Postdoc in Tunnel Modelling for Geological Disposal of Radioactive Waste

Job description

As nuclear energy is set to play an increasingly important role in the Netherlands' energy transition, there is a growing responsibility to safely manage radioactive waste in the long term. Currently, deep geological disposal is recognised as the only feasible solution for the final disposal of radioactive waste. In the Netherlands, deep plastic clay formations are considered as potential host formations for the geological disposal of radioactive waste.

Designing tunnels in deep plastic clay formations as found in the Dutch subsurface is technically challenging since these clays deform over time and require a lining to maintain the tunnel stable. At depths of several hundred metres, validated design guidelines for this combination of challenges do not yet exist, which limits optimal decision-making.

This post-doctoral researcher position is part of TUNED (TUnnelontwerp en engineering voor een geologische eindberging in kleilagen in NEDerland), a 4-year research project bringing together TU Delft, COVRA, EURIDICE, Fugro, ONDRAF/NIRAS, and Tunnel Engineering Consultants. TUNED aims to deliver validated methods for tunnel design for disposal facilities in clay formations, reducing the technical and economic uncertainties that currently stand in the way of assessing this option.

As a postdoctoral researcher, you will develop models needed to design tunnels with concrete lining at disposal depth. You will address the following questions:

• How can monitoring data from the HADES underground research laboratory be used to build and validate a high-fidelity reference model of tunnel-clay interaction?
• Which parameters and mechanisms govern the response of a lined tunnel?
• How can the complex, time-dependent behaviour of deep plastic clay and segmented concrete lining be captured in models that are simple and efficient enough for parametric design, yet reliable enough to be trusted?
• Can a coupled engineering-level model reliably reproduce the interaction between clay and lining, turning high-fidelity insight into a practical design tool?

You will be primarily embedded in the Geo-Engineering section of the Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences, with strong links with the Concrete Structures and Materials and Environment sections. Your supervisory team consists of Anne-Catherine Dieudonné, Wout Broere, Mladena Lukovic, and Erik Schlangen. Anne-Catherine Dieudonné is an expert in clay geomechanics and will act as scientific and technical coordinator of TUNED. Wout Broere is an expert in underground construction, focusing on the geotechnical aspects of (mechanised) tunnelling. Mladena Lukovic is an expert in the structural behaviour of high-performance and durable concretes, with a focus on interfaces in hybrid and reinforced concrete elements. Erik Schlangen is an expert in construction materials, with particular expertise in the fracture mechanics of concrete and self-healing materials. Together, this team offers a rare combination of expertise spanning clay geomechanics, tunnelling, concrete structures and concrete material - and a genuinely collaborative and supportive environment in which to develop as a researcher.

Job requirements
Need-to-haves:

• You hold a PhD degree in Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field.
• You have experience in finite element and constitutive modelling applied to geotechnical engineering, structural engineering, or construction materials.
• You have a track record of independent research, evidenced by peer-reviewed publications.
• You have a strong interest in applied, solution-oriented research, and enjoy developing practical, implementable engineering solutions.
• You are self-motivated, communicate well, and collaborate easily with others.
• You have excellent written and spoken English (minimum requirement: TOEFL score of 100, or IELTS 7.0 on all sub-skills).

Nice-to-haves:

• You have experience in the industry.
• You have some knowledge of Dutch.

TU Delft (Delft University of Technology)
Working at TU Delft means contributing to solutions that really make a difference.

For over 180 years, we have been training engineers who make an impact worldwide in companies, government bodies, or as entrepreneurs. Our alumni turn knowledge into concrete solutions for the challenges of today and tomorrow. These challenges are changing rapidly. That is why we focus on themes such as energy, climate, digitalisation, artificial intelligence (AI), and smart mobility every day. Our education and research are directly aligned with what society needs now and in the future.

At TU Delft, our people make the difference. With their knowledge and curiosity, our staff provide a high-quality education and conduct pioneering research that extends beyond the campus. You will have the opportunity to take the initiative, work with others, and grow as a professional. Working at TU Delft means join an international community of professionals and students. Together, we create knowledge, innovations, and solutions that help move the world forward.

Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences
The Faculty of Civil Engineering & Geosciences (CEG) is committed to outstanding international research and education in the field of civil engineering, applied earth sciences, traffic and transport, water technology, and delta technology. Our research feeds into our educational programmes and covers societal challenges such as climate change, energy transition, resource availability, urbanisation and clean water. Our research projects are conducted in close cooperation with a wide range of research institutions. CEG is convinced of the importance of open science and supports its scientists in integrating open science in their research practice. The Faculty of CEG comprises 28 research groups in the following seven departments: Materials Mechanics Management & Design, Engineering Structures, Geoscience and Engineering, Geoscience and Remote Sensing, Transport & Planning, Hydraulic Engineering and Water Management.

Click here to go to the website of the Faculty of Civil Engineering & Geosciences.

Postdoc in Theoretical Quantum Physics | Quantum Sensing and Tests of Fundamental Physics

Job description

Imagine extending decades of exquisite quantum control from atoms, ions, photons, and related quantum platforms to the rigid-body motion of an entire solid containing billions of atoms. This capability is now becoming a reality through rapid advances in the control of mechanical quantum systems, opening new opportunities for quantum sensing, precision metrology, and tests of the fundamental laws of physics. Realising this potential, however, requires theoretical frameworks that connect realistic quantum experiments with the fundamental questions they are expected to address.

As a postdoctoral researcher at TU Delft, you will develop and lead analytical and numerical research on the quantum dynamics of mechanical systems and their interactions with complex environments. Building on these models, you will formulate and investigate new approaches to quantum control, noise mitigation, and quantum sensing, while establishing the fundamental limits that govern the preparation, manipulation, and certification of quantum states in realistic experiments. By combining experimentally grounded models with theoretical tools from quantum information, open quantum systems, and the foundations of quantum physics, you will contribute to defining what laboratory-scale quantum experiments can, and cannot, achieve in terms of sensing capabilities and what they can reveal about decoherence, the quantum-to-classical transition, the interface between quantum mechanics and gravity, and the limits of quantum mechanics in general.

You will join the newly established theory group of Assistant Professor Julen Simón Pedernales in the Department of Quantum Nanoscience at TU Delft as one of its first postdoctoral researchers. The group's research is centred on developing the theoretical foundations of mechanical quantum systems for quantum sensing and tests of fundamental physics. Within this framework, you will be encouraged to contribute original ideas, identify promising research directions, and translate broad scientific goals into concrete research projects.

As one of the first members of the group, you will help build a collaborative research environment based on open scientific discussion, creative thinking, intellectual curiosity, and rigorous, yet experimentally relevant theory. You will work closely with students and collaborators in Delft and across an international network while developing the independence, mentoring experience, and scientific communication skills expected of a future principal investigator, providing a strong foundation for the next stage of your academic career.

Job requirements
You are a researcher who enjoys discussing physics in an open and collaborative environment, where ideas are openly discussed and constructive criticism is welcomed. You enjoy moving across different levels of abstraction, from concrete, experimentally grounded models of quantum systems to general mathematical frameworks, and using the insights gained at one level to inform the other. You are excited by the opportunity to develop as an independent researcher, gradually taking on greater scientific responsibility while building the leadership and mentoring skills needed for a successful academic career.

You also have:

• A PhD in Physics or a closely related discipline by the start of the appointment.
• Expertise in one or more of the following areas: quantum optics, quantum technologies, quantum information, quantum sensing, or related fields.
• Experience developing analytical and numerical models of quantum systems.
• Excellent written and spoken English.
• Excellent communication skills.
• An interest in mentoring students and contributing to the scientific development of a growing research group.

Knowledge of one or more of the following topics would be an advantage:

• Quantum metrology.
• Continuous-variable quantum systems and Gaussian state formalism.
• Quantum information theory and entanglement theory.
• Theory of spin-mechanical systems.
• Open quantum systems, continuous quantum measurement and feedback, and stochastic methods for quantum dynamics.
• Tests of fundamental physics with quantum systems, including collapse models, deformed commutation relations, and related modifications of quantum theory.
• The interface between gravity and quantum mechanics, including linearized quantum gravity, hybrid classical-quantum theories of gravity, and gravity-mediated quantum interactions.     

TU Delft (Delft University of Technology)
Working at TU Delft means contributing to solutions that really make a difference.

For over 180 years, we have been training engineers who make an impact worldwide in companies, government bodies, or as entrepreneurs. Our alumni turn knowledge into concrete solutions for the challenges of today and tomorrow. These challenges are changing rapidly. That is why we focus on themes such as energy, climate, digitalisation, artificial intelligence (AI), and smart mobility every day. Our education and research are directly aligned with what society needs now and in the future.

At TU Delft, our people make the difference. With their knowledge and curiosity, our staff provide a high-quality education and conduct pioneering research that extends beyond the campus. You will have the opportunity to take the initiative, work with others, and grow as a professional. Working at TU Delft means join an international community of professionals and students. Together, we create knowledge, innovations, and solutions that help move the world forward.

Faculty Applied Sciences
With more than 1,100 employees, including 150 pioneering principal investigators, as well as a population of about 3,600 passionate students, the Faculty of Applied Sciences is an inspiring scientific ecosystem. Focusing on key enabling technologies, such as quantum- and nanotechnology, photonics, biotechnology, synthetic biology and materials for energy storage and conversion, our faculty aims to provide solutions to important problems of the 21st century. To that end, we educate innovative students in broad Bachelor's and specialist Master's programmes with a strong research component. Our scientists conduct ground-breaking fundamental and applied research in the fields of Life and Health Science & Technology, Nanoscience, Chemical Engineering, Radiation Science & Technology, and Engineering Physics. We are also training the next generation of high school teachers.

Click here to go to the website of the Faculty of Applied Sciences.

PhD Position in Theoretical Physics | Mechanical Quantum Sensors for Fundamental Physics

Job description

Imagine extending decades of exquisite quantum control from atoms, ions, photons, and related quantum platforms to the rigid-body motion of an entire solid containing billions of atoms. This capability is now becoming a reality through rapid advances in the quantum control of mechanical systems. Owing to their comparatively large mass, these quantum systems offer unprecedented sensing capabilities and open a new window onto some of the deepest questions in physics, including the quantum-to-classical transition, the nature of decoherence, and the interface between quantum mechanics and gravity. Realising this potential, however, requires a theoretical framework that connects the behaviour of realistic quantum systems with the fundamental questions they can address.

As a PhD candidate at TU Delft, you will develop analytical and numerical models describing the quantum dynamics of mechanical systems and their interactions with complex environments. Building on these models, you will investigate quantum control and noise mitigation techniques to prepare, manipulate, and protect fragile quantum states, improving the performance of mechanical systems for sensing, metrology, and tests of fundamental physics. By combining experimentally grounded models of realistic quantum systems with abstract theoretical frameworks from quantum information and the foundations of quantum physics, you will establish what laboratory-scale quantum experiments can, and cannot, reveal about the quantum-to-classical transition, decoherence, the interface between gravity and quantum mechanics, and the fundamental laws governing nature.

You will join the newly established theory group led by Assistant Professor Julen Simón Pedernales, working closely with him through regular scientific discussions and direct supervision while collaborating with leading experimental and theoretical researchers at TU Delft and an international network of collaborators. During your PhD, you will publish your work in leading scientific journals, present your work at international conferences, contribute to the supervision of Bachelor's and Master's students, and develop into an independent researcher in theoretical quantum physics.

Job requirements
You enjoy discussing physics in an open and collaborative environment, where ideas are openly discussed, assumptions are challenged, and constructive criticism is welcomed. You are comfortable combining analytical and numerical approaches to model realistic quantum experiments and appreciate how the two complement one another. You are eager to learn new techniques and explore unfamiliar ideas whenever a scientific question calls for them. Above all, you enjoy moving across different levels of abstraction, from experimentally grounded models of quantum systems to the mathematical frameworks used to describe the fundamental laws of nature.

You also have:

• A Master's degree in Physics or a closely related discipline.
• A strong background in quantum mechanics and mathematics.
• Experience with scientific programming tools.
• A good command of English, both written and spoken.

Experience in one or more of the following areas would be an advantage:

• Quantum optics.
• Quantum sensing and metrology.
• Optomechanics and mechanical quantum systems.
• Quantum information theory.
• Foundations of quantum mechanics.
• The interface between gravity and quantum mechanics.

TU Delft (Delft University of Technology)
Working at TU Delft means contributing to solutions that really make a difference.

For over 180 years, we have been training engineers who make an impact worldwide in companies, government bodies, or as entrepreneurs. Our alumni turn knowledge into concrete solutions for the challenges of today and tomorrow. These challenges are changing rapidly. That is why we focus on themes such as energy, climate, digitalisation, artificial intelligence (AI), and smart mobility every day. Our education and research are directly aligned with what society needs now and in the future.

At TU Delft, our people make the difference. With their knowledge and curiosity, our staff provide a high-quality education and conduct pioneering research that extends beyond the campus. You will have the opportunity to take the initiative, work with others, and grow as a professional. Working at TU Delft means join an international community of professionals and students. Together, we create knowledge, innovations, and solutions that help move the world forward.

Faculty Applied Sciences
With more than 1,100 employees, including 150 pioneering principal investigators, as well as a population of about 3,600 passionate students, the Faculty of Applied Sciences is an inspiring scientific ecosystem. Focusing on key enabling technologies, such as quantum- and nanotechnology, photonics, biotechnology, synthetic biology and materials for energy storage and conversion, our faculty aims to provide solutions to important problems of the 21st century. To that end, we educate innovative students in broad Bachelor's and specialist Master's programmes with a strong research component. Our scientists conduct ground-breaking fundamental and applied research in the fields of Life and Health Science & Technology, Nanoscience, Chemical Engineering, Radiation Science & Technology, and Engineering Physics. We are also training the next generation of high school teachers.

Click here to go to the website of the Faculty of Applied Sciences.

PhD Position in Tunnel Design for Geological Disposal of Radioactive Waste

Job description

As nuclear energy is set to play an increasingly important role in the Netherlands' energy transition, there is a growing responsibility to safely manage radioactive waste in the long term. Currently, deep geological disposal is recognised as the only feasible solution for the final disposal of radioactive waste. In the Netherlands, deep plastic clay formations are considered as potential host formation for the geological disposal of radioactive waste.

Designing tunnels in deep plastic clay formations as found in the Dutch subsurface is technically challenging since these clays deform over time and require a lining to maintain the tunnel stable. At depths of several hundred metres, validated design guidelines for this combination of challenges do not yet exist, which limits optimal decision-making.

This PhD position is part of TUNED (TUnnelontwerp en engineering voor een geologische eindberging in kleilagen in NEDerland), a 4-year research project bringing together TU Delft, COVRA, EURIDICE, Fugro, ONDRAF/NIRAS, and Tunnel Engineering Consultants. TUNED aims to deliver validated methods for tunnel design for disposal facilities in clay formations, reducing the technical and economic uncertainties that currently stand in the way of assessing this option.

As a PhD candidate, you will contribute to three connected parts of this effort:

• You will help translate functional and safety requirements into a practical Basis of Design for tunnels with concrete lining at disposal depth, establishing a transparent and traceable set of design requirements.
• You will work on the data analysis underlying the project's monitoring strategy, linking historical and new measurements from the HADES underground research laboratory to the design assumptions they are meant to validate.
• You will explore innovative tunnel support concepts, assessing their potential for use at disposal depth and what further validation they would require.

You will be primarily embedded in the Geo-Engineering section of the Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences, with strong links with the Concrete Structures and Materials and Environment sections. Your supervisory team consists of Anne-Catherine Dieudonné, Wout Broere, Mladena Lukovic, and Erik Schlangen. Anne-Catherine Dieudonné is an expert in clay geomechanics and will act as scientific and technical coordinator of TUNED. Wout Broere is an expert in underground construction, focusing on the geotechnical aspects of (mechanised) tunnelling. Mladena Lukovic is an expert in the structural behaviour of high-performance and durable concretes, with a focus on interfaces in hybrid and reinforced concrete elements. Erik Schlangen is an expert in construction materials, with particular expertise in the fracture mechanics of concrete and self-healing materials. Together, this team offers a rare combination of expertise spanning clay geomechanics, tunnelling, concrete structures and concrete material - and a genuinely collaborative and supportive environment in which to develop as a researcher.

Job requirements
Need-to-haves:

• You hold an MSc degree in Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field.
• You have a strong interest in applied, solution-oriented research, and enjoy developing practical, implementable engineering solutions.
• You are interested in geotechnical engineering, structural engineering, and construction materials.
• You bring technical rigour to your work.
• You are self-motivated, communicate well, and collaborate easily with others.
• You have excellent written and spoken English (minimum requirement: TOEFL score of 100, or IELTS 7.0 on all sub-skills).

Nice-to-haves:

• You have experience in the industry.
• You have some knowledge of Dutch.

TU Delft (Delft University of Technology)
Working at TU Delft means contributing to solutions that really make a difference.

For over 180 years, we have been training engineers who make an impact worldwide in companies, government bodies, or as entrepreneurs. Our alumni turn knowledge into concrete solutions for the challenges of today and tomorrow. These challenges are changing rapidly. That is why we focus on themes such as energy, climate, digitalisation, artificial intelligence (AI), and smart mobility every day. Our education and research are directly aligned with what society needs now and in the future.

At TU Delft, our people make the difference. With their knowledge and curiosity, our staff provide a high-quality education and conduct pioneering research that extends beyond the campus. You will have the opportunity to take the initiative, work with others, and grow as a professional. Working at TU Delft means join an international community of professionals and students. Together, we create knowledge, innovations, and solutions that help move the world forward.

Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences
The Faculty of Civil Engineering & Geosciences (CEG) is committed to outstanding international research and education in the field of civil engineering, applied earth sciences, traffic and transport, water technology, and delta technology. Our research feeds into our educational programmes and covers societal challenges such as climate change, energy transition, resource availability, urbanisation and clean water. Our research projects are conducted in close cooperation with a wide range of research institutions. CEG is convinced of the importance of open science and supports its scientists in integrating open science in their research practice. The Faculty of CEG comprises 28 research groups in the following seven departments: Materials Mechanics Management & Design, Engineering Structures, Geoscience and Engineering, Geoscience and Remote Sensing, Transport & Planning, Hydraulic Engineering and Water Management.

Click here to go to the website of the Faculty of Civil Engineering & Geosciences.

Research Assistant

We are only slowly beginning to understand the different ways in which memories can be formed and retained in long-term memory. Different memory systems in our brain (e.g. the hippocampus vs. neocortical structures) are involved, depending not only on whether and how long ago the information was learned, but probably also on the individual learner, the type of learning material and the learning situation.

As part of the team of the ERC consolidator project ’MultiMemoryL2 - Multiple routes to memory for a second language’, you will contribute to the study of how different memory systems are used for L2 word, pronunciation and grammar learning, and how this differs between individuals and learning contexts. The project makes use of behavioural, electrophysiological and brain imaging techniques. You will collaborate with the project team, consisting of several junior researchers, as well as with project leader Prof. Kristin Lemhöfer.

Your main tasks will be to prepare, carry out and help analyse behavioural and brain imaging experiments with healthy adult participants. Furthermore, you will support the professional handling of data archiving and ethical approval as well as other administrative tasks within the ERC project. Ideally, you have the skills required for maintaining the project’s website and the programming of the experiments. Currently, we are especially looking for someone with experience in the analysis of fMRI data (but this is not a strict requirement). This position is well suited to you if you wish to qualify and prepare for a later PhD position.