Postdoctoral fellowships in computational fluid and solid mechanics

We are seeking two outstanding candidates for postdoctoral fellowships (2 years) in the field of computational fluid and solid mechanics.

The fellowships will start on December 1st, 2022, or by agreement, as soon as possible after. One fellowship will focus on reactive transport and flow in porous media and the other fellowship will focus on the mechanical modelling of skull trauma. The latter project will be in close collaboration with researchers at the Department of Forensic Medicine at University of Copenhagen. Successful applicants will take part in the ESS (European Spallation Source) lighthouse SOLID (https://solid.dtu.dk/ ), which looks to exploit the synergy in methods and sciences across materials science, geoscience, bone research, forensics and archeology. SOLID is a highly interdisciplinary research center that offers excellent opportunities to collaborate across a broad range of research areas.

We are looking for talented, highly motivated and creative scientists interested in working in a strong interdisciplinary environment. The successful candidates must have strong programming skills and preferably direct experience with the modeling and simulations of fluid or solid mechanics (for example by use of finite element/volume methods, discrete element methods or kinetic methods). Excellent English skills, both written and oral are required. The successful candidates must hold a PhD degree in either computer science, Earth sciences, mathematics, physics, or in related disciplines.

Project 1) Currently, medical legal interpretation of skeletal trauma (fractures) is based on experience, and it is not supported by a numerical, individualized quantification. Blunt force trauma is one of the most common injuries and they are associated with homicides (e.g., impact with a blunt object), suicides (e.g., fall from height), and accidents (e.g., impact of a driver or passenger in a motor vehicle accident). The resulting skeletal trauma is highly variable, and each case presents a unique set of challenges in the interpretation and reconstruction of the events that produced them. Finite element modelling (or similar mechanical modelling) can aid in assessing plausibility of different scenarios regarding skull fracture and thus develop into a valuable tool. The aim of the project is to develop victim-specific, individualized mechanical models for digital trauma reconstruction in a forensic medicine setting and validate their applicability for head trauma as an auxiliary medical forensic tool.

Project 2) The transport of solutes and particles plays a key role in a broad range of natural and industrial porous media. In nature, porous flow controls the formation and weathering of rock, the erosion and deposition of soil, water transport through aquifers, etc. Single- and multiphase fluid migration in complex geometries may result in non-trivial dispersion mechanisms and surface reactions. The aim of this project is to use computer simulation to better understand the complexity of flow, surface reactions and non-trivial dispersion in porous media.

Our group and research environment
The successful applicants will be located at the Niels Bohr Institute, Blegdamsvej 17, DK-2100 Copenhagen, in the Biocomplexity section. The section is a highly interdisciplinary environment, which offers fantastic scientific and social interactions with a large group of talented researchers. The postdoc also has a chance of interacting with master and PhD students to develop supervision and teaching experiences. The successful applicant will further participate in the activities in the ESS lighthouse SOLID and join related activities in the Department of Forensic Medicine at University of Copenhagen.

Inquiries about the position can be made to Prof. Joachim Mathiesen ([email protected] ).

Terms of employment
The position is covered by the Memorandum on Job Structure for Academic Staff.

Terms of appointment and payment accord to the agreement between the Ministry of Finance and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations on Academics in the State.

Negotiation for salary supplement is possible.The application, in English, must be submitted electronically by clicking APPLY NOW below.

Please include

• Curriculum vitae
• Diplomas (Master and PhD degree)
• Cover letter
• Complete publication list

The deadline for applications is November 1st 2022, 23:59 GMT+2.

After the expiry of the deadline for applications, the authorized recruitment manager selects applicants for assessment on the advice of the Interview Committee.

You can read about the recruitment process at https://employment.ku.dk/faculty/recruitment-process/.

Part of the International Alliance of Research Universities (IARU), and among Europe’s top-ranking universities, the University of Copenhagen promotes research and teaching of the highest international standard. Rich in tradition and modern in outlook, the University gives students and staff the opportunity to cultivate their talent in an ambitious and informal environment. An effective organisation – with good working conditions and a collaborative work culture – creates the ideal framework for a successful academic career.