The STARS program provides fully funded PhD positions at Charles University, Faculty of Science. Now there are 3 calls related to soil mechanics and groundwater flow open until 11th of March (starting date Oct 2021):

• “Experimental and numerical investigation of coupled thermo-hydro-mechanical behaviour of clay with focus to cyclic processes” (David Mašín)
• “Non-Newtonian fluid mechanics in porous media in relation to the pore size distribution” (Martin Lanzendörfer)
• “Thermo-hydro-chemo-mechanical characterisation of the residual shear strength of an expansive clay” (Gianvito Scaringi)

The Institute of GeoEnergy Engineering at Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, Scotland, offers two open PhD positions, starting in September 2021, that are possibly of interest to ALERT students.  These PhDs are open to worthy candidates from all nationalities, and are to be awarded competitively.  Successful candidates receive a living grant (‘salary’) of £15,285 (approximately 17,250€) per annum.  Tuition fees are covered.  The application deadline is soon, on 31 January 2021.  The application form is available here https://hwacuk.elluciancrmrecruit.com/Apply/Account/Login   Both PhDs are also advertised through FindaAPhD.com

1. Efficient uncertainty quantification of CO₂ storage sites through machine learning to better assess the risk of leakage: Summary: Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) is potentially a game changer for CO2 mitigation, yet it is not widely used, in part because of significant risks of leakage to surface which are difficult to quantify.  Top seal leakage occurs when any fracture or fault (new or pre-existing) opens through the sealing layer to allow CO2 to escape.  This PhD project addresses sealing and leaking of topseals over CO₂ storage sites by simulating both the fracture development (geomechanical simulation) and the fluid scenarios (fluid flow simulation) to identify safe and unsafe scenarios.   1st supervisor Dr Helen Lewis: h.lewis@hw.ac.uk
2. Digital-Rock Micro-Mechanics Approach to Derive Poroelastic Behaviours: Summary: This project represents a major new direction for digital-rock research, going beyond the current perspective that the solid framework is rigid. The project builds on a new paradigm for fluid-solid geomechanical interactions, creating numerical methods to implement this new process understanding in realistic digital-rock models. The project adopts a quasi-static perspective that accounts for changes in states, but with a design philosophy that envisages a subsequent move to full dynamic conditions.  1st supervisor Dr Gary Couples: g.couples@hw.ac.uk

Please feel free to discuss with the supervisors.

We have a vacancy for a 3-year PhD fellowship at the Department of Geoscience and Petroleum (IGP). The position is within computational geomechanics. The research will include development and implementation of boundary-element methods (BEM) with plasticity. The PhD student will be assigned to the Department of Geoscience and Petroleum and will be supervised by Prof. Alexandre Lavrov. 

The main goal of the PhD project is to develop, implement and test a robust and computationally efficient numerical method in 2D and 3D, to enable modelling of deformation and failure around underground excavations.

For more information: https://www.jobbnorge.no/en/available-jobs/job/198437/phd-position-in-computational-geomechanics-iv-18-21

Coupled Multiprocess Research for Reducing Landfill Emissions

The aim of the project CURE (Coupled Multiprocess Research for Reducing Landfill Emissions) is to develop a tool for predicting settlement and emissions from landfills during and after full scale in situ treatment that includes aeration and/or leachate recirculation. This knowledge is vital to reduce the long-term cost of landfill operations and to assess the viability of sustainable landfilling practices.

This particular PhD project searches for a fundamental stochastic framework that explains the dynamics in the observed leachate quantity, quality and waste stabilization. Based on evidence by laboratory experiments, in situ field and modelled data, this framework has to take into account a variety of landfill characteristics and processes, such as gas, water and solute dynamics, biogeochemical reactivity, as well as mobile and immobile porosity. Calibration of this framework will require the use of Travel Time Distributions (TTD), Storage Age Selection functions (SAS) and Bayesian Inference (BI). The research requires a significant amount of data handling in the form of Extract, Transform, and Load (ETL) processes and querying (SQL) due to the great variety in data sources, time and dimensional scales.

See attached file or the link below for more information:

https://www.tudelft.nl/over-tu-delft/werken-bij-tu-delft/vacatures/details/?jobId=1665&jobTitle=PhD%20Position%20Coupled%20Multiprocess%20Research%20for%20Reducing%20Landfill%20Emissions.

Context:
In the context of underground engineering (e.g.: transport, deep disposal, etc.), the design of the support is crucial in order to ensure the stability and sustainability of the structures. If their structural integrity is not maintained, operational difficulties or loss of stability of the underground structure may occur.

Objective:
The objective of the project is to study the stability of gallery intersections, drilled at great depth in rock, through a numerical approach. Numerical modelling will be carried out by finite element method. The stability will be analysed regarding the behaviour of the support structure and the surrounding rock.

Candidate profile:
Candidates can apply for a 3-year PhD scholarship at University of Lyon (ENTPE engineering school, LTDS laboratory), co-supervised by an industrial partner. Candidates must come from the European Union and have a Master / Engineer degree in the fields of civil engineering, underground works, mechanics of materials or of structures.

Application:
Applications should be submitted by the 10th of March 2021.

See attached file for details.

School of Civil Engineering of Shandong University invites applications for a tenure-track assistant/associate professor position in Hydraulic & Geotechnical Engineering. Applicants in all areas of engineering relevant to the field of Hydraulic Engineering and Geotechnical Engineering are welcome. Representative research areas includes: multi-phase flow in porous media, stability and safety evaluation of hydraulic/geotechnical structures, micromechanics of geomaterials, atmosphere-plant-soil interactions, etc. All candidates with a PhD degree and advanced experience in experimental, field, computational, or a combination of these capabilities will be considered. The position will be affiliated with the Department of Hydraulic Engineering of the School of Civil Engineering of Shandong University.

Shandong University, under the direct jurisdiction of the Ministry of Education, is a leading university in China with a membership of Project 985. It ranks 151-200 in the world according to ARWU world university ranking 2020.

Successful candidates will be offered a competitive salary and a starting research fund. On-campus accommodation (3-4 bedrooms) will also be provided at a preferential price.

Please submit a C.V. including two academic reference letters to Prof. Ji-Peng Wang: ji-peng.wang@sdu.edu.cn . After a review of the background of the candidates by the research committee, formal applications to the university will be invited. The position opens until it is filled.

Applications are welcomed for two PhD positions. Focus of the first position is on the micromechanics of soils subjected to extreme drying/wetting cycles, and their effect on noise/vibrations propagation. The second position is dedicated to the multi-scale modeling and monitoring of soil-water-vegetation interaction subjected to severe drought and heat.

Deadline is 20 January 2021. For more information and applications follow the links below:

Noise and vibration in wet soil: micromechanical modelling for smart mitigation strategies: https://www.utwente.nl/en/organisation/careers/!/2020-173/phd-position-on-noise-and-vibration-in-wet-soil

Towards climate resilience for geomaterials: a multi-disciplinary investigation: https://www.utwente.nl/en/organisation/careers/!/2020-174/phd-position-on-towards-climate-resilience-for-geomaterials-a-multi-disciplinary-investigation

The School of Engineering is seeking candidates to a full-time academic position (Associate Professor/Professor) in the field of Geotechnical Engineering.

The new academic will be affiliated with the Department of Architectural, Geological, Environmental and Civil Engineering of the School of Engineering and Computer Science of the University of Liège.

The appointee will contribute to the research activities in the field of geotechnical engineering. The rapid development of renewable energy production and the increasing use of the underground generate a growing need in geotechnical engineering to design new solutions and to study complex processes, with underground-infrastructure interactions, multi-physics processes, human impacts and integration in BIM models. Geotechnical engineering is therefore facing new challenges related to the resilience and the sustainability of geostructures. Research program for developing new experimental techniques and strategies, or cutting-edge numerical tools applied to civil/geological engineering problems are welcome.

Applications from candidates with a strong research background in civil engineering, or a cognate subject, are expected. The Department aims for a professor with the capacities and desire to develop a fundamental research programme of international standing.

See attached file for details. For any further questions, please contact Prof. Frédéric Collin.

We take the opportunity of this announcement to wish Prof. Robert Charlier, active member of the ALERT community, a fruitful academic retirement.