PhD candidate for Constitutive Modelling of Rate-Effects in Sensitive Clays

Publiceringsdatum: 2025-02-24

Ett spännande jobb som doktorand hos Chalmers Tekniska Högskola AB väntar på dig - varför inte söka idag? Detta är ett jobb på heltid där Chalmers Tekniska Högskola AB letar efter någon under 6 månader eller längre. För detta jobb är Göteborg den angivna tjänsteorten.

Om du letar efter en spännande karriär inom doktorand-branschen, har Chalmers Tekniska Högskola AB just nu ett ledigt jobb som kan vara av intresse. Sök jobbet som doktorand hos Chalmers Tekniska Högskola AB och ta chansen att ta din karriär till nästa nivå. Ansök senast onsdag den sextonde april 2025.

Jobbannons

We are looking for a PhD candidate fascinated by the response of sensitive clays, such as quick clays that can change from solid to liquid with small environmental perturbations.  We want to be able to understand how a changing environment will affect the creep rates in sensitive clay slopes, and the probability of triggering catastrophic failures. We offer access to unique experimental data and computational tools developed by our research team for addressing a timely societally relevant problem.

Project overview

The aim is to unravel the anthropogenic and natural processes, and their relative importance, for triggering shallow landslides in sensitive clays. The focus will be on developing computational models that will quantify the mechanisms, precursors and the time to failure. This will be achieved by combining advanced experimental probing with the development of constitutive models that capture the rate-dependent (creep and porewater pressure) response of sensitive clays. Thus, we will be able to understand and quantify the triggers and precursors for shallow slides in sensitive clays as a function of time (>100 years).

Information about the division and the department

Geotechnics research in Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering focuses on characterisation and modelling of complex geomaterials, in particular natural clays. The research activities aim to bridge fundamental understanding and advanced modelling & testing capabilities with application in engineering practice. Our work on experimental testing and numerical modelling at laboratory and field scale is internationally recognised, and thus we are active members in the ALERT Geomaterials network and many international committees. Our international team with over 15 full-time researchers offers a great working environment to learn and develop.

Main responsibilities

• Independent research and research training (80% of time)
• Support for education and activities within the research area and department (20% of time)
• Potential for international collaborations and secondments
• Opportunities for PhD, pedagogical and language courses both nationally and internationally (e.g. Nordic Five Tech and ALERT Geomaterials)

Qualifications

Required

• Undergraduate degree in Civil Engineering or a related topic, with strong emphasis on Geomechanics
• Fluency in spoken and written English
• Willingness to learn Swedish, as necessary for providing teaching support at undergraduate and Master's level.
• Genuine interest in modelling the response of sensitive clays and willingness to work on the formulation and implementation of constitutive models at boundary value level
• Experience in programming

Meritious

• Experience in constitutive modelling of soils, including model formulation and implementation at element level
• Experience in numerical analyses (using finite elements) of geotechnical problems in field scale, in particular coupled flow-deformation analyses
• Ability to read and understand Swedish

Contract terms

Full-time temporary employment. The position is limited to a maximum of five years.

What we offer

Chalmers provides a cultivating and inspiring working environment in the coastal city of Gothenburg. 

Read more about working at Chalmers and our benefits for employees.

Chalmers aims to actively improve our gender balance. We work broadly with equality projects, for example the GENIE Initiative on gender equality for excellence. Equality and diversity are substantial foundations in all activities at Chalmers.

Application procedure

The application should be written in English and be attached as PDF-files, as below. Maximum size for each file is 40 MB. Please note that the system does not support Zip files.

CV: (Please name the document: CV, Family name)

• CV
• Other, for example previous employments or leadership qualifications and positions of trust.
• Two references that we can contact.

Personal letter: (Please name the document as: Personal letter, Family name)

1-3 pages where you:

• Introduce yourself
• Describe your previous experience of relevance for the position (e.g. education, thesis work and, if applicable, any other research activities)
• Describe your future goals and future research focus

Other documents:

• Copies of bachelor and/or master’s thesis.
• Attested copies and transcripts of completed education, grades and other certificates, e.g. TOEFL test results.

Use the button at the foot of the page to reach the application form. 

Please note: The applicant is responsible for ensuring that the application is complete. Incomplete applications and applications sent by email will not be considered.

Application deadline: April 16, 2025

For questions, please contact:

Minna Karstunen, Professor, ACE

Minna.karstunen@chalmers.se