Two-year postdoctoral research project on TANN and constitutive modeling

Please find attached a proposal for a two-year postdoctoral research project, in collaboration with La Rochelle University, ENSTA | IP Paris, and INRAE in Aix-en-Provence.
The proposed topic is:
Constitutive laws for partially saturated granular materials via thermodynamics-based artificial neural networks trained on GPU DEM-LBM simulations.

For further information, see the attached [PDF].

Special Session on: “Nature-based solution for sustainable geotechnical systems” in ICMPG 2026

The session will be focused on special and emerging topics regarding the soil-root mechanical and hydromechanical interactions, with applications in different kinds of civil and geotechnical engineering (like tree stability assessment, slopes and landfills analysis, etc.), by considering experimental 1g and centrifuge modelling, as well as real scale testing/monitoring.

The session will be organized by Andrea Galli (Politecnico di Milano), Anthony Leung (The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology)
and Enrique Romero (Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya UPC / CIMNE)

Abstract submission on ISSMGE Conference Review Platform
https://www.issmge.org/publications/review-platform/conferences/icpmg2026
(Deadline: 31-07-2025, 23:59:59 UTC)

For further information, see the attached [PDF].

PhD student position Modeling and Engineering Risk and Complexity (Napoli, Italy

PhD call – 4 years – € 19,000 yearly
Deadline: 27/08/2025 – 14:00 CET
https://www.ssmeridionale.it/avcp/bando-di-concorso-xli-ciclo-dottorato-di-ricerca-della-scuola-superiore-meridionale/
A call for applications for 10 Doctoral Programs has been announced by the Scuola Superiore Meridionale (SSM) in Naples (Italy). Specifically, the MERC program (Modeling and Engineering Risk and Complexity) emphasises an interdisciplinary approach to studying and managing complex systems, designing and engineering resilient systems, and analysing and managing risks and cascading effects. Within this context, geotechnical methods can be utilised to address hazard assessments related to landslides, seismic site responses, and other issues. Detailed hazard assessments can be further integrated into risk analyses for structures and lifelines to evaluate both their serviceability and ultimate state. This can also lead to the development of risk mitigation strategies through a decision support system.

For further information, see the attached [PDF].

PhD student position in Modelling Erosion in Sensitive Clay Slopes at Chalmers in Sweden

We are looking for a PhD candidate fascinated in modelling erosion processes in sensitive clay slopes. The highly sensitive clays, called quick clays, can change from solid to liquid with small environmental perturbations. We want to be able to understand how a changing environment will accelerate toe erosion thus affecting the stability of sensitive clay slopes, probably triggering catastrophic failures. We offer access to unique experimental data and computational tools developed by our research team for addressing a timely societally relevant problem.

For details, see:
https://www.chalmers.se/en/about-chalmers/work-with-us/vacancies/?rmpage=job&rmjob=14057&rmlang=UK

For further information, see the attached [PDF].

PhD student position in Characterisation of the Micromechanics of Quick Clays at Chalmers

We are looking for a PhD candidate fascinated by the response of quick clays that can change from solid to liquid with small environmental perturbations. The aim is to unravel the mechanisms, and time scales involved at particle scale, for the formation and failure of quick clays. A novel combination of miniaturised thermal-hydro-mechanical experiments and particle level modelling will be pursued to unravel the unique mechanisms that make quick clays so hazardous and at the same time so special. The originality of the experiments is in the combination of X-ray based scattering and imaging methods to monitor the changes at the particle scale during testing.

For application process and details, see
https://www.chalmers.se/en/about-chalmers/work-with-us/vacancies/?rmpage=job&rmjob=14061&rmlang=UK

For further information, see the attached [PDF].

Course on Modeling of Localized Inelastic Deformation, Prague, 4-6 and 8-10 September 2025

Starting from 2025, this traditional course taught by Milan Jirasek will be split in two parts that can be attended independently.

The first part (Sep 4-6) provides an overview of modeling approaches used in the mechanics of inelastic materials and structures, in particular in plasticity and damage mechanics, with brief comments on fracture mechanics.

The second part (Sep 8-10) focuses on the objective description of highly localized deformation modes such as cracks or shear bands, using regularized models (e.g., nonlocal, gradient-enriched, phase-field, micromorphic).

The course is intended for graduate students at the doctoral level, but it can be equally useful to motivated master students, post-doctoral researchers, or senior researchers who are not specialists in this field.

For further details see https://mech.fsv.cvut.cz/~milan/course2025.html

For further information, see the attached [PDF].

International Workshop RootS25 – Soil-Vegetation-Atmosphere Interaction: DEADLINE EXTENSION 20/07

Dear all,

We are pleased to inform you that the deadline for abstract submission for the 3rd International Workshop RootS25 – Soil-Vegetation-Atmosphere Interaction has been extended to 20 July 2025.
We encourage all interested participants to take advantage of this opportunity to join us at the Politecnico di Bari from 6th to 8th November 2025.
All details regarding the workshop, including the updated deadline and submission guidelines, are available in the Bulletin (attached) and on the Call for Contribution page at www.roots-25.com.
For any questions, feel free to contact us at workshop.roots25@gmail.com, and don’t forget to follow us on Instagram @workshop.roots25 for updates.
We look forward to receiving your abstracts and to welcoming you in Bari!

On behalf of the Scientific Committee of RootS25

For further information, see the attached [PDF].

ALERT Poster Session 2025

The ALERT Poster session will be held on Monday September 29th during the ALERT Workshop.

To participate to the poster session, please submit your abstracts (both word/openoffice and pdf files are required) by email to the coordinators Nadia Benahmed (nadia.benahmed@inrae.fr) and Antoine Wautier (antoine.wautier@inrae.fr) using the attached abstract form (Template).

This year we are innovating by adding some poster lightning sessions in the course of the three days of the workshop. All posters will be given a 1min (mandatory) slot before the coffee breaks to advertise for their poster.

As last years, PhD candidates that have not yet defended their PhD at the time of the poster session can participate to the poster prize competition (€500) (all rules here). For those wishing to participate to the poster prize competition, please send your poster (in pdf format) at the same time as your abstract. For further details regarding poster prize rules please refere to: https://alertgeomaterials.eu/data/poster_prize/poster%20prize%20rules.pdf

The deadline for the submission of the abstract is the September 1st, 2025. The slots for the lightning session will be attributed on a “first submitted first served” principle, so don’t wait for the last minute to submit your abstract.

For the lightning sessions, you can send a single slide to support your speech. Creativity is welcome, and overcrowded slides should be avoided !

Registration for the ALERT Workshop and School 2025 is OPEN!

Dear ALERT Community,

We are pleased to announce that registration is now open for the 2025 ALERT Geomaterials Workshop and Doctoral School! Registration deadline: September 1st, 2025.

You can find the preliminary programme for both the Workshop and the Doctoral School [here].

In line with last year’s edition, we are once again offering a remote participation option for the Doctoral School, priced the same as on-site attendance. Please note that this option allows passive attendance only—participants will be able to watch the presentations but will not be able to ask questions.

As decided by the ALERT Bureau, the following participants are eligible for one free night of accommodation (in a double room):

  • PhD students attending the Doctoral School from ALERT member institutions
  • Retired researchers attending the Workshop from ALERT member institutions

Please carefully read the instructions in the registration form. Once you fill in the form and click the “Register” button, a pop-up will prompt you to save your invoice as a PDF—please make sure to save it for your records. You will also receive a confirmation email with your registration details. If you are affiliated with an ALERT member institution, your institutional representative will receive a copy of your registration as well.

👉Click here to register for the ALERT Workshop and Doctoral School 2025

Please note that accommodation at the CNRS Centre Paul Langevin in Aussois will be allocated in the order of registration. As the number of rooms is limited, we encourage you to register early.

For travel details, please refer to the instructions on how to get to Aussois.

If you need to modify or cancel your registration, please contact ioannis.stefanou@ensta.fr and Mathilde.Flechon@caes.cnrs.fr with your invoice number at least one week before the event.

Please note that participants who fail to attend without cancellation will be invoiced for the cost of the reserved room and meals.

We look forward to welcoming you in Aussois!