We are seeking a highly motivated PhD student to join the Division of Soil and Rock Mechanics at KTH. The doctoral project focuses on improving current design methods for sealing rock tunnels against groundwater inflow using grouting, a process that represents a major part of both the cost and construction time in tunnelling. Despite its importance, practical experience shows that predicting the resulting watertightness of a grouting design remains challenging.
This project aims to develop new design principles for tunnel grouting, contributing directly to the scientific foundation of a forthcoming European design standard for underground construction in rock.
About the Doctoral Project
As a PhD student, you will work in close collaboration with experts in rock mechanics, grouting technology, groundwater modelling, and reliability-based design. Your main responsibilities will include:
- Quantifying uncertainties in grouting design using probabilistic and statistical methods.
- Formulating grouting design within a limit state verification framework and evaluating the methodology under realistic conditions.
- Publishing scientific papers, expanding your expertise in soil and rock mechanics, and contributing to teaching at the undergraduate and master’s levels.
Through this work, you will develop strong analytical and modelling skills and position yourself for a future career as a specialist in academia or industry.
Supervision team:
- Johan Spross (design principles)
- Fredrik Johansson (rock mechanics)
- Liangchao Zou (groundwater modelling)
Final decisions on supervision are made at admission.
Admission Requirements
To be admitted to postgraduate education at KTH (Chapter 7, §39 of the Swedish Higher Education Ordinance), you must meet one of the following:
- Hold a second-cycle degree (e.g., master’s degree), or
- Have completed at least 240 ECTS credits, including 60 ECTS at the second-cycle level, or
- Possess equivalent knowledge acquired in Sweden or abroad.
A mandatory requirement is English proficiency equivalent to English B/6.
Selection Criteria
To succeed as a doctoral student at KTH, you should be goal-oriented, thorough, and capable of working both independently and collaboratively. Candidates will be assessed on their ability to:
- Conduct independent academic work
- Collaborate effectively
- Demonstrate a professional attitude
- Analyse and solve complex problems
The ideal applicant has a background in geotechnical or rock engineering, groundwater modelling, or similarly relevant subjects (at least 60 second-cycle credits in these fields). Experience in hydrogeology, geotechnical/rock engineering practice, and/or skills in statistics, reliability-based design, and programming are valuable merits. Strong academic performance and excellent command of written and spoken English are essential.
After qualification requirements, strong emphasis will be placed on personal suitability.
Target degree: Licentiate degree.
Employment Information
Only applicants admitted to postgraduate education may be hired as doctoral students. Employment is full-time, initially for up to one year and renewable for a maximum of two years at a time. For a licentiate degree, total employment corresponds to two years of full-time doctoral studies.
Doctoral students may engage in teaching or administrative duties up to 20% of full-time.
As an employee at KTH, you are entitled to employment benefits and a monthly salary according to the KTH Doctoral Student Salary Agreement.
More information: Doctoral studies (PhD) | KTH | Sweden
How to Apply
Applications must be submitted through KTH’s recruitment system. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that all required documents are included.
Your application must contain:
- CV detailing relevant experience and knowledge
- Application letter (max 2 pages) explaining your motivation, research interests, and how they relate to your background and future goals
- Certified copies of diplomas, transcripts, and proof of English proficiency (with translations into English or Swedish if necessary)
- Representative publications or technical reports, including abstracts and links
- Any additional documents requested in the advertisement
Applications must be received no later than the final deadline (midnight CET/CEST).
Additional Information
- Contact details for union representatives and the doctoral students’ network are available in the full advertisement.
- Some positions at KTH may be subject to security screening under the Protective Security Act (2018:585).
- KTH does not accept contact from staffing agencies or ad sellers.
- In case of discrepancies, the Swedish version of the announcement takes precedence.
https://www.kth.se/lediga-jobb/876045?l=en
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