Postdoc in Clay Geomechanics

Job description
The safety of geological disposal facilities for radioactive waste strongly rely on the performance of clays, which are used as natural or engineered barriers to limit fluid flow and pollutant transport. An important aspect of the barrier behaviour is its strong time dependence, which is often poorly captured by current models.

The aim of the project is to push the boundaries of existing undestanding of the time-dependent response of clay barriers through the development of theoretical models and the analysis of (newly acquired) experimental data. It is anticipated that the researcher will need to enrich the description of existing models to account for the strong clay-water interactions and, in collaboration with a PhD student, acquire experimental data to support these developments.

It is intended that the post-doctoral researcher will work with and contribute to the supervision of a PhD student with an experimental focus. The team will therefore benefit from the world-class laboratory and imaging facilities already available in the Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences of TU Delft and partner institutions, and the support of experienced technical staff.

This position is part of the VIDI project "DELAY: the Dynamic Equilibrium of water in cLAYs and its impact on the time-dependent material behaviour" funded by the Dutch Research Council (NWO), and the European Joint Research Programme in the management and disposal of radioactive waste (EURAD-2) funded by the European Commission. Within EURAD-2, the post-doctoral researcher will contribute to the work packages ANCHORS (Hydraulic, mechanical chemical evolution of bentonite for barriers optimisation) and OPTI (HLW repository optimisation including closure).

Job description

Job requirements
You should have a PhD in clay (geo-)mechanics, or a related discipline, with ideally a strong track record or interest in both experimental testing and numerical modelling. Knowledge of the radioactive waste management industry is an asset. Strong interpersonal and leadership skills, as well as excellent written and oral communication skills, are essential to conduct the project successfully.

TU Delft (Delft University of Technology)
Delft University of Technology is built on strong foundations. As creators of the world-famous Dutch waterworks and pioneers in biotech, TU Delft is a top international university combining science, engineering and design. It delivers world class results in education, research and innovation to address challenges in the areas of energy, climate, mobility, health and digital society. For generations, our engineers have proven to be entrepreneurial problem-solvers, both in business and in a social context.

At TU Delft we embrace diversity as one of our core values and we actively engage to be a university where you feel at home and can flourish. We value different perspectives and qualities. We believe this makes our work more innovative, the TU Delft community more vibrant and the world more just. Together, we imagine, invent and create solutions using technology to have a positive impact on a global scale. That is why we invite you to apply. Your application will receive fair consideration.

Challenge. Change. Impact!

Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences
The Faculty of Civil Engineering & Geosciences (CEG) is committed to outstanding international research and education in the field of civil engineering, applied earth sciences, traffic and transport, water technology, and delta technology. Our research feeds into our educational programmes and covers societal challenges such as climate change, energy transition, resource availability, urbanisation and clean water. Our research projects are conducted in close cooperation with a wide range of research institutions. CEG is convinced of the importance of open science and supports its scientists in integrating open science in their research practice. The Faculty of CEG comprises 28 research groups in the following seven departments: Materials Mechanics Management & Design, Engineering Structures, Geoscience and Engineering, Geoscience and Remote Sensing, Transport & Planning, Hydraulic Engineering and Water Management.

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Conditions of employment

• Duration of contract is 24 months.
• A job of 36-38 hours per week.

Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities. The TU Delft offers a customisable compensation package, discounts on health insurance, and a monthly work costs contribution. Flexible work schedules can be arranged.

For international applicants, TU Delft has the Coming to Delft Service. This service provides information for new international employees to help you prepare the relocation and to settle in the Netherlands. The Coming to Delft Service offers a Dual Career Programme for partners and they organise events to expand your (social) network.

Additional information
For more information about this vacancy, please contact Dr. Anne-Catherine Dieudonné a.a.m.dieudonne@tudelft.nl

Application procedure
Are you interested in this vacancy? Please apply no later than 3 January 2025 via the application button and upload:

• A cover/motivation letter explaining your interest, qualification for the position, and approach to the research
• A Curriculum vitae
• Your PhD degree
• An abstract of your PhD thesis in English
• A list of publications
• Two selected publications
• The names and contact information of two referees.

Please note:

• You can apply online. We will not process applications sent by email and/or post.
• A pre-employment screening can be part of the selection procedure.
• For the final candidates, a knowledge security check will be part of the application procedure. For more information on this check, please consult Chapter 8 of the National Knowledge Security Guidelines. We carry out this check on the basis of legitimate interest.
• Please do not contact us for unsolicited services.

36 - 38 hours per week

Mekelweg 5