Postdoc in Solid and Structural Mechanics

You are invited to apply for a postdoc position in the project "Predictive asset management of railway tracks". Based on numerical simulations and probabilistic engineering design methods, different designs of railway track will be compared in terms of environmental footprint, life cycle cost and structural robustness. The project will be part of the activities in the Competence Centre CHARMEC.

Information about the research and the division
The project will be part of the activities in the Competence Centre CHARMEC - CHAlmers Railway MEChanics. CHARMEC, the Swedish National Centre of Excellence in Railway Mechanics, was established in 1995. CHARMEC is supported by Chalmers, the Swedish Transport Administration (Trafikverket) and an industrial interests group comprising nine partners. The long-term CHARMEC research and knowledge bank aims at reducing the railway's costs for production, environment, operation and maintenance while improving safety, reliability and transport quality. Currently, some 25 research projects are carried out within CHARMEC.

Existing and future railway lines in Sweden feature different designs. To select a proper design solution, and maintain it in a proper way requires in-depth knowledge, and abilities to predict consequences of different design and maintenance decisions. Some important issues are to reduce the environmental footprint of slab tracks and to carry out maintenance before excessive deterioration sets in. This project aims at providing a scientific foundation for specification and asset management of tracks with an initial focus on slab tracks and Nordic conditions. The dynamic interaction between high-speed trains and various types of slab track designs is studied and compared with conventional ballasted track. Based on numerical simulations and probabilistic engineering design methods, different solutions are compared in terms of environmental footprint, life cycle cost and structural robustness. The influence of generated cracks on track performance, maintenance needs and structural integrity are assessed. The requirements on support conditions and the risk of differential settlement is considered.

The position will be at the Division of Dynamics at the Department of Mechanics and Maritime Sciences. The work will be carried out in close collaboration with researchers at the Division of Material and Computational Mechanics (Department of Industrial and Materials Science) and the Division of Structural Engineering - Concrete Structures (Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering) at Chalmers.

-The details of the departmental research activities may be found here.

Major responsibilities
Your major responsibilities as postdoc is to carry out independent research according to the project description. This includes developing scientific concepts and communicating the research results.
Another important aspect involves collaboration within academia and with society at large. The position is meritorious for future research duties within academia as well as industry/the public sector.
The position may also include teaching on undergraduate and master's levels as well as supervising master's and/or PhD students to a certain extent.

Position summary
The position is full-time temporary employment. It is limited to a maximum of two years, starting with a one-year employment, followed by an evaluation, if the work is proceeding sufficiently well the employment will be extended for a second year. You will be employed by Chalmers and will receive a salary according to current salary agreements.

Qualifications
A suitable background is a PhD in solid and structural mechanics, civil engineering or engineering physics with emphasis on railway dynamics and related material deterioration. The position requires oral and written communication skills in English. Swedish is not required but you will be encouraged to learn Swedish during employment. Chalmers offers Swedish courses.

You are expected to take initiatives, work independently when needed and take responsibility for your work. Further, the project interacts closely with adjacent disciplines and industrial partners. Thus you need to have high collaborative skills. Finally, you need to be able to disseminate results and knowledge within existing and new networks.This includes academia, industry and society at large.

Chalmers continuously strives to be an attractive employer. Equality and diversity are substantial foundations in all activities at Chalmers.

Our offer to you
Chalmers offers a cultivating and inspiring working environment in the dynamic city of Gothenburg. 
Read more about working at Chalmers and our benefits for employees.

About the application procedure

Application deadline: 1 July 2021

For questions, please contact:
Research professor Jens Nielsen, Dynamics, jens.nielsen@chalmers.se, (+46) 703 792190

*** Chalmers declines to consider all offers of further announcement publishing or other types of support for the recruiting process in connection with this position. ***