A postdoc position is open in the Soil MicroMechanics group at the University of Twente (Netherlands) on the topic “Bio-inspired burrowing robot for soil penetration in limited-access sites”. 

The project involves the design, instrumentation and realization of a prototype probe for underground inspection and soil characterization.

The postdoc will work in a multidisciplinary team, in close contact with experts in the sector of soft robotics. He/She will closely collaborate with another postdoc on the geotechnical and geomechanics aspects of the project.

Applications are expected before 15 March 2023. For more and information and application, please follow the link 

https://utwentecareers.nl/en/vacancies/1043/postdoctoral-fellow-position-bio-inspired-burrowing-robot-for-soil-penetration-in-limited-access-sites/

“EFFECT OF TEMPERATURE AND SATURATION ON THE MECHANICAL BEHAVIOR OF CALLOVO-OXFORDIAN CLAYSTONE”

Applications are invited for a fully-funded three-year PhD to commence in October 2023.
The PhD will be based in the Faculty of Science and Health at University of Portsmouth, and will be supervised by Dr Arash Azizi, Dr Nick Koor and Dr Philip Benson. The project will be carried out in collaboration with University of Durham (Led by Prof. David Toll, up to 1 year placement) and Ramboll (up to 6 months placement).

More information on this pdf file and on the website: https://www.findaphd.com/phds/project/the-effects-of-climate-change-on-the-performance-of-geo-infrastructure-under-cyclic-loading/?p153888

A 1-year post-doc position is available at Politecnico di Milano, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, on Molecular Dynamics simulations of superlubric granular particles.

The position is part of the project “SSLiP: Scaling-up SuperLubricity into Persistence” funded by an HORIZON-EIC-2021 Pathfinder-Open Grant. The project aims at studying the advanced lubricant properties of particular granular materials to establish a radically new way to drastically reduce friction.

A full description and information how to apply is given in the attached pdf and at https://www.polimi.it/en/faculty/working-at-the-politecnico/research-grants/a-r-default-2866a654d2

Candidates must hold a PhD degree in one of these disciplines: Computational Mechanics, Mechanical/Mathematical/Civil Engineering, Granular Physics, Computer science, Tribology or similar fields.

A background in computational mechanics, especially on molecular dynamics simulations, and in data processing is preferential.

For any additional information, see the attached pdf or please write a message to: diego.berzi@polimi.it or dalila.vescovi@polimi.it

Project starting date: April 1st, 2023

Net salary per month: ~EUR 2,000

Supervision: Prof. Diego Berzi, Dr. Dalila Vescovi

Application deadline: February 21st, 2023

In the context of deep nuclear wastes storage deep galleries will be backfilled with clay-based materials. These backfill must have specific hydromechanical properties to prevent water circulation along the repository after its closure. The backfill material will be partly made from the excavated material, i.e. Callovo-Oxfordian argillite that would have been stored at surface during the exploitation period, and mixed with sand to reach the target design properties. The hydromechanical properties of the backfill must remain stable over time. It is thus necessary to determine the relative impact of several factors such as the setting conditions, nature and dosage of treatment product, etc. on the properties of the backfill. The thesis will be focused at understanding the cross relationship between macroscopic hydromechanical properties, the reorganization of the material microstructure due to the swelling of clay particles upon hydration as well as the alteration processes associated to the circulation of alkaline water.

More information on this pdf file.

A Research Fellowship position is open at the National Laboratory for Civil Engineering in Lisboa, Portugal, in the framework of the project “Geosustained – Sustainability assessment of shallow Geo-thermal systems for Lisbon. Characterization studies of the city soils thermal and thermomechanical behaviour”.

More information on this pdf file.