PhD positions in snow avalanche dynamics – SLF, Davos – ETH Zürich – EPF Lausanne

Project information

Your research is part of the SNSF funded project “The pulsing nature of powder snow avalanches”, and aims to unravel the origin of wave phenomena observed at the interface between the transitional and the dense basal layers of powder snow avalanches, to understand the factors controlling their development and, ultimately, to improve the assessment of avalanche pressure on obstacles to take into account the impulsive load these waves exert. This research has the potential to improve avalanche risk management in high mountain regions, as well as to be similarly relevant for granular flow and particle-laden gravity currents, such as pyroclastic flows, or turbidity currents.

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PhD Position at Mines Paris

Optimization of shallow geothermal energy: from underground to building

More information on this pdf file, and an overall view of the PhD positions is available on https://the-transition-institute.minesparis.psl.eu/formation-et-doctorat/doctorat/ and https://www.minesparis.psl.eu/Formation/Doctorat/Propositions-de-sujets-de-these/.

Supervisors: Emad Jahangir, TRAN Cong-Toan, Ahmed Rouabhi
Contact: emad.jahangir@mines-paristech.fr

Post-doc position at Charles University in the field of THM analysis of unsaturated and heated soil cyclic loading

International Postdoctoral Fellowship – Earth and Environmental Sciences

Topic: In many geotechnical problems either saturated or unsaturated soils are subjected to a cyclic coupled thermo-hydro-mechanical (THM) loading. A prominent example are energy piles, increasingly in demand in the context of renewable energy development. Despite its practical relevance, the complex behaviour of medium plasticity clays under coupled THM loading has not been sufficiently investigated and is thus not fully understood yet. The available constitutive models are mainly restricted to monotonic THM processes. Therefore, a thorough experimental investigation of a medium-plastic clay under coupled THM loading is planned and constitutive models will be developed based on the performed experiments. Enhanced models will be adopted in numerical simulations of energy piles.

The Faculty of Science, Charles University (Prague, Czechia) invites applications for a Post-doctoral position in the Geology Section for the project “International mobility of research, technical and administrative staff at the Charles University” reg. n. CZ.02.2.69/0.0/0.0/18_053/0016976.

Position duration, starting date and remuneration:
The position duration is 6 months, starting on November 1, 2022 and ending on April 30, 2023. The gross monthly salary is 62 237 CZK (approx. 2 527 EUR) including health insurance and social insurance coverage. The job status is full-time – 40 hours per week.

The advertisement can be seen on this pdf file.

Post-doc position on multiphase porous media at Westlake University

Job Description

Position: Postdoctoral fellow (1) in Key Laboratory of Coastal Environment and Resources of Zhejiang Province (KLaCER)

This position is for an exciting joint project dealing with the complex physics of porous media involving different phases: ice, water, gas and solid grains. The position involves support from the KLaCER as well as 3 distinct research groups in terms of state-of-the-art experimental equipment, simulation software developed in house and ample experience in the modelling and interpretation of data. Some open questions to be explored during this project are: i) How to properly characterize multiphase flow in porous media, including how to properly define quantities such as permeability, in complex cases; ii) A thorough study on the phase transition thermodynamics of ice/liquid water/vapor inside porous media, including an exploration on how the critical temperature is affected by the pore structure; and iii) Deformation/rheology of porous media hosting more than one fluid (e.g., gassy soil or unsaturated soil), including how the porous media interacts with different pore fluids. Giving the broad reach of this project, individual postdocs can choose their own sub project according to their research preferences and capabilities. Due to the multidisciplinary nature of this project, applicants from a broad selection of disciplines are invited to apply with a preference given to the following backgrounds: civil or environmental engineering, mechanics and physics. This is an ambitious project offering significant training opportunities for newly graduated PhDs with significant professional grow potential.

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Two research assistant positions at TU Clausthal

Two positions are open from the 01. October 2022 at the Chair for Geomechanics and multiphysics Systems (GemS) of the Technical University Clausthal as research assistant (m/f/d) (each position is 100 %, E13 TV-L) initially limited to three years full-time. As part of your work, you have the opportunity to pursue a PhD or Habilitation at TU Clausthal.

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PhD Position at the University of Strathclyde

A 4-year PhD studentship is available at the University of Strathclyde. This includes payment of home tuition fees for UK applicants and EU applicants with pre-settled or settled status and an enhanced stipend of £19,602 for academic year 2022/23, rising each year in line with UKRI rates. 

This project is investigating the use of colloidal silica grout (which forms a hydrogel) in the long-term sealing of boreholes in the ground, to prevent subsequent upward fluid migration from rocks at depth to the surface. More details in the advert attached.

PhD position at University of Oxford

A PhD position focusing on finite element modelling of offshore wind turbine foundations in sand (considering cyclic loading and partial drainage) is available at the Department of Engineering Science, University of Oxford, UK.

For details see this advertisement: https://eng.ox.ac.uk/study/research-studentships/research-studentship-in-offshore-wind/

Application deadline: 27 May 2022

Postdoctoral Opportunities in Geotechnical Research Group at PolyU-HK

1. Research areas (one of the following) :
(1) Multiscale/multiphysics modelling for geotechnical engineering (fluid-structure-soil interaction);
(2) Advanced laboratory testing on granular materials and/or modelling;
(3) Chemical-mechanical improvement on soft soils (experiment and/or modelling);
(4) Smart monitoring of geotechnical engineering, data analysis and AI application.

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Research Associate position – University of Strathclyde

The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering seeks to recruit a talented researcher to a 44 month Research Associate position to work on nature-based solutions to mitigate landslides. This position is funded by the UKRI Future. Leaders Fellowship project: ‘Soil-mycelia systems for slope stabilisation’ led by Dr Grainne El Mountassir. The aim of the project is to develop novel low-cost, low-carbon fungal-based biogeotechnologies for landslide mitigation. The project will focus on characterising the hydraulic and mechanical behaviour of fungal treated soils over time and in response to varying environmental conditions (e.g. temperature and wetting-drying cycles). Experiments will be conducted at bench scale (cms) and at large-scale (several metres) in the laboratory. Experimental data gathered will be used to inform numerical models to investigate the influence of fungal treatment on slope stability for real case studies.  The successful researcher will be based in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, UK and will have the opportunity to undertake an industrial secondment with BAM Ritchies. The Department has over £4.5 million of current research projects in ground and subsurface engineering and the researcher will

join an enthusiastic and friendly team of postgraduate and postdoctoral researchers that research a range of bio- and biochemical ground improvement and grouting technologies.

The University is seeking an excellent and enthusiastic candidate that can contribute to laboratory-based research on the hydraulic and mechanical testing of soils (e.g. oedometer, shear box, triaxial, permeability, water retention behaviour, suction control/monitoring methods) and investigation of soil microstructure (e.g. Scanning Electron Microscope, X-ray micro-computed tomography, Optical microscopy). The project will also work towards developing a constitutive model for the hydromechanical behaviour of fungal treated soils and numerical modelling will be conducted to assess the influence of fungal treatment on slope stability. It is not necessary that you have expertise in all of these areas as training will be given, but you should have experience in at least some of these areas. To be considered for the role, you should have a relevant undergraduate degree (e.g. Civil Engineering) and have successfully completed a PhD in a relevant field (e.g. geotechnical engineering, ecological engineering). You should be creative, with the ability to apply initiative and problem solve and have excellent communication skills.

Informal enquiries about the post can be directed to Dr Grainne El Mountassir (grainne.elmountassir@strath.ac.uk)

Applications can be made here: https://strathvacancies.engageats.co.uk/ViewVacancyV2.aspx?enc=mEgrBL4XQK0+ld8aNkwYmH4Oj9yC5KGHG4JJXJqd3qumbkb1heGZAYU7C5Sfkr63rUIs6l3m64+4RVE3r821E1xMzEFLqimpynxY+xex1Irb9f+0DXyVs7d90Qijz0xyVhhicaeN7mRX3/BDRkdgRg==

Deadline: 22th May 2022

More information available in attached pdf file.