Son Dang Funded Master’s and PhD Positions in Subsurface Energy and Petrophysics at the University of Oklahoma
University of Oklahoma
Assistant Professor Son Thai Dang is recruiting two Ph.D. and two research master’s students at the University of Oklahoma for projects in CO2 sequestration, hydrogen storage, petrophysics, geomechanics, enhanced oil recovery, machine learning and critical minerals, with a $2,350 monthly stipend and tuition coverage.
Assistant Professor Son Thai Dang is recruiting two Ph.D. students and two research master's students for the Mewbourne School of Petroleum and Geological Engineering at the University of Oklahoma. Master's students may have the opportunity to continue into the Ph.D. programme.
The positions were advertised across the Spring 2026 through Fall 2027 admission cycles. Because Spring 2026 has passed, prospective students should target the remaining Spring 2027 or Fall 2027 cycles and confirm availability directly with Dr. Dang before starting the formal university application.
Dr. Dang leads research through the Integrated Core Characterization Center (IC3), a facility focused on geoscience, petrophysics, subsurface energy and materials characterization. Research topics include:
- Carbon-dioxide sequestration in deep saline formations and geomaterials.
- Underground hydrogen storage.
- Unconventional petrophysics and shale characterization.
- Enhanced oil recovery for unconventional reservoirs.
- Multiscale flow and geomechanics modelling.
- Machine learning for geological-material analysis.
- Critical-mineral evaluation and extraction from shale and hard rocks.
Students may contribute to projects supported by industry partners, the U.S. Department of Energy, the National Science Foundation and U.S. national laboratories. Research resources described in the announcement include high-pressure flow systems, GPU servers, supercomputing facilities, SEM/TEM, NMR, FTIR, gas-chromatography systems, BET and compositional-characterization tools.
Application timing: Dr. Dang's initial review does not have a stated closing date. The official MPGE deadlines are September 1 for Spring admission and February 15 for Fall admission. Email the supervisor early enough to complete the appropriate formal application.
Benefits
- $2,350 monthly stipend before tax. The stipend may increase depending on project volume and individual circumstances.
- Master's students initially serve as teaching assistants for the first semester and then transition to graduate research assistant roles.
- Ph.D. students serve as graduate research assistants from the start.
- Tuition is covered by the department during teaching-assistant appointments and by Dr. Dang's research funding during graduate-research-assistant appointments.
- The OU library system covers an open-access publication fee for one paper per year; additional publication fees are covered through research funding.
- Travel grants may be available through the OU Graduate College and research funding.
- Suitable students may receive recommendation letters for internship opportunities.
Applicants should request a written assistantship offer confirming the stipend duration, tuition coverage, mandatory university fees, health insurance, summer support and renewal conditions before accepting.
Eligibility summary
- Applicants from petroleum, chemical, civil or mechanical engineering, geosciences or closely related backgrounds are encouraged.
- Research interests should align with subsurface energy, petrophysics, geological materials, flow and geomechanics, enhanced recovery, carbon or hydrogen storage, machine learning, or critical minerals.
- The MPGE programme currently expects a bachelor's degree and a GPA of at least 3.2 on a 4.0 scale for the most recent two years of academic work.
- Prior research and publications are significant evaluation factors, particularly for Ph.D. applicants.
- No nationality restriction is stated in the recruitment announcement; both U.S. and international candidates may apply through OU Graduate Admissions.
- Applicants must satisfy all current Graduate College, programme, English-language, financial-document and immigration requirements that apply to them.
Requirements
- Email Dr. Son Thai Dang directly with the required initial-review documents.
- Ph.D. applicants should include relevant publication samples.
- Master's applicants should include technical writing samples, a capstone report or project reports.
- If encouraged to proceed, complete the official OU graduate application for the appropriate admission term.
- The formal MPGE application currently requires a résumé, transcripts, three recommendation letters and a statement of purpose.
- GRE requirements vary by professor; confirm directly whether the test is required.
Documents required
- Current curriculum vitae.
- Publication samples for Ph.D. applicants.
- Technical writing samples, capstone reports or project reports for master's applicants.
- Academic transcripts for the formal university application.
- Three letters of recommendation.
- Statement of purpose.
- English-language and other international-student documents where applicable.
- Any additional documents requested by Dr. Dang, MPGE or the OU Graduate College.
Language/test requirements
How to submit applications
Provider: Mewbourne School of Petroleum and Geological Engineering, University of Oklahoma
Initial review is by email. IC3 facility: https://www.ou.edu/mcee/labs/ic3.html Faculty verification: https://www.ou.edu/mcee/mpge/people/faculty
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