Context & Objectives
The ASNR conducts research on nuclear safety, including the behavior of reactor containment structures under severe accident conditions (high pressure and temperature). This PhD aims to develop and validate a thermo-hydro-mechanical (THM) poro-mechanical model of concrete to assess its leak-tightness.

Research Work

Develop and adapt a poro-mechanical model based on existing approaches
Perform probabilistic sensitivity analyses (e.g., Sobol, HSIC)
Calibrate using experimental data from I2M and validate with neutron tomography at Institut Laue Langevin
Implement in Cast3M and assess performance at structural scale

Profile
MSc/Engineering degree in civil engineering, materials, or mechanics; strong numerical skills; interest in experiments and probabilistic methods.

More information Here (in French) https://asnr-career.talent-soft.com/offre-de-emploi/emploi–comportement-thm-du-beton-en-accident-grave-selon-une-approche-poro-mecanique-th-exp26-3-h-f_1494.aspx

A PhD position sponsored by Rio Tinto is available in the Sydney Centre in Geomechanics and Mining Materials (SciGEM) at The University of Sydney on heterarchical stochastic modelling of granular media. The project will use coupled CFD with a stochastic model of granular flow that includes segregation and mixing. The model will be applied to understand the motion of fine particles in large storage systems with an industrial partner, Rio Tinto. This will also involve travel and time with this company. At SciGEM you will join an amazing team of researchers in the area of granular physics, geomechanics and mineral processing.

Funding is available for 3.5 years. Applicants should have a background in civil engineering, mechanical engineering, physics, computer science or a related field. Applications close 1 May 2026.

Please contact Professor Itai Einav (itai.einav@sydney.edu.au) for more information or to apply with CV and cover letter.

At INSA Strasbourg / ICube-GC-E, we are looking for a motivated candidate for the PhD position titled “Multiscale Numerical Simulation of Tire–Pavement Contact for the Study of Degradation in Low-Carbon Road Infrastructures.”

This project develops a multiscale 3D modeling framework, combining DEM and FEM approaches, to simulate tire–pavement interactions and assess the durability of low-carbon asphalt materials with high RAP content. Calibrated with experimental data from the ANR Binary project, it aims to provide predictive models of wear and degradation for sustainable road design.

Applicants should hold a Master’s degree in numerical mechanics or civil engineering and have expertise in DEM/FEM simulation, continuum mechanics, material behavior, and structural modeling. Basic Python skills are a plus.

Supervisor: Juan Carlos Quezada (Associate professor – HDR)

See the attached PDF for more information on how to apply.

For further information, see the attached [PDF].

We offer a PhD position at the 3SR laboratory in Grenoble as part of a collaborative ANR project involving three French institutions (UGA, Centrale Nantes, and École des Ponts) and three international partners (University of Liège, University of Strathclyde (Glasgow), and the University of Queensland in Australia).

The PhD proposal focuses on the modelling of hydro-chemical degradation processes in cap rocks and their impact on the long-term stability of CO2 sequestration in saline aquifers. The main objective of the project is to quantify the risk of CO2 leakage induced by the dissolution of calcite present in the rock, using two-scale finite element modelling.

this project will be carried out in close collaboration with another PhD project (also at 3SR and already filled) that addresses the same issue from an experimental perspective.

For further information, please refer to the attached description and feel free to contact us.

Kind regards,

Quentin Rousseau & Pierre Bésuelle

For further information, see the attached [PDF].

At Université Gustave Eiffel (Champs-sur-Marne, Paris region, France), we have an open call for a PhD position titled “Pore Network Modeling of Multiphase Flow in CO₂–Water–Rock Systems under Variable Thermodynamic and Flow Regimes.”

CO₂ injection in aquifers poses scientific challenges related to multiphase flow behavior, which depends on thermodynamic conditions and flow regimes. This PhD project aims to develop predictive pore network models integrated with thermodynamics and upscaling methods toward reservoir-scale applications.

We seek candidates with a strong background in reservoir engineering, geosciences, geotechnical engineering, or related fields. Experience in numerical modeling of flow in porous media and programming skills is highly desirable.

Supervisors: Ana Loyola, Philipp Braun, and Amade Pouya.
Interested candidates should contact the supervisors by April 18. See the attached pdf for more information on how to apply.

For further information, see the attached [PDF].

Impact of pore pressure variations induced by pressurised TBM on neighbouring constructions: field data analysis and numerical modelling with artificial intelligence tools.

For further information, see the attached [PDF].

We are seeking a doctoral student to KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm. The work tasks primarily consist of doctoral studies within the ongoing research project “Drivability of Piles in Blocky Ground”. Piling is a common foundation method; however, driven concrete piles may experience structural failure if they encounter boulders when installed in glacial till or eskers. Such events may cause significant delays and cost overruns in construction projects. The probability of premature refusal due to boulder encounter is difficult to assess, and existing assessment methods are highly simplified, which often gives rise to contractual disputes. The objective of the project is to further develop a probabilistic methodology capable of quantifying the risk for premature refusal with respect to both economic and environmental consequences.

More information: https://www.kth.se/lediga-jobb/909260?l=en
Deadline 8 April (unless extended).

A PhD position in offshore engineering is open at Université Gustave Eiffel, Nantes Campus, France. https://cg.univ-gustave-eiffel.fr/en/

This PhD project focuses on the coupled hydro-mechanical rate effects involved in the short-term monotonic pullout and long-term behavior of suction anchors under cyclic loading. A novel rate-dependent elasto-viscoplastic macroelement will be developed and validated against both centrifuge test results and FE simulations, enabling a fast and accurate evaluation of the rate-dependent performance of suction anchors at the structural level.

We are seeking motivated candidates with a solid background in geotechnical engineering. A strong interest in constitutive modeling is highly appreciated, and experience with FEM modeling using Abaqus is preferred.

Application deadline: 8 April, 2026

Contact: Dr. Zheng LI: zheng.li@univ-eiffel.fr; Dr. Matthieu Blanc: matthieu.blanc@univ-eiffel.fr

For more information, please see the attached PDF file.

For further information, see the attached [PDF].

PhD thesis “cotutelle” between Ecole Centrale de Nantes and Univeristé de Liège.
The objectives of the research activity will be the formulation and the numerical implementation of a suitable poro hydro-chemo-mechanical model to describe coupled processes occurring at the interface between a reservoir aquifer rock where CO2 is injected and stored and the confining caprock which should guarantee the sealing of the reservoir.

For further information, see the attached [PDF].

We are seeking four PhD candidates in geotechnical, structural, or coastal engineering to join our multidisciplinary research team.

Over the next few years, our research will explore how climate change amplifies geohazards, including:

▪️ Coastal erosion
▪️ Mapping climate-driven risks to port infrastructure, combining satellite and terrestrial data with soil-structure interaction modelling
▪️ Multi-physics geo-hydro modelling of wetting-drying induced ground movement, landslides and erosion
▪️ Hydro-mechanical characterisation and constitutive modelling of challenging Danish soils relevant to ground movements and landslides

These positions are part of the 10-year program “Civil Engineering and the Green Transition in the Built Environment (CEBE)”, sponsored by Villum Fonden.

The application deadline is 20 April 2026 at 23:59 CEST.

More information:
https://phd.tech.au.dk/for-applicants/apply-here/saeropslag/four-phd-positions-climate-driven-geohazards-in-coastal-and-urban-areas