Position Vacancy Announcement, Kansas Geological Survey

Position: Section Chief, Energy Research Section. Background in petroleum geoscience. (8412)

Rank: Research Associate to academic rank of Senior Scientist depending on qualifications.

Starting Date: Open until filled; exact starting date negotiable.

Application Deadline: Review begins January 15, 2008, and continues until filled.

Salary, Employment Status, and Fringe Benefits: Starting salary negotiable depending on qualifications. Full-time, permanent position with 12-month appointment at The University of Kansas, subject to annual review. Benefits include University staff privileges; 22 days vacation leave, 12 days sick leave, and up to 9 holidays annually; group medical & dental, life insurance, and retirement program options. Academic staff eligible for sabbatical.

The Energy Research Section of the Kansas Geological Survey (KGS) conducts fundamental and applied research on petroleum geology, improved/enhanced oil recovery, linked energy systems, and CO2 sequestration. The section currently has five professionals with additional support personnel. Scientific staff are expected to develop research programs of national stature and relevance to Kansas. Present areas of research include: coal-bed methane and shale gas; low-BTU gas; carbonate and clastic reservoir characterization, geomodeling, and flow simulation; lithofacies controls on petrophysical properties; recovery from transition zones; wireline-log petrophysics; 3-D attributes of karst reservoirs; low-permeability sandstones properties; geologic sequestration of CO2; regional stratigraphy, geomodeling; CO2-enhanced oil recovery; and spatial data analysis, geostatistics.

Activities of the Energy Research Section are complemented by researchers in other sections of the KGS whose interests include geophysics, hydrology, stratigraphy/sedimentology. The KGS is a research and service unit of The University of Kansas, which provides opportunities to collaborate with faculty and students in other departments and research groups at the University. Scientific staff may also have the opportunity to teach, serve as advisors of graduate research, or seek their own terminal degree. Further information about section activities and the KGS in general can be found at www.kgs.ku.edu.

Responsibilities

Conduct and publish the results of fundamental and applied research in petroleum geology and related areas that is of national stature and relevant to Kansas. Develop externally funded, individual and cooperative research programs in petroleum geology focused on issues related to reservoir characterization, IOR/EOR, accumulation and extraction of energy resources, and CO2 sequestration. Support KGS efforts in the areas of technical service and communication, education, and public information.

Supervise and evaluate section scientists and technical and support personnel. Maintain communication with the Survey administration, other research and support sections, and other University units. Develop close working relationships with the energy industry, with other units of State government, and with federal funding agencies. Work with the professional staff in developing internal and externally funded research programs. Develop and administer the section budget. Oversee expenditure of section funds.

Interact with public, university, government, and industry. Participate in and serve in leadership roles in professional scientific and industrial organizations. Serve on University and Survey committees and organizations as assigned or in response to opportunities. Participate with other Survey personnel in professional and governmental organizations that deal with Kansas and U.S. petroleum resources.

Work on and with other University units and academic departments to develop a nationally recognized energy research program.

Teach and supervise graduate students and work with visiting scientists to complement and enhance the overall research program.

Required Qualifications

Evaluation of the following requirements will be made through (1) records of accomplishment entered into resume, (2) descriptions of research and educational experiences in letters of application, and (3) references/letters of support.

1. Advanced degree in the geosciences.
2. Management experience.
3. Demonstrated experience developing/implementing a research program.
4. Demonstrated experience addressing applied technical challenges related to the energy industry.
5. Record of high-quality written and oral presentations including peer-reviewed publications.
6. Demonstrated ability for scientific leadership at state, national, and international levels.
7. Demonstrated experience using subsurface data such as core, well logs, and geophysical data.
8. Demonstrated ability to develop relationships with external constituencies, including the public, university, and private sector organizations.
9. Record of securing competitive research funding.

Preferred Qualifications

1. Terminal degree in the geosciences.
2. Leadership position in energy industry research and/or operations with emphasis on petroleum.
3. Experience working with computer applications related to mapping and modeling.
4. Background that complements and supplements existing strengths in energy research at the Kansas Geological Survey and the University of Kansas.
5. Demonstrated ability to undertake a team-oriented multidisciplinary research program.
6. Knowledge of Kansas geology, geography, and natural-resources issues.
7. Experience in formulating and carrying out mentoring programs for junior staff members.

Application Procedure

Send letter of application addressing the required and preferred qualifications (Ref. #8412), resume/curriculum vita with publication record, and the names, addresses, email addresses and telephone numbers of three professional references to:

Annette Delaney
Kansas Geological Survey
1930 Constant Ave.
Lawrence, KS 66047-3726
Phone: (785) 864-2152
Fax: (785) 864-5317
Email: hr@kgs.ku.edu

For further technical information contact Rex Buchanan at rex@kgs.ku.edu. Women and minority candidates are especially encouraged to apply.

Placed online Nov. 5, 2007
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