Faculty Position in Geomechanics at the UMN

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The Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geo- Engineering at the University of Minnesota seeks applications for a tenure-track faculty position in the area of geomechanics focused on experimental methods, although all areas of geomechanics will be considered, including but not limited to: fracture mechanics, constitutive characterization, drilling mechanics, chemo-hydro-mechanical aspects, reservoir mechanics, imaging technologies, and microseismic sensing. We are interested in applicants with strong core fundamentals in science and engineering that allow them to move easily across disciplinary boundaries and work collaboratively to solve challenging problems at the frontier of our discipline, such as mineral carbon storage, CO2 sequestration, enhanced geothermal systems, energy geotechnics, and extraterrestrial mining. Successful candidates will be expected to maintain a strong externally-funded research program. Teaching responsibilities include existing undergraduate and graduate courses in geoengineering, as well as development of new courses in the candidate’s speciality areas. An earned doctorate is required at the time of the appointment. The position is intended for applicants at the Assistant Professor level but exceptional applicants at the Associate Professor or Professor level can be considered.

Applications must be submitted online at https://z.umn.edu/geomechanics

Include a (i) cover letter, (ii) CV, (iii) contact information for three references, and statements
on (iv) research experience and interests, (v) teaching experience and interests, (vi) experience fostering diversity and inclusion in the classroom and research. The review of applications will begin November 15, 2024. Applications will continue to be accepted until the position is filled. Expected appointment is Fall 2025. The Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geo- Engineering (CEGE) at UMN is dedicated to conducting cutting-edge theoretical, computational, and experimental research in all areas related to Civil, Environmental, and Geo- Engineering. The department features state-of-the-art experimental facilities, including the Lacabanne Rock Mechanics Laboratory, the Waves and Imaging Laboratory, the Pavement Mechanics Laboratory, and the Galambos Structural Engineering Laboratory. CEGE is one of twelve departments within the College of Science and Engineering, which offers outstanding opportunities for interdisciplinary research due to the unique combination of mathematics, physical sciences, and engineering in one college. The department is home to the DOE-funded Center on Geo-processes in Mineral Carbon Storage and is affiliated with the Saint Anthony Falls Laboratory. Core facilities include the Minnesota Nano Center and Characterization Facility. The college has a strong data science initiative. The University of Minnesota is an equal opportunity educator and employer fully committed to a culturally and academically diverse faculty. Candidates who will further expand the diversity of the academic community through teaching, research, and service are particularly encouraged to apply.

The next ALERT Olek Zienkiewicz school on Constitutive Modelling of Geomaterials will take place at Charles University in Prague from February 3 to 7, 2025

In the school, the basic principles of soil constitutive modelling will be introduced, but the emphasis will be extended beyond mathematical formulations and equations to include graphical representations of models. It will be demonstrated how models with very different mathematical foundations often share similar predictive capabilities. Recent developments in more intricate areas, such as fabric anisotropy, cyclic loading and liquefaction effects, THM double structure coupling, and rate effects, will also be highlighted. Most recent approaches to machine-learning based constitutive models will also be covered. Rather than limiting discussions to single element levels, it will be emphasized that laboratory experiments are not merely element tests and that proper model calibration should treat them as boundary value problems. Additionally, lecture units on the impact of constitutive model selection on boundary value problem simulations will be included. Considering the large scale, macroelements will be introduced as an alternative way of describing the response of geotechnical structures. Hands-on computer sessions will also be included to allow students to practice calibrating selected constitutive models manually using freeware software tools, as well as with automatic tools.

The preliminary schedule is as follows: each lecture/exercise unit will last 50 minutes, with seven units per day between 8:30 AM and 5 PM. The program on Friday will conclude at 12:20 PM, totalling 32 lecture/exercise units.

The lecturers will include David Mašín, Ivo Herle, Claudio Tamagnini, Gertraud Medicus, Alexandros Petalas and Merita Tafili

Registration is now open at 

ALERT PhD students will have a priority if registered before 30.11.2024.

Detailed programme will be available by October 25, 2024.

Attendance is free of charge.

Fully funded PhD position in Vegetated urban rain gardens for the management of hydroclimatic stressors

This PhD project aims to address the effectiveness of GI systems, particularly vegetated rain gardens and their functioning under multiple urban stressors, such as floods and droughts. This project will involve extensive real-time environmental monitoring (laboratory- and field-based) coupled with advanced modelling techniques, to understand soil-water-plant dynamics in rain gardens situated within the City of Edinburgh and will provide the student with multidisciplinary skills and expertise in the fields of environmental monitoring, modelling and nature-based solutions.

Find the full description of the position here.

Anura3D MPM Workshop

Dear Colleagues,

Please consider attending the Anura3D MPM workshop and training course in Barcelona on January 30-31, 2025. Early bird registration fee closes on October 31st. Note that the first half day there will be a hands-on training course about MPM, which may be relevant for doctoral students, but not only. Although it is called “Anura3D MPM workshop” we warmly welcome all participants interested in MPM, especially those working with different codes. 

Further details on the event are available here: https://anura3dworkshop2025.cimne.com/introduction

Scientific Secretary Succession

Dear ALERT community,

In June 2021, I assumed the role of scientific secretary from François Bertrand. After more than three years in the role and 538+ announcements posted (which is an all-time record, by the way), it is now time for me to retire from this function.

It was a privilege to organise our annual meeting for four consecutive years, despite the occasional challenges. These meetings provided the opportunity to connect with many of you. I am also pleased to see an increase in the number of participants attending both the workshop and doctoral school since I started.

I would like to thank Frédéric Collin, our previous director, for giving me the opportunity to manage both the website and many other aspects of ALERT Geomaterials. It has been a thrilling experience that I was lucky enough to share with you.

I am now handing this position to David Riley, from EC-Nantes, who I am sure will do this job with commitment.

Thank you everyone, and see you next year in Aussois,

Arthur Fanara.

Post-Doctoral position at Imperial College London

We are hiring a Research Associate to develop models for the thermo-hydro-mechanical-chemical behaviour of bentonite barriers in nuclear waste disposal, through conventional and Machine Learning approaches. This is an opportunity to work on a topic of great environmental importance,  in close collaboration with our research partners in the UK (British Geological Survey, BGS) and in the USA (Texas A&M University, TAMU, and Sandia National Laboratories, SNL).

For more information and to apply (by the 10th of October) follow the link:

Description | Jobs | Imperial College London

PhD position at University of Orleans

A PhD position is now open at University of Orleans on the optimization of innovative solutions for adapting houses exposed to Clay Shrinkage-Swelling phenomenon using numerical modeling.

Since 2015, intense droughts over longer periods has been observed in France. These climatic phenomena have a very considerable impact on the physical and mechanical characteristics of clayed soils. These exceptional events are the main factor triggering the shrinkage-swelling phenomenon of this type of soil and consequently cause damage to buildings.

The thesis topic is part of the SAFE RGA project (Innovative Solutions for Adapting Buildings Exposed to drought Facing the Expansion of the Clay Shrinkage-Swelling Phenomenon) funded by ADEME. This project aims at developping new innovative solutions for adapting houses exposed to Clay Shrinkage-Swelling Phenomenon in the context of increasingly intense, long and recurring droughts under the effect of climate change. In this context, the objectives of this thesis subject consist in developing and applying numerical modeling technique to support and optimize adaptation solutions with regard to the Shrinkage-Swelling phenomenon according to the scientific program carried out at three scales: the laboratory test scale on small samples, the intermediate scale of an instrumented environmental chamber WABox (Weather AdapBox) and the building scale.

More information on this pdf file.

How to join Aussois by train – ALERT Meeting 2024

Dear colleagues,

We are getting close to the start of the ALERT Workshop. A few details about your journey to Aussois:

As last year, the railroad line between Saint Jean de Maurienne and Modane is closed due to a rock slope instabillity. This is why there is no TGV between Paris and Modane.

You can get to Modane by taking a train between Chambéry and Saint Jean de Maurienne and then a bus to Modane. 

When you arrive in Modane by bus, there are cabs to call:
– Taxi Haute Maurienne: +33 4.79.20.51.57 
– Lionnel transport: +33 6.09.68.39.91 
– Gros : +33 6.60.38.01.23 
– Mont Taxi: +33 6.60.47.03.06 
– Alpes Taxi: +33 6.31.55.82.71

As in previous years, we have organized a direct bus service between Saint Jean de Maurienne (at the bus station) and Aussois on Sunday September 29. It will leave Saint Jean at 16h. Another bus is planned at 19h40.

See you soon in Aussois,
Frédéric COLLIN.