DOE - Fossil Energy Techline - Issued on:  March 12, 2013

Research Experience in Carbon Sequestration 2013 Now Accepting Applications


Washington, D.C. – Graduate students and early career professionals can gain hands-on field research experience in areas related to carbon capture and storage (CCS) by participating in the Research Experience in Carbon Sequestration (RECS) program.

The initiative, supported by DOE’s Office of Fossil Energy (FE) and the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), is currently accepting applications for RECS 2013, scheduled for June 2-12, in Birmingham, AL. The deadline to apply is April 20.

An intensive science and field-based program, RECS 2013 will combine background briefings with group exercises and field activities at an integrated CCS project and visits to a power plant, core laboratory and the Nation Carbon Capture Center. Topics cover the range of CCS deployment issues with a particular focus on carbon dioxide (CO2) enhanced oil recovery/carbon storage. Participants will gain hands-on experience modeling CO2 injection and subsurface fluid flow, monitoring surface CO2, and analyzing core and well logs, and capture technologies. RECS faculty is comprised of globally recognized scientists and industry leaders with Dr. Klaus Lackner, Director of Columbia University’s Lenfest Center for Sustainable Energy as a keynote speaker.

Founded in 2004, RECS was the first program to offer an intensive program on CCS systems to young scientists and engineers, and it has become the premier summer research experience for students and young professionals interested in this area. RECS 2013, a collaboration between EnTech Strategies, Southern Company, SECARB-Ed, and the CCS Research Coordination Network, is supported by DOE FE and NETL.

Applicants should be early career professionals, Ph.D. or masters students with backgrounds in geology, chemistry, hydrology, physics, engineering, climate science and related fields. Enrollment is limited to 30 and applicants are welcome from throughout the U.S. and all countries (up to five will be selected from non-US organizations).

RECS is tuition-free and the program covers all housing and meal costs. In addition, a travel allowance that should cover all or most travel may be provided.  Application instructions are found on the RECS website at www.recsco2.org.

CCS is a combination of technologies for capturing, compressing, transporting, and using and permanently storing CO2 emissions from large, stationary fossil energy facilities. Many experts view it as a promising component of a wider portfolio strategy (including increased efficiencies, greater use of nuclear and renewable energy, and other approaches) for achieving significant reductions in atmospheric CO2 emissions.

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