Austria - TU Graz PhD Positions in Translational Brain Power Project

Adaptive Method coupling for the simulation of problems in geotechnical engineering

For a translational Brain Power project Adaptive Method coupling for the simulation of problems in geotechnical engineering, funded by the Austrian science fund two research positions (PhD students) are offered.

The objective of the 3-year project is to develop strategies for an efficient, adaptive coupling of the 3 main numerical methods namely the Finite Element Method (FEM), Boundary Element Method (BEM) and Discrete Element Method (DEM), depending on the physical phenomena encountered.

Two PhD students will be employed. One will work under the supervision of Dr. Rojek from Polish Academy of Sciences (whose expertise is the DEM) and will be concerned mainly with the DEM, the other and will be supervised by Prof. Gernot Beer, head of the Institute for Structural Analysis at Graz University of Technology and be mainly concerned with the BEM. The work location will be the Graz, Austria but since the research group is international no German language skills will be required.

The appointment will be offered initially for one year and extended for another two years after an positive evaluation of the work done in the first year. The gross stipend will be Euro 1.767,80 per month. Ample funds are available to support travel to conferences for the presentation of results. The start of the project is envisaged to be March 1, 2009.

The minimum requirements are:

* Completed Master or Diploma in an appropriate discipline, recognised by the TU Graz
* Experience in computer programming (preferably C++)
* Knowledge of numerical methods (FEM, BEM, DEM)

Your application should be sent before January 14, 2009 by e-mail to Gernot.Beer@tugraz.at and jrojek@ippt.gov.pl .

Your email should contain a PDF file as attachment with the following information:

* Curriculum Vitae
* a copy of your Diploma or Master certificate together with the grades obtained
* a description of the work done to date (i.e. Abstract of Diploma or Master thesis)
* a letter describing your scientific interests
* Names and email-addresses of at least two persons that may write a letter of recommendation

*) getscholarship.net