The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering seeks to recruit a talented researcher to a 44 month Research Associate position to work on nature-based solutions to mitigate landslides. This position is funded by the UKRI Future. Leaders Fellowship project: ‘Soil-mycelia systems for slope stabilisation’ led by Dr Grainne El Mountassir. The aim of the project is to develop novel low-cost, low-carbon fungal-based biogeotechnologies for landslide mitigation. The project will focus on characterising the hydraulic and mechanical behaviour of fungal treated soils over time and in response to varying environmental conditions (e.g. temperature and wetting-drying cycles). Experiments will be conducted at bench scale (cms) and at large-scale (several metres) in the laboratory. Experimental data gathered will be used to inform numerical models to investigate the influence of fungal treatment on slope stability for real case studies.  The successful researcher will be based in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, UK and will have the opportunity to undertake an industrial secondment with BAM Ritchies. The Department has over £4.5 million of current research projects in ground and subsurface engineering and the researcher will

join an enthusiastic and friendly team of postgraduate and postdoctoral researchers that research a range of bio- and biochemical ground improvement and grouting technologies.

The University is seeking an excellent and enthusiastic candidate that can contribute to laboratory-based research on the hydraulic and mechanical testing of soils (e.g. oedometer, shear box, triaxial, permeability, water retention behaviour, suction control/monitoring methods) and investigation of soil microstructure (e.g. Scanning Electron Microscope, X-ray micro-computed tomography, Optical microscopy). The project will also work towards developing a constitutive model for the hydromechanical behaviour of fungal treated soils and numerical modelling will be conducted to assess the influence of fungal treatment on slope stability. It is not necessary that you have expertise in all of these areas as training will be given, but you should have experience in at least some of these areas. To be considered for the role, you should have a relevant undergraduate degree (e.g. Civil Engineering) and have successfully completed a PhD in a relevant field (e.g. geotechnical engineering, ecological engineering). You should be creative, with the ability to apply initiative and problem solve and have excellent communication skills.

Informal enquiries about the post can be directed to Dr Grainne El Mountassir (grainne.elmountassir@strath.ac.uk)

Applications can be made here: https://strathvacancies.engageats.co.uk/ViewVacancyV2.aspx?enc=mEgrBL4XQK0+ld8aNkwYmH4Oj9yC5KGHG4JJXJqd3qumbkb1heGZAYU7C5Sfkr63rUIs6l3m64+4RVE3r821E1xMzEFLqimpynxY+xex1Irb9f+0DXyVs7d90Qijz0xyVhhicaeN7mRX3/BDRkdgRg==

Deadline: 22^th May 2022

More information available in attached pdf file.