PHD IN HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING, SWITZERLAND

A doctoral student is sought from May/June 2010 for a funded research project underway at the Institute for Environmental Engineering (IfU) at ETH Zurich on:

Instabilities in alpine Permafrost: Characterisation, Monitoring and Modelling of Active Rock Glaciers PhD Position in Hydraulic Engineering (60%).

The research focuses on the geotechnical and hydrological/ hydraulic processes leading to instabilities in rock glaciers with an exceptional opportunity to engage in multidisciplinary full scale field characterisation and monitoring followed by modelling of the behaviour. The project is funded by the ETH Research Fund within a Collaborative, Highly Interdisciplinary Research Project (CHIRP) funding stream for a period of 3 years, leading to submission of a doctoral thesis.

The successful candidate will have graduated at the top of his/her University with a Bachelor's degree in engineering sciences or civil engineering and specialization at Master’s level in geotechnical engineering, groundwater hydraulics or soil physics. He/she will be able to speak, understand and write English in a scientific manner to a high standard. Some competence in German and French will be extremely helpful, since the work field will take place in the Valais. He/she will have practical skill for field and laboratory work, and in particular, will have significant ability/potential in mechanics and analysis. Competence in unsaturated soil mechanics, soil physics, groundwater hydraulics or modelling will be advantageous.

IfU is experienced in hydrological field measurements and will be equipped for experiments with freezing and thawing variably saturated soil columns.

The ETH is an equal opportunity employer. For further information please contact Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Kinzelbach,wolfgang.kinzelbach@ifu.baug.ethz.ch or Prof. Dr. Fritz Stauffer,fritz.stauffer@ifu.baug.ethz.ch Please apply online at www.jobs.ethz.ch and submit your documents (including curriculum vitae and a copy of your degree certificates) and either an abstract from your Masters thesis and/or electronic link to the entire document.

You can aplly for this scholarship here.