3 PhD positions in offshore geotechnical engineering at the Gustave Eiffel University, Nantes, France

Gustave Eiffel University is looking for 3 highly motivated PhD candidates to work on the numerical and physical modeling in offshore geotechnical engineering :

  • Investigation of pile driving resistance in glauconite sand using centrifuge testing
  • Physical and numerical modeling of the installation of wingeg offshore pile anchors by vibro-driving 
  • Physical and numerical modeling of suction anchors for floating wind turbines under complex seabed drainage conditions

The application deadline is at the end of April 2025

Applicants must be available to start around 1st October 2022

Here are the links to these 3 subjects: position 1, position 2, and position 3.

Contact: matthieu.blanc@univ-eiffel.fr

PhD position at ENPC in Geotechnical Engineering: Field investigation of an in-situ soil treatment solution for clay shrink-swell inhibition

PhD position

Field investigation of an in-situ soil treatment solution for clay shrink-swell inhibition

A new PhD position is available at “Ecole nationale des ponts et chaussées”, France (ENPC).

This PhD subject is part of a research project (IRGAK) funded by ADEME (French Agency for Ecological Transition), coordinated by ESTP (https://www.estp.fr/en) and ENPC (https://ecoledesponts.fr/en). The project IRGAK aims to develop an in-situ soil treatment solution to inhibit the volume change of clayey soils during seasonal wetting-drying cycles. The PhD candidate will perform field-scale experiments to investigate the influence of the soil treatment solution on the hydro-chemo-mechanical behaviour of natural expansive clays. The developed solution must meet scientific, environmental, economic, and practical requirements. In particular, the solution must significantly and durably inhibit heave and subsidence associated with soil moisture variations, be harmless for the environment, remain considerably less expensive than underpinning works, and be easy to implement.

The candidate should have graduated in geotechnics, geomechanics, or environmental engineering, demonstrate laboratory capabilities, and be interested in scientific development and engineering applications.

For further information, please see the attached PDF.

2 PhD positions at The University of Sydney

PhD Title

A Heterarchical Model for Soil Erosion from Internal Flow to Global Failure

Supervisors: Dr Benjy Marks, Prof Itai Einav and Prof Alexander Scheuermann
Institution: SciGEM, School of Civil Engineering, The University of Sydney

Synopsis

This project will develop a new approach to understand soil erosion in earth dams, from internal mechanisms to large-scale failures. It fills a significant gap in existing models, which cannot fully represent the complex, multi-scale processes of internal erosion. This approach combines detailed laboratory and field experiments with sophisticated computational modelling. It will create a reliable tool for predicting and mitigating dam failures, improving safety, resource management, and sustainability in water infrastructure.

We are seeking two highly motivated and talented PhD candidates to join the team for this project. An ideal candidate will have a strong academic background in geotechnical engineering, civil engineering, computational mechanics, fluid mechanics, or a related field. Experience with numerical modelling techniques (e.g., DEM, FEM), computational fluid dynamics (CFD), and/or experimental methods (e.g., X-ray radiography, TDR) is highly desirable. Successful candidates will possess excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, a strong work ethic, and the ability to work independently and as part of a team. The project will involve a combination of numerical modelling, laboratory experiments, and potentially field work, requiring a candidate with a diverse skillset and a willingness to learn. You will receive comprehensive training in heterarchical modelling, advanced experimental techniques, and data analysis. You will also have the opportunity to collaborate with leading experts in the field and to present your research findings at international conferences.

Research Environment

With this PhD, you will join the Sydney Centre in Geomechanics and Mining Materials (SciGEM) at the School of Civil Engineering, The University of Sydney. SciGEM is leading research in applied granular physics internationally. It is a vibrant research environment with a tight-knit team of researchers: a dozen academics, several post-doctoral fellows and about 20 doctoral research students. You will directly benefit from the vast expertise in physics, geomechanics, geotechnical engineering, experimental methods and simulation techniques. You will also directly benefit from SciGEM’s cutting edge experimental facilities.

Your role

Under the guidance of your supervisors, you will be expected to:

  • Design and conduct experiments
  • Collect and analyse data
  • Develop mathematical models of excavation energy losses
  • Communicate your findings in domestic and international conferences, and via publication in scientific, peer-reviewed journals

Essential qualities

This project is to be undertaken by someone who is:

  • Passionate about it
  • Willing to learn
  • Able and willing to work in a team
  • Naturally proactive and independent thinker
  • Holds a 1st class Honours or Masters or equivalent degree in mathematics, physics, computer science or engineering

Desirable skills:

The project will involve the following skills. Your experience in any of them is desirable, your willingness to acquire them is essential:

  • Applied physics and mechanics
  • Laboratory experimentation
  • Development of new imaging techniques
  • Coding using Python
  • Writing using LaTeX

Scholarship

The HDR scholarship is $41,753 per year for three years. HDR candidates are encouraged to take on additional paid teaching activities (e.g. tutoring) which usually amount to an extra $5k to $10k per year

To apply

Send your application by email to Dr Benjy Marks benjy.marks@sydney.edu.au including:

  • Your CV
  • Your transcripts (Honours and/or Master)
  • A cover letter explaining:
    • what makes you want to work on this topic,
    • what make you a good fit for this topic,
    • a short research proposal (~half page) describing your vision of the research to be done.

PhD Position on coupled hydro-mechanical (HM) modeling at INERIS / University of Lorraine, France

Applications are welcomed for a PhD position at INERIS and GeoRessources laboratory, University of Lorraine (Nancy, France).

The induced and/or pre-existing fracturing of rock mass raises major issues of integrity, performance, and safety in many underground and subsurface operations, such as mining, underground storages, and deep geothermal energy. The aim of this thesis is to conduct 3D numerical hydro-mechanical modeling to characterise this induced fracturation in clay formation and its evolution in time under the effect of various loading conditions. He/she will notably collaborate to the CIGEO research project of Andra.

The deadline for any potential applicants to contact the supervisory team is April 1st, 2025

More information in the attachment.

9 PhD positions at Ecole des Ponts ParisTech

Ecole des Ponts ParisTech is looking for 9 PhD candidates within the framework of an EU MSCA COFUND project: https://www.miscea-program.fr/en/home/.

Among these, 5 PhD  positions are open at Navier Laboratory:
– Multiphysics simulation of 3D concrete printing process: from printability to structural resilience
– Design and monitoring of tunnels facing energy and numerical transitions
– Offshore wind turbine monopile foundation: experimental and numerical study of soil-structure interaction
– Experimental Investigation of Caprock Sealing in Geological Formations: Implications for Natural White Hydrogen Accumulations and Green Hydrogen Storage
– Eco-innovative shape memory architected dampers for the seismic protection of infrastructures

Details about the application process can be found on Euraxess:
https://euraxess.ec.europa.eu/jobs/search?f[0]=keywords%3Amiscea

2 funded PhD positions at the University of Luxembourg

The research group Computational Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering- COMPSOIL is currently seeking 2 motivated PhD candidates to join our team and contribute to cutting-edge research on:

1. Experimental and Numerical Assessment of Deep Foundations Under Combined Loading in the context of offshore geostructures.

2. Thermo-Hydro-Mechanical (THM) behavior of geomaterials in the context of climate change and geoenergy resources.


Candidate Requirements:

– Proven skills in laboratory testing and development of experimental setup

– Familiarity with numerical modeling in geotechnics

Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. However, the screening of received applications has already begun, and early submission is encouraged. Both EU and non-EU students are encouraged to apply.

For more details, please click here for the PhD position or here for the Postdoctoral position.

For further information, please feel free to contact arash.lavasan@uni.lu.

Permanent academic position at Navier Laboratory

Université Gustave Eiffel is opening a permanent academic position in ” poromechanics and numerical modelling” at  Navier Laboratory (Paris, France).

More details more details on the scientific profile sought can be found in the description of the position.

Application file should be submitted here (in French or English).

🗓️Deadline: 14 March 2025.

Contacts:
📬 Prof. Jean-Michel Pereira, Director of Navier Lab., jean-michel.pereira@enpc.fr
📬Prof. Siavash Ghabezloo, Head of the Géotechnics group, siavash.ghabezloo@enpc.fr

ERPE Funded PhD Positions

Dear all,

I hope you are keeping well! I’m writing to advertise a PhD funding under the ERPE partnership. Together with colleagues at Edinburgh University, we offer two PhD topics (attached), both focusing on multi-scale and multi-physics behaviour of granular materials and combining experimental mechanics coupled with X-ray CT imaging (3D and 4D) and DEM modelling. This is a competitive call; only projects with best candidates will be considered for funding. More information on the selection process can be found in the attached documents. 

The deadline for any potential applicants to contact the supervisory team is February 19, 2025. Both UK and international students are encouraged to apply. We also encourage applications from candidates with unconventional career trajectories.