Multiple Postdoc and Ph.D. student positions are open at Tufts University in the Greater Boston Area in the United States. The selected candidates will work with a multidisciplinary team of scientists and engineers at Tufts in collaboration with other universities to contribute to the ongoing studies focusing on “Climate-Resilient and Equitable Infrastructure”. Ideal candidates will have a strong academic background and research experience in a related disciplinary field within civil engineering (e.g., geotechnical, structural engineering) or related geoscience fields. Further, experience and interest in multidisciplinary research projects, including engineering and social science dimensions, are strongly preferred. Experience with modeling tools, geospatial analysis, remote sensing, and AI/ML is also strongly preferred.

Applicants must send their application documents (cover letter, CV, and names and contact info for three references) via email (farshid.vahedifard@tufts.edu). Review of applications will start immediately and continue until October 31, 2023.

A postdoctoral position is open at Centrale Nantes, within the Research Institute in Civil and Mechanical Engineering (GeM) https://gem.ec-nantes.fr. The position comes in the context of the NExT project: ”Understanding failure of frictional interfaces”. Understanding the behavior of dynamic shear cracks and friction evolution is relevant for a wide range of problems in different fields, such as fiber pull-out in the failure of composite materials, bimaterial structures and adhesive joints produced using advanced manufacturing techniques for automotive, electronics and biology applications. Shear ruptures are also relevant to the study of earthquakes occurring as ruptures along faults in the Earth’s crust. Interface roughness controls rupture behavior along interfaces, and it influences a broad class of rupture mechanics issues including dynamic propagation, which results in catastrophic failure.

The postdoctoral position focuses on investigating the role of roughness on shear crack propagation and friction evolution using a combined experimental and numerical approach. This project will enhance our understanding of fundamental physical processes governing failure of materials and interfaces. It will also entail the advancement of experimental and computational mechanics techniques.

The postdoctoral scholar will be supervised in conjunction by Vito Rubino https://www.ec-nantes.fr/m-vito-rubino and Ioannis Stefanou http://coquake.eu/index.php/group. The position is fully funded for 12 months (and can be extended up to 18 months) under the NExT Junior Talent program. Highly‐motivated candidates with the required skills should submit an application (including a CV, cover letter describing interests and qualifications related to the project, and contact details of two references) to Dr. Vito Rubino at vito.rubino@ec-nantes.fr.

More information on this pdf file or on this website.

In the framework of the research project “Soil ageing around offshore wind turbine foundations – from operational response to decommissioning” (SAGE-SAND), we are looking for a motivated and computational mechanics-oriented postdoctoral researcher with an interest in advanced numerical modeling to realistically predict pile drivability and extractability.

This postdoctoral position is part of the research project “Soil ageing around offshore wind turbine foundations – from operational response to decommissioning” (SAGE-SAND) that is co-supervised by different academic partners (KULeuven, UCLouvain, ULiège). The project focuses on foundations for Offshore Wind Turbines (OWT), which are characterized by large installation costs and environmental impact.  In order to improve both of these aspects, the project investigates the evolution during multiple years of soils’ mechanical properties, i.e. soil ageing, and the alternative use of vibratory driving for installation and decommissioning of offshore (mono)piles. Unique full-scale tests with extensive monitoring, advanced laboratory tests, and numerical modeling at multiple spatial scales will provide guidelines for future design. The project has a duration of 3 years and includes large scale in-situ pile tests and monitoring, advanced micromechanical characterization and testing (SEM, X-ray microtomography,…), micromechanical modelling (discrete element method, phase field modelling,…), and nonlinear dynamic modelling of the pile-soil system at the macroscale.

The postdoctoral position focuses on advanced numerical modeling of pile installation and extraction at the macro-scale, accounting for the liquefaction behavior of the soil to realistically predict pile drivability and extractability. The soil-pile system is modeled by means of the Material Point Method (MPM), accounting for dynamic soil-structure interaction and the presence of pore water.

For more information please contact Stijn François (stijn.francois@kuleuven.be) or Hadrien Rattez (UCLouvain, hadrien.rattez@uclouvain.be).

You can apply for this job online no later than October 18, 2023

More information on the application procedure is available on this website: https://www.kuleuven.be/personeel/jobsite/jobs/60258491

To test the safety and feasibility of geological disposal of radioactive waste in deep clay layers under real conditions, SCK CEN started in 1980 with the construction of a laboratory at 225 meters below ground level (HADES). Here, engineers test the safety and feasibility for building and operation of the waste repository: How can we build tunnels and side tunnels? Scientists perform research into the thermo-hydro-mechanical-chemical characteristics of clay and the interaction between the radioactive waste and the surrounding engineered barriers and host clay. How will the clay behave after excavation of the tunnels and the disposal of the waste? What is the impact of the heat-emitting waste on the clay formation? How can we study the stability of the galleries? Apply now for this job offer, and help us answering these questions.. 

More information on that website. Deadline : 17/09/2023

A postdoc position is now open in geomechanics at Department of Geotechnical Engineering of Tongji University, China (ranked 1st for civil engineering by U.S. News and ARWU). The project is on the characterization of the inelastic processes of geomaterials under multi-physics processes (i.e., Thermal-Hydro-Chemo-Mechanical coupling in carbon dioxide sequestration and energy storage systems).

The postdoc will perform independent research under the supervision of Dr. Xianda Shen. This is a two-year fixed term contract with possible extensions if needed and can be started immediately. Annual salary is around EUR 40,000 with extra bonus based on performance and contributions to the department.

Interested applicants can forward a single PDF consisting of a 1-page cover letter, a full CV, and contact details of two references to Dr. Xianda Shen (xshen@tongji.edu.cn). The review of candidates will begin on October 1st, 2023, and applications will be accepted until the position is filled. For any additional information, see the attached pdf, visit the lab website (https://xiandashen.github.io./), or please write a message to xshen@tongji.edu.cn.

The Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering (D-BAUG, www.baug.ethz.ch) at ETH Zurich invites applications for the above-mentioned position.

The new professor is expected to develop a strong international research programme within the areas of underground construction, tunnelling, rock mechanics and geotechnical engineering, with the main focus on understanding, modelling, and developing the fundamentals of mechanics for underground construction. The new professor is expected to deal with significant challenges, which include complex underground structures with demanding boundary conditions (e.g. future underground cities, underground energy storage, geothermal energy, nuclear waste depositories), automation and monitoring in underground construction (mechanisation, interactions between construction processes), ground response to tunnelling and surface settlements, and underground construction in difficult geotechnical and geological conditions, including large rock deformations and pressures, thermo-poro-mechanical and chemical couplings.

The successful candidate is expected to be an established leader in one or more of these areas, ideally combining outstanding academic and industrial/consulting experience. She or he holds a PhD degree in geotechnical engineering or geosciences, with an outstanding research portfolio that combines strengths in numerical and physical modelling, advanced experimental and analytical methods, fully coupled thermo-poro-mechanical and chemical interactions (multi-physics), field monitoring and remote sensing. A strong commitment to teaching at the undergraduate (in German or English) and graduate (in English) level in the Civil Engineering curriculum is expected. Academic achievements should be complemented by the ability to lead a research group and generate external funding. The position will be filled at the full professor level. The professorship is embedded in the Institute of Geotechnical Engineering (IGT) at D-BAUG. IGT comprises four complementary chairs and an independent group, covering a wide range of fields in geotechnical engineering. Switzerland is an outstanding hub for tunnelling and underground construction, with excellent collaboration opportunities within ETH Zurich.

ETH Zurich is an equal opportunity and family-friendly employer, values diversity, and is responsive to the needs of dual-career couples.

Please apply online: www.facultyaffairs.ethz.ch

Applications should include a curriculum vitae, a list of publications and projects, a statement of future research and teaching interests, a description of the leadership philosophy, three key publications, a description of the three most important achievements, and a certificate of the highest degree. The letter of application should be addressed to the President of ETH Zurich, Prof. Dr. Joël Mesot. The closing date for applications is 30 November 2023.

The Centre for Offshore Foundations Systems (COFS) at the University of Western Australia (UWA) is seeking a research fellow with a strong background in geotechnical engineering to support their research activities in ocean renewable energy. This is an opportunity to work with a large team of internationally recognised researchers, with access to state of the art experimental and numerical facilities and engaging strongly with industry, regulatory and government bodies in the ocean renewable energy space. This opportunity is a collaboration with the Norwegian Geotechnical Institute (NGI) in Oslo.

More information on this attached pdf file.

A PhD scholarship on “Modelling the impact of mineral composition on the hydromechanical properties of rocks: from hydrothermal alteration to the large-scale behaviour of reservoirs” is now open at University of Lyon (ENTPE).

More information on the attached pdf file.

During this PhD, you will undertake rock deformation and fluid injection experiments at laboratory scale to (a) understand the controls on and micro-mechanisms involved in failure and fault reactivation, and (b) optimise operational controls to minimise micro-seismicity.

Supervision: You will be based in the Lyell Centre Geoenergy Group at Heriot-Watt University under the supervision of Dr. Alexis Cartwright-Taylor, Dr. Elma Charalampidou and Dr. Nathaniel Forbes-Inskip and will collaborate with external supervisors Prof. Ian Main and Dr. Ian Butler at the University of Edinburgh and Dr. Maria-Daphne Mangriotis at the National Oceanography Centre.

Funding: The scholarship will cover tuition fees and provide an annual stipend (£18,622 in 2023/24), for the 42 months duration of the project, as well as research support and travel costs. Thereafter, students will be expected to pay a continuing affiliation fee (currently £130) to cover their continued registration whilst writing up their thesis. 

Closing date: 17 September 2023

The link for further information is here:https://www.hw.ac.uk/uk/schools/energy-geoscience-infrastructure-society/postgraduate-research/effective-management-of-induced-seismicity-for-the-net-zero.htm

Subject Description

Mining and Rock Engineering comprises mining technology, rock engineering and rock mechanics, including rock mass properties, design of rock excavations and tunneling as well as planning and production processes related to both mining and civil engineering.

Project description

The MRE group at LTU is expanding its research activities to encompass areas that are becoming significantly important to the Swedish mining industry and also globally. One such challenge is to seek alternative methods of underground mining with increasing depth. On a general note, the traditional mining methods are becoming unstainable given the ever-increasing demands for greener, socially, and environmentally sustainable mining practices, deep mining depths and compliance to international transparency standards. In the light of this, a fully funded postdoctoral position is created to investigate new ways of underground mining, under the theme Alternative Mining Methods. The position is jointly funded by Boliden Minerals AB and Luleå University of Technology through Sustainable Use of Natural Resources (SUN) program. The post doctor will work closely with the mining industry in Sweden to execute this project. Visits to mines in selected countries will complement the research. The case studies will focus on Boliden’s mining scenarios.

Further information

Postdoctoral position is for two years with placement in Luleå. Starting as soon as possible in autumn 2023.

For further information about the position, please contact: Associate Professor David Saiang. Tel: (+46)920-49 3407 or (+46)72-530 1072. Email: david.saiang@ltu.se

More information on that website: https://www.ltu.se/ltu/Lediga-jobb?l=en&rmpage=job&rmjob=7018&rmlang=UK

Final date for applications: 31 August, 2023