanotechnology to oil industry challenges will be developed during the project.

Applications should be sent to : delphine.duprat@espci.fr