PhD Student position

PhD Student position in Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering, Ref.No 1326-10

BACKGROUND
Luleå University of Technology is the leading European university in mining and metallurgy.The university offers unique, collective research expertise across the entire mining and minerals chain - from exploration, beneficiation/concentration, metal production and industrial operation and maintenance to remediation after mine closure.The research group is made up of leading researchers from traditional mining and minerals subject areas such as ore geology, geophysics, rock engineering, rock mechanics, soil mechanics, mineral processing, process metallurgy and applied geology, and researchers from disciplines including chemistry, industrial production environments, operations and maintenance management, Process-IT, fluid mechanics and economics.

LTU and HLRC announce a PhD student position within the research subject rock mechanics and rock engineering at the Department of Civil, Mining and Environmental Engineering.The research area is ground deformations around the ore bodies of the Malmberget mine.Ground deformations occur as a result of the sublevel cave mining employed in the mine.Mining-induced deformations will eventually affect the nearby Malmberget municipality, thus necessitating relocation of houses and infrastructure.This issue is of strategic importance to LKAB, as it directly impacts the possibility of economically feasible mining in the future.Improved knowledge and a better understanding of how caving and ground deformations develop and can be predicted are thus warranted.The research work will be carried out in close collaboration with LKAB.
WORKING AS A phD student

Working as a PhD student gives you great freedom to define your own daily tasks and how they should be performed.You will act and train as a project manager in combination with your own education and development.You will also get to try the role of teacher.Researchers work as neutral parties in many contexts, providing a unique opportunity to learn to manage advanced development projects through contacts with international researchers.We offer a stimulating, dynamic research environment with a large national and international network along with interesting, exciting research projects conducted in collaboration with the commercial and public sectors.

Qualifications
An appropriate background for this position is a master of science in civil or mining engineering or the equivalent.To communicate within the project and with various stakeholders, you must have fluent verbal and writing skills in English.Experience and knowledge within the area of rock mechanics is a necessity.

Employment
PhD student positions are for those who want to conduct their own postgraduate studies.The position includes no more than 20% departmental duties.Salary is paid as per current contracts for employment of PhD students.The length of employment is normally 2 years through the licentiate degree (including 20% departmental duties) and 5 years through the doctorate (including 20% departmental duties).

Location and start date
The position is located at the Luleå campus and is available immediately or by agreement.