Speakers
University of Manchester
Vahid Niasar is a Full Professor of Subsurface Engineering at the University of Manchester and leading expert in multiphase flow and transport in porous media
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Research focuses on understanding the interplay between pore-scale physics and reservoir-scale behavior in complex subsurface systems
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Specializes in multiphase flow in porous media, capillary and interfacial phenomena, pore-network and pore-scale modeling
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Develops experimental and computational frameworks to study fluid displacement, trapping, and transport mechanisms
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Integrates imaging, pore-scale simulations, and continuum-scale approaches to improve predictive understanding of subsurface processes
Talk Topic:
Upscaling Properties and Establishing Constitutive Relations for Reservoir Modelling
University of Southern California
Muhammad Sahimi is a Full Professor of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science at the University of Southern California.
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Research spans molecular to reservoir scales in porous and heterogeneous media
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Integrates moelecular simulations, statistical physics, and continuum modeling
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Focuses on flow, transport, and adsorption in complex subsurface systems
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Pioneered contributions to percolation theory, pore-network modeling, and multiscale upscaling
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Provided fundamental insights into how pore-scale heterogeneity controls macroscopic behavior
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Advanced understanding of multiphase flow and subsurface energy systems
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Established a unified multiscale framework linking molecular processes to reservoir-scale engineering
Talk Topic:
Why Do We Need Nanoscale Resolution in Subsurface Engineering?
Eindhoven University of Technology
Sofía Calero is Full Professor and Chair of the Materials Simulation & Modelling group at Eindhoven University of Technology.
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Internationally recognized for molecular simulations of porous materials for energy and environmental applications
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Develops force fields, algorithms, and advanced molecular simulation techniques
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Provides molecular-level understanding of adsorption, diffusion, and transport in nanoporous materials
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Major contributions to:
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Development of simulation methods for adsorption and diffusion in porous materials
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Co-developer of the RASPA simulation package.
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Advances design of materials and models for sustainable energy systems
Talk Topic:
Fundamentals of Molecular Simulations
Université Grenoble Alpes
Benoît Coasne is Research Director at CNRS and leading expert in nanoconfined fluids and transport in porous media
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Specializes in molecular simulation and theoretical modeling of fluids in complex nanoporous materials
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Focuses on adsorption, capillarity, phase transitions, and interfacial phenomena under confinement
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Develops multiscale approaches linking molecular behavior to macroscopic transport properties
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Key contributions to understanding:
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Fluid structure and dynamics in nanopores
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Multiphase flow and capillary effects in porous systems
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Transport in heterogeneous and disordered media
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His work provides fundamental insights into subsurface processes, including fluid storage, migration, and trapping in geological formations.
Talk Topic:
Fluids Under Confinement: From Molecular Understanding to Macroscopic Behavior
University of Colorado Boulder
Hendrik Heinz is a Full Professor of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science at the University of Colorado Boulder
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Internationally recognized for developing accurate force fields and molecular models for complex materials
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Specializes in interfaces between inorganic materials, organic molecules, and fluids
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Developer of the INTERFACE force field, enabling realistic simulations of minerals, metals, and soft matter
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Research focuses on solid-liquid and solid-gas interfaces, surface chemistry and wettability, adsorption and interfacial interactions at the nanoscale
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Provides critical insights into fluid-rock interactions relevant to subsurface systems
Talk Topic:
Advanced Force Field Development and Interface Modelling for Complex Subsurface Media
A. Özgür Yazaydın is a Full Professor of Chemical Engineering at University College London and expert in multiscale modelling and the application of nanostructured materials in energy and environmental systems.
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Research includes porous materials, carbon capture, sequestration and utilization, as well as membrane-based gas separations.
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Focuses on the behaviour of fluids in confinement, particularly within nanoporous and geological materials.
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Investigates fluid transport and adsorption in nanoporous materials
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Develops novel molecular simulation approaches to provide fundamental insights into fluid transport mechanisms in porous systems.
Talk Topic:
Transport Behavior in Nanoporous Materials Using Non-Equilibrium Molecular Simulation
University College London
Institut Mines Télécom Atlantique
Andrey G. Kalinichev is a Full Professor and internationally recognized expert in computational geochemistry and molecular modeling of mineral–fluid interfaces at Institut Mines Télécom Atlantique
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Specializes in molecular simulations of complex geological and environmental systems
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Research focuses on structure and dynamics of water at mineral surfaces, ion adsorption and surface reactivity, clay minerals, cement phases, and nanoporous geological materials
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Develops atomistic understanding of fluid-rock interactions under subsurface conditions, interfacial transport and confinement effects, as well as reactive processes in heterogeneous porous media
Talk Topic:
Fundamentals of Molecular Simulations
Ghoufi Aziz is a Full Professor and researcher at the Univ Paris-East Creteil, specializing in molecular simulation of confined fluids and nanoporous materials
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Expert in molecular simulations, and statistical thermodynamics
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Research focuses on: adsorption and transport in nanoporous systems, phase behavior and thermodynamics under confinement, and interfacial and capillary phenomena in complex porous media
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Develops molecular-level understanding of how confinement alters: fluid structure and dynamics, diffusion and transport properties, fluid-solid interactions
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Contributes to bridging nanoscale simulations with continuum descriptions of porous media transport
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His work advances predictive modeling of fluids in heterogeneous and nanoconfined environments for sustainable energy applications
Talk Topic:
Fundamentals of Interfacial Tension
Univ Paris-East Creteil
Guillaume Galliéro is a Full Professor at Université de Pau et des Pays de l’Adour, specializing in molecular thermodynamics and transport in confined fluids
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Expert in molecular simulations of fluids under subsurface conditions
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Research focuses on transport properties of fluids in nanoporous media, interfacial phenomena and nanoconfinement effects, thermodynamics and phase behavior of complex fluids
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Develops molecular-scale understanding of: diffusion, thermodiffusion and viscosity, fluid-fluid and fluid-solid interfaces, nonequilibrium transport processes
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Bridges molecular simulations with engineering-scale models to improve predictions of fluid behaviour under reservoir conditions
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Applies these approaches to subsurface energy and environmental challenges, including low-permeability reservoirs, underground hydrogen storage, CO2 storage and seasonal gas storage
Talk Topic:
From Bulk to Nanoconfinement: Revisiting Fluid-Transport Behavior in Subsurface Systems
Université de Pau et des Pays de l’Adour
Zhehui Jin is an Associate Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at University of Alberta
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Research focuses on molecular-level understanding of subsurface energy and environmental systems.
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Expertise spans computational modeling, statistical thermodynamics, and interfacial science.
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Addresses fundamental phenomena including adsorption, phase behavior, wettability, and transport in confined porous media.
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Contributes to advancing knowledge of complex geological materials such as shale, clay, kerogen, and mineral nanopores.
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Supports applications in carbon capture and storage, unconventional hydrocarbon recovery, and emerging subsurface energy technologies.
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Provides fundamental insight into the linkage between molecular-scale interactions and macroscopic behavior in porous and heterogeneous systems.
Talk Topic:
CO2 Geological Storage from Nanoscale
University of Alberta
Valentina Erastova is Senior Lecturer in Computational Chemistry at the University of Edinburgh, working at the interface of chemistry, geoscience, and materials science
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Specializes in molecular techniques for the advancement of natural materials in environmental applications
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Explores interfacial phenomena in clays, layered minerals, and biochar systems, with relevance to pollution remediation, subsurface processes, and energy applications
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Combines multidisciplinary expertise across computational and experimental domains to study complex mineral-fluid systems at the molecular scale
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Contributes to the development of computational tools and modelling approaches to enable more realistic simulations of complex natural systems.
Talk Topic:
Fundamentals of Molecular Simulations: GROMACS
University of Edinburgh
Luís F. M. Franco is an Associate Professor of School of Chemical Engineering at University of Campinas
Provides fundamental insight into the connection between molecular-scale interactions and macroscopic thermophysical behavior.
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Specializes in molecular-level understanding of fluids and complex systems using statistical mechanics and thermodynamics
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Focuses on thermodynamics, phase behavior, and transport properties using molecular simulations
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Supports applications in energy and subsurface processes, including carbon capture, hydrogen systems, and enhanced hydrocarbon recovery.