Postdoctoral Fellow in Structural and Earthquake Engineering

This position is a part of the Association of the Academic Staff of the University of Alberta (AASUA).

This position is a full-time position and offers a benefits package found at Postdoctoral Fellows Benefits .

This position has a term length of 12 months.

This competition is open to all applicants however internal candidates and applicants who were former employees of the University of Alberta in the past 18 months will be given priority consideration before external candidates. Please indicate your internal status using the "Advertisement" drop-down menu when applying.

Location - Work primarily takes place at North Campus Edmonton.

Working for the University of Alberta

The University of Alberta acknowledges that we are located on Treaty 6 territory, and respects the histories, languages and cultures of First Nations, Métis, Inuit and all First Peoples of Canada, whose presence continues to enrich our vibrant community.

The University of Alberta is teeming with change makers, community builders, and world shapers who lead with purpose each and every day. We are home to more than 40,000 students in 200+ undergraduate and 500+ graduate programs, over 13,000 faculty and staff, 260,000 alumni worldwide and have been recognized as one of Canada’s Greenest Employers for over a decade.

Your work will have a meaningful influence on a fascinating cross section of people—from our students and stakeholders, to our renowned researchers and innovators who are quite literally curing diseases, making discoveries and generating solutions that make the world healthier, safer, stronger, and more just.

Working for the Department of Civil Engineering 

We are currently looking for a Postdoctoral Fellow in Structural and Earthquake Engineering. The ideal candidate should hold a PhD degree in a relevant field and have a strong research background. It is important for the applicant to be a good communicator, passionate about research, and capable of working independently or as part of a team. Previous experience in structural resiliency, seismic design, and computational mechanics would be preferred. Responsibilities include research, collaboration with our team, analytical model implementation, and facilitating communication with partners. Initial one-year appointment with potential for extension. We encourage applications from diverse backgrounds to foster inclusivity. The salary will be commensurate with qualifications. Interested individuals should send their up-to-date CV, cover letter, transcripts, and contact information for three references to Dr. Ying Hei Chui and Dr. Hossein Daneshvar at the provided email addresses. We strongly encourage applications from women and underrepresented minorities as part of our commitment to fostering equity, diversity, and inclusion in the field of engineering.

Position 

The Postdoctoral Fellow in Structural and Earthquake Engineering will be responsible for various tasks. This will include conducting research (30%) in the areas of structural resiliency, seismic design, and computational mechanics. They will collaborate with a team of researchers and engineers (20%), develop and implement analytical models (25%), and foster communication with off-campus partners (10%). Additionally, they will assist with research grant applications, contract proposals, and reports (10%) and organize conferences and events as needed (5%).

Duties 

• Conducting research in the areas of structural resiliency, seismic design, and computational mechanics.
• Collaborating with a team of researchers and engineers.
• Developing and implementing analytical models and simulation techniques.
• Foster communication with off-campus partners.
• Assist with the preparation of research grant applications, contract proposals, and reports.
• Organizing conferences and events as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

• Hold or expect to obtain a PhD degree in a relevant discipline (e.g., civil engineering, mechanical engineering, computer science, electrical engineering, etc.).
• Strong background in structural resiliency, seismic design, and computational mechanics.
• The applicant should be highly motivated, well organized, and passionate about research, with good communication skills in English and competent publication records.

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous work experience as a structural engineer is considered a strong asset.
• Proven expertise in OpenSees or OpenSeesPy is a bonus.
• Familiarity with other research and commercial structural analysis software such as PERFORM 3D, Sap2000, Abaqus, or Ansys is also considered a strong asset.
• Strong scripting and programming skills, particularly demonstrated expertise in using Python, and a willingness to learn new skills such as machine learning techniques and algorithms are considered strong assets.
• Experience in developing experimental setups and conducting physical tests is beneficial.

At the University of Alberta, we are committed to creating an inclusive and accessible hiring process for all candidates. If you require accommodations to participate in the interview process, please let us know at the time of booking your interview and we will make every effort to accommodate your needs.

Note: Online applications are accepted until midnight Mountain Standard Time of the closing date.