Thesis title: “Soil aeration and dynamics of forced air and water flow into partially saturated soil”.

Research conducted in the Agriculture Research center (Volcani Center) under the supervision of Dr. Shmulik P. Friedman.

Diploma awarded on 08/07/2021.

Items 4-8 in the list of publications resulted from this research.

Thesis title: “aerating clayey soil using air injection and adding hydrogen peroxide to irrigation”.

Research conducted in the Agriculture Research center (Volcani Center) under the supervision of Dr. Shmulik P. Friedman.

Graduation with honors magna cum laude.

Diploma awarded on 08/05/2013.

Items 1-3 in the list of publications resulted from this research.

Graduation with honors magna cum laude.

Dean excelled award in academic yrs 2007-2008 and 2008-2009.

Diploma awarded on 22/06/2010.

Host: Prof. Marco Dentz.

Subject: Flow, and hydrodynamic transport in permeable media

The position is part of the HydroPore project. A joint interdisciplinary team between two organizations in Madrid and Barcelona.

Main objectives: The aim of HydroPore is to systematically quantify the mechanisms and laws that govern multiphase flow, mechanical deformation and hydrodynamic transport in heterogeneous permeable media, from the pore to the regional scales with applications ranging from geological energy production and storage to contaminant dispersion in groundwater and nutrient transport in tissue. To achieve this goal, the project uses a multidisciplinary integrated research strategy that combines a new theoretical upscaling framework with novel experimental protocols and cutting-edge numerical simulation techniques.

Methodology: Numerical simulations on the pore and Darcy scales, and the analysis of numerical and analytical data with the aim of upscaling these processes to the large scale. The focus is on (multiphase) flow and passive transport in rigid and deformable heterogeneous media. While the tasks are mostly numerical and theoretical. Drawing from the experimental part of HydroPore through data analysis and design of the experimental setups.

Host: Prof. Brian Berkowitz.

Project title: “Unifying the water worlds”.

Main objectives: Identifying similarities in the heterogeneity signatures of self-organization in subsurface and surface flows, which in turn has similar effect on the distribution and portioning between uniform and non-uniform flow and transport. We postulate that these similarities can be used to unify these two separated “water worlds”, in terms of conceptualization and quantification of the flow and transport problems. Addressing namely issues such as preferential flow paths, and dynamics and patterning of chemical transport and reactivity. This unification can and should be applied to both catchment (“surface water”) and groundwater (subsurface) systems, to the benefit of all research communities.

Methodology: Drawing from meter-scale flow cell experiments of solute mixing (both reactive and non-reactive species) and the CTRW framework. Simulations of water flow and solute transport in the partially saturated zone by means of a nonlinear, space-domain random walk that represents water by a distinct number of particles of constant mass.

This work involves a diverse spectrum of subjects including (but not limited to):

Contaminated soil and groundwater site investigation and characterization (including sampling and operating heavy drilling machinery);

Design, installation and operation of pilot and full-scale remediation systems for contaminated soil and/or groundwater. Using different remediation technologies (e.g. Soil Vapor Extraction, Bio-Venting, NAPL Skimmers, multi-phase extraction, Pump&Treat using strippers or active granular carbon, in-situ chemical oxidation, in-situ chemical reduction, etc.);

Design and hydrological modeling of construction dewatering projects, and water preservation (infiltration pits and reverse wells).