Dr. Behnam Jafarpour’s Quest for Subsurface Energy Innovation
By Carson Vest
Introduction
Dr. Behnam Jafarpour, is an endowed Fellow and Professor who serves as the Associate Director of the Ershaghi Center for Energy Transition (E-CET) at the USC Viterbi School of Engineering. He has dedicated his career to advancing the frontiers of subsurface energy and environmental systems. With a rich academic background spanning across civil and environmental engineering, electrical engineering and computer science, Dr. Jafarpour brings a unique interdisciplinary perspective to his research endeavors. Since joining USC in 2011, he has spearheaded groundbreaking initiatives aimed at advancing the state-of-the-art technologies for characterization, prediction, and control of fluid flow and transport phenomena in complex subsurface systems.
Educational Journey
Dr. Jafarpour’s academic journey commenced with a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Tehran, followed by Master’s degrees in Civil and Environmental Engineering from the University of Delaware, and Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from MIT. He culminated his educational pursuits with a doctoral degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering from MIT in 2008, marking the beginning of his notable academic career.
Research Focus
At the heart of Dr. Jafarpour’s research lies a fusion of systems science, data science, and computational geoscience, aimed at unraveling the intricacies of subsurface energy and environmental systems. Through the integration of cutting-edge theoretical principles and modern data science algorithms, Dr. Jafarpour’s research lab plans to address critical challenges in subsurface energy, including conventional and unconventional energy systems, groundwater aquifers, geothermal energy, and geologic CO₂ storage.
Notable Projects
A flagship initiative led by Dr. Jafarpour is the Subsurface Energy and Environmental Systems (SEES) Lab, which serves as a hub for interdisciplinary research across several departments at the USC Viterbi School of Engineering. The lab’s endeavors are complemented by the Energi Simulation Foundation’s Industrial Research Chair Program on Subsurface Energy Data Science, which focuses on developing innovative data science solutions for challenging problems in subsurface energy systems.
CO₂ SMART Initiative
A cornerstone of Dr. Jafarpour’s research portfolio is the CO₂ SMART (CO₂ Storage, Modeling, Analytics, and Risk reduction Technologies) initiative, an Industry-University Cooperative Research Center (IUCRC) supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF). CO₂ SMART is a collaboration between USC and Penn State, aimed at addressing the pressing challenge of reducing the CO₂ emissions through geologic storage. This ambitious project, with Dr. Jafarpour as its PI and Center Director, seeks to establish USC as a national leader in the field of CO₂ storage research. By collaborating with regulators, policymakers, and researchers, the initiative aims to advance geological science and engineering and pave the way for large-scale implementation of CO₂ storage technologies.
Future Directions
Looking ahead, Dr. Jafarpour’s vision encompasses the expansion of the CO₂ SMART initiative as a national center. With a five-year plan in place and USC poised to lead the initiative alongside Penn State University, Dr. Jafarpour envisions a collaborative effort involving diverse stakeholders from academia, industry, and government agencies. By leveraging the expertise and resources of multiple disciplines, including engineering, geoscience, policy, and economics, the center aims to drive innovation in CO₂ storage technology and facilitate the transition to a sustainable energy future.
Conclusion
In conclusion, as USC emerges as a beacon of innovation in energy transition technologies, Dr. Jafarpour’s leadership in the new NSF Center on geologic CO₂ storage underscores the university’s commitment to addressing pressing environmental challenges. Through interdisciplinary collaboration, innovative methodologies, and a relentless pursuit of excellence, Dr. Jafarpour’s work continues to shape the landscape of subsurface energy research.
If you have any additional questions, please feel free to contact Dr. Jafarpour at the email address listed below.
jafarpou@usc.edu
