A 1-year post-doctoral position is available for developing a 3D coupled model of creeping snow. This position is part of a project which final goal is to improve the design of snow avalanches protective structures. Indeed, these structures are confronted with the change in snow mantle mechanical characteristics resulting from climate change.

This position is proposed by ETNA-INRAE and 3SR, both located in Grenoble, and is funded by TEC21.

The attached document gives further details on the context and aim of this position, together the required qualifications for applying.

Interested people are invited to apply via the platform: https://academicpositions.com/ad/universite-grenoble-alpes/2022/post-doctoral-position-creeping-snow-modelling-the-force-induced-on-structures/181144

A PhD position on the hydromechanical behaviour of argillite-based sealing materials is now open at Université de Lorraine (France).

PhD works will be of experimental and numerical nature, relying on state-of-the art laboratory equipment and numerical modelling resources of LEMTA. The work will also benefit of cooperation with ANDRA and other institutions. The development of in-situ experimentation at Bure underground laboratory is also an objective of the PhD work.
Candidates must own, at the time of the start of the PhD, a Master Degree in Civil, Geotechnical or Geological engineering, and have a strong interest in Mechanics of Geomaterials.

Knowledge of the French language is not mandatory. The PhD thesis can be written in English.

Starting date: October or November 2022 for a total duration of three years

How to apply?
Send by e-mail before 1 July 2022 a CV (2 pages max), if available a copy of the Master thesis, any relevant publication, full certified transcripts, and the name of one referee to both supervisors: Prof. Olivier Cuisinier (Olivier.Cuisinier@univ-lorraine.fr) and Prof. Farimah Masrouri (Farimah.Masrouri@univ-lorraine.fr).

More information on this pdf file.

An industrial PhD position on bio-based stabilisation of problematic soils is now open at University of Genoa and Envirosoil Remediation Ltd.

Applications are welcome for an industrial PhD position between the University of Genoa (Italy) and Envirosoil Remediation Limited (United Kingdom). The main objective of this doctoral project is to devise sustainable bio-based stabilisations for problematic soils (e.g. swelling or collapsible soils, sulphate-rich soils, etc.) to enhance the resilience of infrastructure earthworks (such as dams, embankments) subjected to extreme rainfall events. The PhD candidate will develop experimental work at different scales: both mineralogical characterisation and hydromechanical testing will be performed at the University of Genoa while field applications will be carried out on sites selected by the company Envirosoil Remediation Limited.

We are looking forward to receiving applications from highly-motivated and curious candidates with a Master’s degree (or equivalent) in civil engineering with a specialisation in geomechanics, geochemistry or other relevant fields. The position is funded for 3 years commencing on 01 November 2022.

The Successful Applicant will work under the supervision of Dr Agostino Walter Bruno and Pr Domenico Gallipoli (University of Genoa) and Dr Adrian de Paoli (Envirosoil Remediation Limited). After PhD graduation, future employment of the Successful Applicant at the company Envirosoil Remediation Limited will be considered.

Candidates can find more details on the project and submit their applications via the following link: http://dottorato.dicca.unige.it/eng/
Contact details for further information: agostinowalter.bruno@unige.it

We are pleased to announce that our 2nd call to access EXCITE facilities is now open. The call will be open for proposals from 1^st of June until the 31^th of August 2022, projects accepted will take place between November 2022 and April 2023.

The EXCITE TNA programme will provide coordinated access to 24 imaging facilities in nine countries to researchers of any level. The call information is available on the EXCITE website and applicants can submit their proposals using the online application procedure as described here. Proposal selection will be carried out on the basis of the technical feasibility, and scientific quality of the proposals, this latter carried out by a panel of EM and X-ray microscopy experts, external to EXCITE.

We are particularly welcoming applications from candidates who have a strong background in rock mechanics, with a focus on the laboratory as well as the engineered reservoir scale and show an understanding of coupled thermal-hydro-mechanical-chemical (THMC) processes in subsurface reservoirs across multiple scales by integrating laboratory and field data.

The new appointment will help to further develop Heriot-Watt University’s international leadership in laboratory, field, and simulation studies related to geoenergy applications and applied geoscience for geoenergy applications, such as geothermal, carbon capture and storage or energy storage. The successful candidate will be expected to develop an independent research agenda as part of the vibrant Geoenergy Research Group, focussed on understanding, quantifying, and modelling the relevant geoscientific processes of deep reservoirs in the Earth’s crust. The candidate will also contribute to post-graduate as well as a practice-oriented teaching in their respective field.

The successful candidate will have a strong academic track record, especially with respect to publications and securing independent funding. Geoscientists with a current private-sector or academic background are equally encouraged to apply. The new Assistant/Associate Professor will foster links between fundamental geoscience research and its practical application by government and industrial stakeholders and is expected to take an active role in pilot/demonstration projects under development in the UK and worldwide.

The appointment will complement, and create new synergies with, existing staff at the Lyell Centre, the Institute of GeoEnergy Engineering (IGE) and the British Geological Survey (BGS). A close cooperation with these institutes is expected, building on their world-class expertise in the fields of applied geoscience, reservoir modelling and characterisation, reservoir simulation, and reservoir monitoring.

Link to full details:

https://enzj.fa.em3.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/CandidateExperience/en/sites/CX/job/2154/?utm_medium=jobshare

Further information:

Please submit your application via the Heriot-Watt on-line recruitment system and include (1) Cover letter describing your interest and suitability for the post referring to the essential and desirable criteria. (2) Full CV that includes the list of publications. (3) Research and teaching statements, showing your strengths in one or more of the research areas above.

For informal discussions about the position please contact Professor Andreas Busch, A.Busch@hw.ac.uk .

Please contact Yvonne Constantino, y.constantino@hw.ac.uk should you have any difficulties applying or have any questions.

Title: “Evolution of transport, microstructural and hygro-mechanical properties of cementitious materials subjected to coupled chemical degradation via a multiscale approach”

Web link: https://www.sckcen.be/en/sck-cen-academy/thesis-and-internship-topics/evolution-transport-microstructural-and-hygro-mechanical-properties-cementitious-materials-subjected-coupled-chemical-degradation-multiscale-approach-2995

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.

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

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.

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.