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Postdoctoral Researchers

Direction: spatiotemporal evolution and flow properties of complex fractures in elastoplastic media (March 2026)

Supported by the MOE "Ultra-Deep Oil and Gas" discipline-breakthrough pilot program and an NSFC enterprise joint-fund integrated program, this project combines experiments and numerical simulation to study the evolving topology and flow properties of subsurface fractures under high stress, providing theoretical guidance for shale oil and gas and ultra-deep petroleum development. Young researchers interested in the group’s directions are sincerely invited to join us in producing high-level results.

Requirements

  • A Ph.D. degree (obtained or expected) in science or engineering, with foundations in solid mechanics / geomechanics or fluid mechanics;
  • Ability to independently write numerical codes, with proficiency in AI-assisted programming and academic writing;
  • Proficiency in finite-element simulation;
  • Full-time commitment to postdoctoral research.

Note: a petroleum or geology background is NOT required.

Preferred qualifications

  • Experience in microfluidic or rock-mechanics experiments;
  • Strong mathematics or theoretical-mechanics background;
  • Reliable referee contact information.

Compensation and benefits

  • Competitive annual salary (negotiable upon initial mutual intent); project-completion bonuses of 2–10% of the contract value for enterprise-commissioned projects;
  • Social insurance and housing fund contributed by Peking University; Beijing household registration per municipal regulations;
  • University postdoctoral apartment, or a housing allowance of RMB 5,000 per month;
  • Children eligible for the PKU-affiliated kindergarten, primary school, and middle school;
  • Other benefits (medical services, research awards, etc.) per Peking University regulations;
  • Outstanding candidates may be nominated for Peking University, Beijing municipal, or national talent programs (about 300 positions per year in total).

Contact: kexu1989 at pku dot edu dot cn. Applicants are welcome to send a CV, referee contacts, and a summary of representative achievements (within 500 words plus 1 figure); a prompt reply will follow.

A few notes:

I am personally under no publication pressure — the goal is to do solid, useful work. I have always believed that successful collaboration starts with compatible styles, so prospective applicants are encouraged to read my papers and see whether the style appeals to you. AI is a wonderful tool; I hope future members of the group stay curious about new things.

Appendix: about the group

The Underground Energy and Fluid Mechanics Research Group (Ke Xu’s group), Department of Energy and Resources Engineering, College of Mechanics and Engineering Science, Peking University, is devoted to the physics of complex flow in porous media and micro/nano-scale fluid behavior, providing theoretical foundations and new engineering concepts for energy development, carbon storage, and extraterrestrial resource utilization. Prof. Xu joined Peking University in January 2020 and is currently a tenured associate professor, assistant dean of the college, and deputy head of the department. His first-author and corresponding-author papers have appeared in PNAS, Science Advances, Physical Review Letters, Geophysical Research Letters, and SPE Journal, among others. Five representative papers:

  1. Yumin Wang, Jin-Han Xie, Wei Yang, Xiaotian Li, Zulikaer Abulaiti, Shuai Zheng, Jingwei Zhu, Ke Xu*. (2025). “Permafrost thawing under overlaying salt water”. Science Advances, 11, eadp2808.
  2. Yu Qiu#, Ke Xu#, Amir A. Pahlavan, Ruben Juanes. (2023). “Wetting transition and fluid trapping in a microfluidic fracture”. PNAS, 120(22): e2303515120.
  3. Yuehongjiang Yu#, Chuanxi Wang#, Junning Liu, Sheng Mao, Yashar Mehmani, Ke Xu*. (2023). “Bubble coarsening kinetics in porous media”. Geophysical Research Letters, 50, e2022GL100757.
  4. Chuanxi Wang, Yashar Mehmani, Ke Xu*. (2021). “Capillary equilibrium of bubbles in porous media”. PNAS, 118(17): e2024069118.
  5. Ke Xu*, Roger Bonnecaze, Matthew Balhoff*. (2017). “Egalitarianism among bubbles in porous media: an Ostwald ripening derived anti-coarsening phenomenon”. Physical Review Letters, 119(26): 264502.