Research Assistant/Associate bei RWTH Aachen

Doctoral position in Junior Research Group “HiLLSIDe: High-fidelity, Low-cost Landslide Simulation for Informed Decision-making"

Institution

Lehrstuhl für Computergestützte Analyse technischer Systeme

Our Profile

HiLLSIDe is a Junior Research Group recently founded at the RWTH Aachen University in the framework of the Excellence Initiative and Junior Principal Investigator program. The team focuses on developing efficient numerical methods and computational models to simulate landslide dynamics. This is an inter-disciplinary project combining computational fluid dynamics, scientific computing and data-driven modelling. As such, it is carried out in collaboration with two RWTH institutes: the Chair for Computational Analysis of Technical Systems (CATS) and the Chair of Methods for Model-based Development in Computational Engineering (MBD). The candidate will therefore have a unique opportunity to develop a multi-disciplinary research profile. The position includes travel funding for conferences, workshops, research stays and summer schools.

Your Profile

The formal requirement is a University degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in Computational Engineering Science, mechanical or civil engineering, applied mathematics, or a similar subject with a superior academic record. Programming experience (e.g. Python, Matlab, Julia, Fortran, C or C++) and familiarity with numerical methods are also required. Some knowledge on the Finite Element Method (FEM) and a background in computational geosciences would be ideal. Most importantly, the candidate must be interested in computer simulation and modelling.

Your Duties and Responsibilities

The position is in the area of computational (geo-)fluid dynamics and advised by Dr. Douglas Pacheco, with Prof. Julia Kowalski (MBD) and Prof. Marek Behr (CATS) as co-advisors. The project explores efficient, high-fidelity fluid-like modelling of landslide dynamics, focusing on developing a new computational framework and on incorporating real topographical data into the simulations. Some of the main tasks in the project are

• Developing and implementing novel numerical methods to simulate non-Newtonian, multi-phase fluids.
• Parameter calibration and sensitivity analysis.
• Incorporating real data into the computational framework.

The results are to be presented in conferences and workshops. We expect you to contribute to general tasks at the hosting institutes, such as teaching and advising master or project theses.

What We Offer

The successful candidate will be employed under a regular employment contract.
The position is to be filled at the earliest possible date and offered for a fixed term of 4 years.
The fixed-term employment is possible as it constitutes one of the fixed-term options of the Wissenschaftszeitvertragsgesetz (German Act on Fixed-term Scientific Contracts).
This is a full-time position with the possibility of a part-time contract upon request.
The successful candidate has the opportunity to pursue a doctoral degree in this position.
The salary is based on the German public service salary scale (TV-L).
The position corresponds to a pay grade of EG 13 TV-L.

About us

RWTH is a certified family-friendly University. We support our employees in maintaining a good work-life balance with a wide range of health, advising, and prevention services, for example university sports. Employees who are covered by collective bargaining agreements and civil servants have access to an extensive range of further training courses and the opportunity to purchase a job ticket.
RWTH is an equal opportunities employer. We therefore welcome and encourage applications from all suitably qualified candidates, particularly from groups that are underrepresented at the University. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability or age. RWTH is