The Institute of Geophysics at the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences of ETH Zurich invites applications from ambitious and talented candidates for a fully funded 4-year PhD position in reflection seismology for Carbon Capture and Sequestration (CCS) hosted by the Mathematical Geophysics group.
The Mathematical Geophysics group at ETH Zurich investigates a wide range of topics related to imaging with geophysical data. Our research focuses on mathematical methods for processing, imaging, and inversion of geophysical data, the physics of wave propagation, and the development of innovative acquisition and processing techniques to study the Earth's shallow subsurface.
Project backgroundSwitzerland has committed to achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. CCS technologies are a key component of this strategy, especially in sectors with hard-to-abate emissions, such as waste incineration, cement, and agriculture. CO2 storage in the Swiss subsurface is considered an important option in the national roadmap, but its feasibility at a relevant scale remains to be demonstrated.
Leveraging the existence of a borehole in Northern Switzerland, an interdisciplinary initiative has been launched to design and execute a pilot CO2 injection into a saline aquifer to test its behaviour and migration. This PhD project forms part of this study that aims to assess the feasibility, safety, and societal acceptance of CO2 injection into Switzerland's subsurface. Time-lapse seismic-reflection imaging is the primary tool to image the CO2 plume and its migration through the subsurface. Therefore, a high-resolution, high-density 3D seismic survey was acquired in summer 2025 as a baseline for future monitoring.
Job descriptionYou will work at the interface of reflection seismology, geophysical monitoring, and CCS. Your main tasks will include:
- Processing and imaging the newly acquired high-density 3D seismic dataset and integrating vintage 3D seismic data to image and characterise the geological structures and potential reservoir
- Integrating extensive passive seismic recordings and borehole seismic data (including vertical seismic profiling, VSP) into the imaging and characterisation workflow
- Developing seismic monitoring strategies for CO2 injection, including the design and analysis of surface-based and borehole distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) measurements in preparation for upcoming time-lapse surveys
- Processing and interpreting time-lapse seismic data to track the migration and evolution of the CO2 plume
- Collaborating within an interdisciplinary team of geophysicists and reservoir engineers involved in the CCS pilot study
- Presenting and publishing your results in international conferences and peer-reviewed journals
The project will be supervised by Dr. Cédric Schmelzbach, Dr. Dirk-Jan van Manen, and Prof. Johan Robertsson.
ProfileWe are looking for a highly motivated candidate with:
- A Master's degree in geophysics, physics, applied mathematics, or a closely related field
- Strong background in seismic methods, signal processing, and/or wave physics
- Experience or strong interest in seismic data processing, imaging, and inversion
- Good programming skills (e.g., Python, MATLAB) and willingness to work with large datasets
- Good command of English (spoken and written); a basic understanding of German is an advantage, but not mandatory
- Ability to work independently as well as in a collaborative, interdisciplinary environment
We offer - We offer a dynamic working environment with highly qualified scientists, excellent computational facilities, and a large pool of state-of-the-art geophysical equipment.
- The Institute of Geophysics at ETH Zurich is embedded in a vibrant Earth and Planetary Sciences department offering many opportunities for collaborative projects.
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