The Mechanics and Energy Lab (MEL – https://sites.northwestern.edu/rottaloria/) of Northwestern University, directed by Prof. Alessandro Rotta Loria, is seeking two post doctoral researchers to develop a research program at the intersection of electrochemistry and mechanics of materials devoted to unravel the promise of using mild electric stimulations to engineer soils and concrete through electrodeposited mineral crystals. See the attached file for more details.

The positions will start as soon as possible in 2022. Applications will be reviewed until the 2 post-doc positions are filled.

More information in this file.

Delft University of Technology is seeking candidates for a new Assistant or Associate Professor of Experimental Soil Mechanics with a focus on physical modelling.

The position is proposed to improve our understanding of the fundamental mechanical behaviour of geotechnical structures undergoing ageing and cyclic loads, and to provide new solutions to the present and future challenges of the built (including offshore) environment. The focus is on developing new physical modelling strategies to better assess and design geotechnical structures and infrastructure subjected to increasing anthropogenic and environmental (e.g. wind, wave, hydraulic, thermal, seismic) loadings, and to study the impact of soil-fluid-structure interaction processes. Emerging sensor and imaging technologies, as well as advanced data analysis, offer the opportunity to develop a new generation of experimental techniques for geotechnical testing in the laboratory and in the field.

See attached file for more details.

Deadline for applications: 7 February 2022.

The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University invites applications for two postdoctoral positions in Computational Geomechanics.

About PolyU Hong Kong: the Hong Kong Polytechnic University is ranked the second-best universities for Civil Engineering in the U.S. News & World Report’s Best Global Universities Ranking 2021.

Available positions: There is currently one postdoctoral position at PolyU Hong Kong funded by the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering in the year 2022. The position offers the possibility of working on multiscale multiphysics modelling of fluid-structure-soil interaction in offshore geotechnics.

Qualifications: Applicants must have a Ph.D. degree in Geotechnical Engineering, Computational Mechanics or other relevant disciplines and have the ability to build an independent, externally funded research program at the forefront of their field. Programming experience in C++/Fortran/etc. and numerical modelling experience using FEM/DEM/CFD code(s) are required.

Research topics: The research topic mainly focuses on FEM/PFEM/SPH/MPM based modelling on the fluid-structure-soil interaction problems in offshore engineering, such as offshore foundations, soil-pipeline, offshore geo-hazards.

Starting date: The position is expected to get started as early as possible. Contract duration: 1~2 years (extensions are possible based on the performance of research achievements).

Closing date for applications: You may apply for this position until Feb. 21, 2022 by email to the contacts given below. Interviews of shortlisted candidates will be scheduled with early close of application depending on the number of candidates received.

Salary: 312,000 ~ 384,000 HK$ / year (35400~43600 EUR/year), depending on the performance and contribution. The tax rate of salary in Hong Kong is very low (https://www.gov.hk/en/residents/taxes/taxfiling/taxrates/salariesrates.htm).

Contacts: Please submit an up-to-date curriculum vitae C.V. and a letter stating your motivation to apply and your key relevant qualities to Dr. Yin-Fu JIN (yinfu.jin@polyu.edu.hk). Information of the research group can be found via: http://geoinvention.com/.

On our quest to decarbonise our energy resources, underground heat energy storage is a key player. However, the impact of frequent cyclic thermo-mechanical (TM) stress changes over prolonged periods remains poorly understood and may threatened the longevity of the systems. This project will aim to fill the gap by performing laboratory and numerical experiments under relevant cyclic TM loading conditions to investigate the stability of targeted lithologies in such systems.

The scope of this PhD project is to use different scale observations to model and predict the stability of targeted lithologies in underground complex systems when those are subjected to cyclic TM stress changes over prolonged periods. This research work seeks to understand how grain scale deformation can contribute to the global response of the underground systems and how this response can be controlled to reduce any accompanied induced hazards. An innovative methodology, combining laboratory and numerical experiments, will be applied to extend the understanding of the thermo-sensitive brittle deformation processes in porous rocks. The data will provide information to support field scale operational conditions involving periodic TM stress changes as well as shed light on potential for cascading shallow geohazards.

Objectives
O1: Examine the relationship between microstructural deformation and TM stresses.
O2: Collect, analyse and model TM data together.
O3: Transfer and improve existing DEM code from UDEC to open source and
undertake grain size sensitivity analysis.
O4: Provide relevant data to inform on risks associated to TM stresses in underground geological storage conditions

For more info on the eligibility: https://www.iapetus2.ac.uk/studentships/

Application process:
In the first instance the application process involves completing both the application form and the EDI form below by 7th January 2022 at 5pm. If you are shortlisted, you will be contacted by 17th January 2022 and invited to put in a full application to the university where the PhD is based by 8th February 2022.

For more info on the application process: https://www.iapetus2.ac.uk/how-to-apply/

More information on the PhD opportunity on this flyer: www.alertgeomaterials.eu/data/posts/EGIS2022-IAPETUS_NERC_DTP_ad.pdf

The School of Engineering (EPB) of the Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB) is seeking candidates to a full-time academic position in the field of Geotechnical Engineering, within the BATir department (Building, Architecture and Town Planning).

Increasing urbanization associated with the rapid development of renewable energy require innovative geotechnical solutions for a sustainable use of the subsurface. This context raises new challenges, calling for cutting-edge research in the field of geotechnical engineering.

The successful applicant (M/F) will develop research and education in the field of geotechnical engineering, in the widest sense.

See attached file for more details.

Deadline for application: 10th January 2022

Starting date : 1st October 2022

We are recruiting for an exceptional individual to join our Future Infrastructure and Environment Research Cluster as a Postdoctoral Research Assistant on the research project entitled “ICE-PICK: Installation effects on cyclic axial and lateral performance of displacement piles in chalk”. Funded by the EPSRC this 26 months project aims to use experimental and advanced numerical modelling to improve the efficiency and cost effectiveness of piles driven in soft rocks to support the further development of renewable energy structures offshore. 

Lund University, Sweden, is looking for a highly motivated person to work on a PhD project developing novel experiments and analysis techniques that exploit recent advances in x-ray imaging and diffraction methods to explore deformation mechanisms, force transmission and dynamic effects in granular materials.

See the following link for more details and to apply:  https://lu.varbi.com/what:job/jobID:442700/?lang=en

Deadline is 14 December, 2021
Contact Stephen Hall: stephen.hall@solid.lth.se