Research Associate in Geohazards

Job description:

We are recruiting a dedicated Postdoctoral Research Associate for the EPSRC-funded project, “Rooting for Resilience – Forests as Physical Barriers to Landslide Runout.” This project aims to develop a comprehensive framework for assessing the capacity of forests to mitigate landslide hazards, particularly focusing on the interaction between landslides and trees, including the effects of tree failure and woody debris. The research integrates numerical modelling, laboratory experiments, and case studies to guide reforestation strategies for landslide hazard reduction.

Educated to PhD level, you will possess strong expertise in geotechnical engineering, numerical modelling, and/or landslide science. You will take an active role in designing and conducting scaled physical experiments in landslide-forest interaction, developing advanced numerical models, and integrating the results into regional-scale hazard assessment frameworks. The role will also involve close collaboration with national and international project partners, including research secondments and steering committee participation.

Key responsibilities include:

• Conducting laboratory flume experiments to study tree failure and woody debris interaction with landslides.
• Developing and applying a multi-scale numerical modelling framework integrating Lattice-Boltzmann and Discrete-Element Methods.
• Analysing the effectiveness of forest configurations as natural barriers at various scales.
• Presenting findings in project meetings, conferences, and publications.
• Collaborating with stakeholders to develop guidelines for hazard mitigation using reforestation strategies.

This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to innovative research addressing the societal challenge of landslide mitigation while advancing nature-based solutions.

This post is fixed-term, with a flexible start date from 1st March 2025 for a duration of 36 months. Full-time and part-time options are available, with the contract ending on or before 28th February 2028.

The University of Sheffield is a remarkable place to work. Our people are at the heart of everything we do. Their diverse backgrounds, abilities and beliefs make Sheffield a world-class university.

We offer a fantastic range of benefits including a highly competitive annual leave entitlement (with the ability to purchase more), a generous pensions scheme, flexible working opportunities,a commitment to your development and wellbeing, a wide range of retail discounts, and much more.

We build teams of people from different heritages and lifestyles from across the world, whose talent and contributions complement each other to greatest effect. We believe diversity in all its forms delivers greater impact through research, teaching and student experience.

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