PhD Opportunity: Rock-Socketed Anchors for Offshore Renewable Energy

University College Dublin invites applications for a fully funded 4-year PhD in Geotechnical Engineering, starting January 2026. The project will investigate the behaviour and design of rock-socketed anchors for floating offshore renewables, combining laboratory experiments with advanced numerical modelling to improve prediction of long-term performance under cyclic and multi-directional loading. The outcomes will support the cost-effective deployment of floating wind and wave energy on Ireland’s Atlantic coast and beyond.

How to apply: Email a single PDF containing CV, academic transcripts & contact details for two referees to budi.zhao@ucd.ie

Application deadline: 15 October 2025

Informal enquiries welcome at the same address

For further information, see the attached [PDF].

Post-doctoral position in granular physics

The School of Civil Engineering at the University of Sydney is seeking a Postdoctoral Research Associate to join Associate Professor Pierre Rognon’s research team, focusing on the mechanics of granular materials.

The research project aims at reducing energy use while excavating granular materials. It will involve laboratory experiments with a programable robotic arm, X-ray imaging and/or simulations to find out the trajectories of the ground engaging tool that minimise energy dissipation.

To find out the details of the position, contact and how to apply here:

https://www.timeshighereducation.com/unijobs/listing/399043/postdoctoral-research-associate-in-mechanics-of-granular-materials/

13th International Workshop on Bifurcation and Degradation in Geomaterials

Dear colleagues and friends,

It is our pleasure to invite you to the 13th International Workshop on Bifurcation and Degradation in Geomaterials (IWBDG2026) in Vienna, Austria, from 22-25 June 2026, immediately following the International Conference of Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering in Vienna.

Our workshop will follow its well-established format: presentations with ample time for discussion. All contributions will be published in the Springer Series of Geomechanics and Geoengineering.

We kindly ask you to confirm your participation and provide the provisional title of your presentation at your earliest convenience by emailing to: geotech@boku.ac.at with reference to IWBDG2026.

For further information, see the attached [PDF].

Passing of Professor Juan Pestana

The ALERT Geomaterials community is deeply saddened to share that our colleague and friend, Professor Juan Pestana, passed away on September 16, 2025, in Lexington, Massachusetts. Juan was a brilliant professor, an inspiring teacher, and a warm presence who left a lasting impact on our field and on all who knew him.
Please see the attached note for more details about his life, achievements, and the legacy he leaves behind from his colleagues and friends at Berkeley.

For further information, see the attached [PDF].

🚨 We are hiring 2 PhD candidates at UPC-BarcelonaTech! 🚨

Join our Geo2AQUA research group in the MUSSED project to study sediment production and erosion in the Pyrenees. Research topics include soil production and erosion in humid badlands and sediment, production and fluxes driven by torrential flows and shallow landslides.

Why join us?
✅ Be part of a well-established, international research group
✅ Work with long-term field datasets in natural laboratory sites
✅ 4-year full-time contracts
✅ Barcelona as your research base 🌍

📅 Deadline: October 5, 2025
🔗 More info regarding the application here: https://engeomodels.upc.edu/en/news/news-sample

We welcome applications from motivated candidates with backgrounds in civil/environmental/geological engineering or applied geomorphology, and with a strong interest in fieldwork, modelling, and collaborative science.

👉 Feel free to share with anyone who might be interested!

#PhDposition #GeoHazards #Erosion #Geomorphology #UPC #JobsInScience

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

Dear Colleagues,

We are glad to share an update on RootS25 – the 3rd International Workshop on Soil-Vegetation-Atmosphere Interaction, which will be held at the Politecnico di Bari from 6 to 8 November 2025.
The call for abstracts has closed with more than 60 contributions submitted by researchers worldwide, confirming the strong international and interdisciplinary interest in the event. This ensures a rich program of oral and poster presentations, fostering discussion and collaboration across communities.
We also warmly invite you to attend the special lecture by Prof. Lidija Zdravkovic (Imperial College London), entitled “Geotechnical Engineering for a Sustainable Society” (5 November, Aula Magna “Domus Sapientiae” at the Politecnico di Bari). Attendance is free to all.
We look forward to welcoming you to Bari.
For any questions, please contact us at workshop.roots25@gmail.com

Best regards,
On behalf of the RootS’s Scientific Committee

For further information, see the attached [PDF].

Post-Doc in “Scientific Machine Learning and Mechanics for scale-bridging in granular materials”

The appointment is part of the Chair AIM: Artificial Intelligence and Mechanics for scale bridging in complex materials (https://project.inria.fr/aimechanics/). The research will be conducted at Université Grenoble Alpes | Inria (https://www.inria.fr).
We are looking for an excellent candidate in applied mathematics, scientific computing, and computational mechanics to carry fundamental developments in data-driven and machine learning for the discovery of robust and accurate models of granular media. The position provides the opportunity to work on a challenging research topic at the crossroad of AI, physics, and mechanics.

For further information, see the attached [PDF].

PhD positions at Wuhan University, China

This is a full-time, on-site Doctoral Student position located in Wuhan, China, at Wuhan University. The Doctoral Student will be responsible for conducting research, attending seminars and conferences, collaborating with faculty members, writing high-quality research papers, and completing their dissertation. There are two vacancies. The research will be related to (1) AI-assisted non-destructive testing in rock masses and soils, and (2) application of the high-power microwave technique in the fracturing of rocks and strengthening of soils.

Vacancies: Two international students with full scholarships from the government. Outstanding students may also be eligible for an additional allowance to support their living and studies.

For further information, see the attached [PDF].

Getting to Centre Paul Langevin: Shuttle Times & Bus Departure

Based on the registration list, transport has been arranged between Modane and Centre Paul Langevin (Aussois):

Sunday, 28 September – Arrival (departure point Train Station)

  • 17:00 → 3 shuttle taxis (8 seats each)
  • 20:10 → 1 bus

Saturday, 4 October – Departure (departure point Centre Paul Langevin)

  • 13:00 → 1 bus

Please be at the departure point on time. Seating is assigned according to the registration list.

We look forward to seeing you soon, ALERT Geomaterials