Proposal for a Master’s internship: Optimal sensor placement for parabolic PDEs – a PINN approach

The aim of the project is to propose a measure of the degree of observability of PDEs without resorting to an explicit model reduction technique (i.e. by constructing a model leading to finite-dimensional approximations) and by restricting ourselves to linear or nonlinear parabolic PDEs. Parabolic PDEs cover a wide variety of physics problems, such as the heat equation, the advection-diffusion equation, or the Burgers equation (fluid mechanics, gas dynamics, road traffic, etc.). For this purpose, we will explore the use of PINNs (Physics-Informed Neural Networks [4]). The PINN approach is a new class of neural networks that hybridizes machine learning and physical laws. We will here focus on the advection-diffusion equation (with a source estimation problem) and the Burgers equation with kinematic viscosity (with a state estimation problem).

For further information please see that attached file.

Postdoctoral Researcher in Geotechnical Engineering at SCUT (China), in Collaboration with UGA and NU (France)

We invite applications for a Postdoctoral Researcher position at the School of Marine Science and Engineering, South China University of Technology (SCUT), ranked #187 in the US News 2024 rankings. The successful candidate will contribute to an innovative research project titled: “Seismic Analysis of Offshore Wind Turbines Considering Soil-Foundation Interaction: Deterministic and Probabilistic Approaches.” This project is in collaboration with Grenoble Alpes University (UGA) and Nantes University (NU) in France. The position is full-time and offered for two years. Further details are provided in the attached file: Postdoctoral information.

The application deadline has been extended to November 27, 2024.

Postdoctoral position at the University of Twente

The Chair of Soil Micro Mechanics of the Civil Engineering and Management Department at the University of Twente is seeking a full-time postdoctoral researcher (24 months) with research interests in geomechanics, geophysics, multiphysics, and multi-scale methods (e.g., discrete element method and finite element method) to join the University of Twente (Netherlands). You will work on multi-scale modeling of coupled thermo-hydro-mechanically processes in fault gouges leading to earthquake ruptures.

The post-doc position is part of the “FastSlip” project funded by the DeepNL programme of the Dutch Research Council (NWO). You will join a multidisciplinary team of leading experts in the fields of Granular Mechanics, Earth sciences, and Tribology from the University of Twente (UT) and Utrecht University (UU).

Detailed information regarding the postdoctoral position can be found here: postdoctoral.pdf

Post-doctoral Fellowships in Machine Learning/Numerical Analysis in Geotechnical Engineering at Shandong University

Post-doctoral Fellowship positions in Machine Learning/Numerical Analysis in Geotechnical Engineering are open at the Geotechnical Engineering Research Group, Shandong University, Jinan, China. Candidates should have graduated with a Ph.D. within the last three years and have experience in machine learning/numerical analysis in geotechnical engineering. Successful candidates will engage in interdisciplinary research in applying machine learning/numerical analysis in transportation geotechnics or offshore geotechnical engineering. Interested applicants are encouraged to contact Prof. Kai Yao https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Kai-Yao by emailing yaokai@sdu.edu.cn

The salary package could be referred to https://www.en.sdu.edu.cn/info/1169/7271.htm

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Postdoctoral Openings in Geomechanics at Tongji University

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., drainage and imbibition process of
hydrogen storage in underground porous media, breakage mechanisms of
granular materials, and Thermal-Hydro-Chemo-Mechanical coupling in
carbon dioxide sequestration).

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 November 1st, 2024, 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.

Postdoctoral position at RECOVER INRAE Aix-Marseille University

Postdoc position: Flow kinematics in transparent replicas of geomaterial samples using innovative 3D printing/molding techniques.

The research unit RECOVER from INRAE Aix-Marseille University is pleased to invite applications of talented and motivated candidates for a postdoctorate position (24-30 months) dedicated to the experimental characterization and direct flow visualisation in optically transparent porous media replicating as closely as possible the microstructure of real porous material and geomaterial samples scanned via X-ray tomography. The replicas will be obtained by elaborating innovative 3D printing and molding techniques. Achieving such transparent replica of real soil samples will allow for in-depth investigation of the transport processes in complex 3D porous microstructures.

The postdoctoral position is part of project KiWiPoM (2024-2028) supported by the French National Research Agency (ANR): https://recover.paca.hub.inrae.fr/nos-projets/kiwipom

Detailed informations regarding the position are available here: https://nextcloud.inrae.fr/s/Zazf3LjgBWicSjw

Keywords: Experimental, 3D printing, (sacrificial) molding, flow visualization, transport process, porous media

Inquiries and applications can be sent by email to mathieu.souzy@inrae.fr

Advert for a phd and postdoc position at EPFL

The Laboratory of Soil Mechanics (LMS) at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL) in Lausanne, is seeking a motivated phd candidate and a postdoctoral researcher to support the development of innovative tools for improving representative multi-physical modeling of geological CO2 storage (GCS).

LMS is a research lab directed by Prof. Lyesse Laloui that targets real-world challenges related to climate change, global energy demand, sustainable urban design and construction and safe and environmentally friendly waste disposal systems, through the development of unique analytical tools and innovative technologies.

The objective of this project is to develop a novel methodology through data-driven Machine Learning (ML) approaches for improving successful upscaling of subsurface engineering. A unique dataset from a metre-scale demonstrator of GCS in EPFL will enable fine training of the ML algorithms and the results will be compared to more conventional constitutive modeling approaches. Implementation of physical laws and multi-physics constrains may be considered for evaluating their impact on the accuracy of the results and computational cost. The methodology aims to significantly improve computational time and reliability of multi-scale modeling for the prediction of the macroscopic mechanical behavior of the involved geomaterials in GCS (caprock and reservoir).

The overall approach of the project aims to bridge lab- to field-scales in the context of a wider range of geotechnical/geomechanical subsurface applications (e.g. radioactive waste storage, hydrogen storage, hydrocarbon extraction etc.).

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Open Geotechnical Engineering Faculty Position – Utah State University

Colleagues,

Utah State University’s Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) invites applications to fill a tenure-track faculty position in Geotechnical Engineering. It is expected that this position will be filled at the Assistant or Associate Professor level; however, outstanding candidates will be considered at all levels. Candidates with research, teaching and/or industry experience in all areas of geotechnical engineering are encouraged to apply. Some notable areas of interest include: bio-geotechnics, dams and levees, deep excavations, geotechnical earthquake engineering, energy geotechnics, environmental geotechnics, foundation engineering, ground improvement, transportation geotechnics, and underground construction. Applicants who leverage a combination of analytical, computational (including machine learning), experimental (lab or field) and/or numerical methods in their research will be preferred. Professional registration and prior academic or industry experience are also desirable.

The search committee will begin considering applications on October 30, 2024, and continue until the position is filled. For full consideration, applications should be submitted prior to that date. It is anticipated that the successful candidate will begin their appointment on August 1, 2025.

Full position announcement and application information are provided at the link below:

https://careers-usu.icims.com/jobs/8359/associate-or-assistant-professor-in-geotechnical-engineering/job

Candidates can contact brady.cox@usu.edu for additional information if needed. 

Postdoctoral Researcher in Geotechnical Engineering at SCUT (China), in Collaboration with UGA and NU (France)

We invite applications for a Postdoctoral Researcher position at the School of Marine Science and Engineering, South China University of Technology (SCUT), ranked #187 in the US News 2024 rankings. The successful candidate will contribute to an innovative research project titled: “Seismic Analysis of Offshore Wind Turbines Considering Soil-Foundation Interaction: Deterministic and Probabilistic Approaches.” This project is in collaboration with Grenoble Alpes University (UGA) and Nantes University (NU) in France. The position is full-time and offered for two years. Further details are provided in the attached PDF.

Postdoc-Position-at-SCUT-in-collaboration-with-UGA-and-NU-20241014-2.pdf

Faculty Position in Geomechanics at the UMN

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The Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geo- Engineering at the University of Minnesota seeks applications for a tenure-track faculty position in the area of geomechanics focused on experimental methods, although all areas of geomechanics will be considered, including but not limited to: fracture mechanics, constitutive characterization, drilling mechanics, chemo-hydro-mechanical aspects, reservoir mechanics, imaging technologies, and microseismic sensing. We are interested in applicants with strong core fundamentals in science and engineering that allow them to move easily across disciplinary boundaries and work collaboratively to solve challenging problems at the frontier of our discipline, such as mineral carbon storage, CO2 sequestration, enhanced geothermal systems, energy geotechnics, and extraterrestrial mining. Successful candidates will be expected to maintain a strong externally-funded research program. Teaching responsibilities include existing undergraduate and graduate courses in geoengineering, as well as development of new courses in the candidate’s speciality areas. An earned doctorate is required at the time of the appointment. The position is intended for applicants at the Assistant Professor level but exceptional applicants at the Associate Professor or Professor level can be considered.

Applications must be submitted online at https://z.umn.edu/geomechanics

Include a (i) cover letter, (ii) CV, (iii) contact information for three references, and statements
on (iv) research experience and interests, (v) teaching experience and interests, (vi) experience fostering diversity and inclusion in the classroom and research. The review of applications will begin November 15, 2024. Applications will continue to be accepted until the position is filled. Expected appointment is Fall 2025. The Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geo- Engineering (CEGE) at UMN is dedicated to conducting cutting-edge theoretical, computational, and experimental research in all areas related to Civil, Environmental, and Geo- Engineering. The department features state-of-the-art experimental facilities, including the Lacabanne Rock Mechanics Laboratory, the Waves and Imaging Laboratory, the Pavement Mechanics Laboratory, and the Galambos Structural Engineering Laboratory. CEGE is one of twelve departments within the College of Science and Engineering, which offers outstanding opportunities for interdisciplinary research due to the unique combination of mathematics, physical sciences, and engineering in one college. The department is home to the DOE-funded Center on Geo-processes in Mineral Carbon Storage and is affiliated with the Saint Anthony Falls Laboratory. Core facilities include the Minnesota Nano Center and Characterization Facility. The college has a strong data science initiative. The University of Minnesota is an equal opportunity educator and employer fully committed to a culturally and academically diverse faculty. Candidates who will further expand the diversity of the academic community through teaching, research, and service are particularly encouraged to apply.