The University of Luxembourg aspires to be one of Europe’s most highly regarded universities with a distinctly international and interdisciplinary character. It fosters the cross-fertilisation of research and teaching, is relevant to its country, is known worldwide for its research and teaching in targeted areas, and is establishing itself as an innovative model for contemporary European Higher Education. The University`s core asset is its well-connected world-class academic staff which will attract the most motivated, talented and creative students and young researchers who will learn to enjoy taking up challenges and develop into visionary thinkers able to shape society.

The Faculty of Science, Technology and Medicine (FSTM) contributes multidisciplinary expertise in the fields of Mathematics, Physics, Engineering, Computer Science, Life Sciences and Medicine. Through its dual mission of teaching and research, the FSTM seeks to generate and disseminate knowledge and train new generations of responsible citizens, in order to better understand, explain and advance society and environment we live in.

Your Role

The University of Luxembourg within its multi-disciplinary and -cultural environment seeks a PhD collaborator for participating in an advanced grant at the interface of academia and industry. The objective is to investigate and model macroscopic concrete flow behaviour with regard to both, the influence of the interface layer at the wall and the particle interactions, being the key issues for fundamental modelling of concrete rheology. Therefore, the aim of the present project is the investigation and modelling of time- and shear-dependent microstructure (disperse properties) and rheological properties of cementitious suspensions subjected to shear applying the Immersed Boundary Method (IBM).

In this project, the addressed key issues are

• shear induced particle migration (SIPM)
• interface layer and its formation mechanisms
• local shear rates induced by larger particles and its effect on microstructure and rheology taking chemical and physical based particle-particle inter-actions into account

Only a scale-bridging approach from the micro-scale (d_particleparticle≤4 mm) to the macro-scale (d_particle>4 mm) enables to adequately address these issues and herewith achieve the goal to model and predict the flow behaviour. Here, suspensions relevant to the construction industry, i.e. cement paste and concrete containing super-plasticizer, are considered in this project.

Your Profile

• Master in applied science or similar with focus on fluid dynamics
• Familiar with the Immersed Boundary Method (IBM) preferably in OpenFoam and the Discrete Particle Method (DEM)
• Willingness to be familiarised with the XDEM Software platform
• One of the working languages: English (mandatory), German or French
• Willingness to work in an inter-cultural environment
• Highly independent, motivated and with persistence in tackling and completing challenging tasks

We Offer:

• A dynamic and well-equipped research environment within XDEM research team www.xdem.de
• Intensive training in scientific and transferable skills, participation in schools. conferences and workshops
• Fixed term employee contracts, subject to review at UL
• Personal workspace at UL

In Short

• Contract Type: Befristeter Vertrag 36 Monat - extendable up to 48 months if required
• Work Hours: Vollzeit 40.0 Stunden pro Woche
• Location: Belval
• Internal Title: Doctoral Researcher
• Employee and student status
• Job Reference: UOL03938

Further Information

Application submission:

Before proceeding with the submission of your application, please prepare the following documents:

• Curriculum vitae
• Motivation letter (maximum one pages) detailing how you meet the selection criteria for the given research direction
• Publication list
• Copies of diplomas, transcripts with grades, with English, French or German translation

Early application is highly encouraged, as the applications will be processed upon reception. Please apply ONLINE formally through the HR system. Applications by email will not be considered.

The University of Luxembourg embraces inclusion and diversity as key values. We are fully committed to removing any discriminatory barrier related to gender, and not only, in recruitment and career progression of our staff.

Here’s what awaits you at the University

• Multilingual and international character. Modern institution with a personal atmosphere. Staff coming from 90 countries. Member of the “University of the Greater Region” (UniGR). 
• A modern and dynamic university. High-quality equipment. WiFi on campus. Close ties to the business world and to the Luxembourg labour market. A unique urban site with excellent infrastructure.
• A partner for society and industry. Cooperation with European institutions, innovative companies, the Financial Centre and with numerous non-academic partners such as ministries, local governments, associations, NGOs …

• Find out more about the University
• Addresses, maps & routes to the various sites of the University

Further information

Prof. B. Peters

Campus Kirchberg

6, rue Richard Coudenhove-Kalergi

L-1359 Luxembourg

Phone: +352 4666 44 5496 Fax: +352 4666 44 5500

Email: bernhard.peters@uni.lu http: www.uni.lu and www.xdem.de