Doctoral student (licentiate) in soil and rock mechanics (grouting)

Project description

Third-cycle subject:  Civil and architectural engineering (specialization in soil and rock mechanics)

We are looking for a PhD student to join the Division of Soil and Rock Mechanics, with the goal of improving current methods for sealing rock tunnels against groundwater inflow through grouting.

Grouting plays a key role in minimizing environmental and societal impacts, such as settlement damage to buildings above tunnels. It also represents a significant part of both the cost and construction time in tunnelling projects. However, practical experience shows that designing effective grouting solutions remains a challenge. It is often difficult to predict the degree of watertightness that a particular design will achieve.

This doctoral project aims to develop new design principles for tunnel grouting. The project is of high practical relevance, as its results will serve as scientific input to the development of a new European design standard for underground construction in rock.

As a PhD student, you will work closely with experts in rock mechanics, grouting technology, groundwater modelling, and reliability-based design. Your tasks will include:

• Investigating how uncertainties in grouting design can be described and quantified using probabilistic methods;
• Exploring how grouting design can be formulated as verification of limit states, and conducting analyses to evaluate the proposed design methodology under realistic conditions;
• Publishing your research findings in scientific journals, deepening your expertise in soil and rock mechanics, and contributing to undergraduate and master’s level teaching at the department.

Supervision: You will be supported by Johan Spross (design principles), Fredrik Johansson (rock mechanics), and Liangchao Zou (groundwater modelling). Through close collaboration and a supportive research environment, you will have the opportunity to develop in-depth expertise for a future career as a specialist in either industry or academia. (Final supervisory assignments will be confirmed upon admission.)

What we offer

• The possibility to study in a dynamic and international research environment in collaboration with industries and prominent universities from all over the world.
• A workplace with many employee benefits and monthly salary according to KTH’s Doctoral student salary agreement.
• A postgraduate education at an institution that is active and supportive in matters pertaining to working conditions, gender equality and diversity as well as study environment.
• Work and study in Stockholm, close to nature and the water.
• Guidance to relocate and settling in at KTH and in Sweden.

Admission requirements

To be admitted to postgraduate education (Chapter 7, 39 § Swedish Higher Education Ordinance), the applicant must have basic eligibility in accordance with either of the following:

• passed a second cycle degree (for example a master's degree), or
• completed course requirements of at least 240 higher education credits, of which at least 60 second-cycle higher education credits, or
• acquired, in some other way within or outside the country, substantially equivalent knowledge

In addition to the above, there is also a mandatory requirement for English equivalent to English B/6.

Selection

In order to succeed as a doctoral student at KTH you need to be goal oriented and persevering in your work. During the selection process, candidates will be assessed upon their ability to:

• independently pursue his or her work
• collaborate with others,
• have a professional approach and
• analyze and work with complex issues.

The applicant should have completed studies in geotechnical or rock engineering, groundwater modelling, or other relevant subjects corresponding to at least 60 ECTS credits at master’s level—for example, as part of a degree in civil engineering. Experience from professional work in geotechnical or rock engineering is considered an asset, as are skills in statistics, reliability-based design, and programming. Strong academic credentials and proficiency in English, both written and spoken, are required. 

After the qualification requirements, great emphasis will be placed on personal skills. 

Target degree: Licentiate degree

Information regarding admission and employment

Only those admitted to postgraduate education may be employed as a doctoral student. The total length of employment may not be longer than what corresponds to full-time doctoral education in four years' time. An employed doctoral student can, to a limited extent (maximum 20%), perform certain tasks within their role, e.g. teaching and administration. A new position as a doctoral student is for a maximum of one year, and then the employment may be renewed for a maximum of two years at a time. In the case of studies that are to be completed with a licentiate degree, the total period of employment may not be longer than what corresponds to full-time doctoral education for two years.

Union representatives

Contact information for union representatives.

PhD Chapter (Students’ union on KTH Royal Institute of Technology)

Contact information for PhD chapter at the student union

To apply for the position

Apply for the position and admission through KTH's recruitment system. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that the application is complete in accordance with the instructions in the advertisement.

Applications must be received at the last closing date at midnight, CET/CEST (Central European Time/Central European Summer Time).

Applications must include the following elements:

• CV including your relevant professional experience and knowledge.
• Application letter with a brief description of why you want to pursue research studies, about what your academic interests are and how they relate to your previous studies and future goals. (Maximum 2 pages long)
• Copies of diplomas and grades from previous university studies and certificates of fulfilled language requirements (see above). Translations into English or Swedish if the original document is not issued in one of these languages.Copies of originals must be certified.
• Representative publications or technical reports. For longer documents, please provide a summary (abstract) and a web link to the full text.

Other information

Striving towards gender equality, diversity and equal conditions is both a question of quality for KTH and a given part of our values.

For information about processing of personal data in the recruitment process.

It may be the case that a position at KTH is classified as a security-sensitive role in accordance with the Protective Security Act (2018:585). If this applies to the specific position, a security clearance will be conducted for the applicant in accordance with the same law with the applicant's consent. In such cases, a prerequisite for employment is that the applicant is approved following the security clearance.

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Disclaimer: In case of discrepancy between the Swedish original and the English translation of the job announcement, the Swedish version takes precedence.