Postdoc in vehicle-track-ground interaction dynamics.

Job description

This position focuses on investigating vehicle-track-ground interaction dynamics with a particular emphasis on the critical speed induced by high-speed trains. The candidate will contribute to the development of methodologies for modelling, predicting, and validating dynamic interactions through numerical simulations and field measurements. This project is funded by The Swedish Transport Administration and includes opportunities for international collaboration. You will be part of a cross-disciplinary and cross-border research team, contributing both to academic knowledge and practical applications relevant to railway infrastructure design and safety. This position will be in the research group of Division of Soil- and -Rock Mechanics at the Department of Civil and Architectural Engineering.

Key Responsibilities:

• Conduct research on the dynamic interaction between high-speed trains and the track-ground system.
• Develop numerical models to simulate vehicle-track-ground dynamics, particularly focusing on critical speed prediction and the influence of ground reinforcement techniques.
• Design and implement validation experiments using field measurements, including the assessment of ground improvement methods.
• Collaborate with international partners and contribute to joint research outputs.
• Publish high-quality research articles in peer-reviewed journals.

What we offer

• A position at a leading technical university that generates knowledge and skills for a sustainable future
• Engaged and ambitious colleagues along with a creative, international and dynamic working environment
• Work in Stockholm, in close proximity to nature
• Guidance on relocating and settling in KTH and in Sweden 

Read more about what it's like to work at KTH and our benefits.

Qualifications

Requirements

• A doctoral degree or an equivalent foreign degree. This eligibility requirement must be met no later than the time the employment decision is made.
• PhD in Railway Engineering, Civil Engineering, Geotechnical Engineering, or a closely related field, with a focus on geodynamics or vehicle-track interaction.
• Demonstrated research experience in vehicle-track-ground interaction dynamics.
• Proven track record of publishing in reputable scientific journals.
• Excellent command of professional English, both written and spoken, as it is required in daily work

Preferred qualifications

• A doctoral degree or an equivalent foreign degree, obtained within the last three years prior to the application deadline
• Previous involvement with The Swedish Transport Administration projects or similar infrastructure authorities.
• Experience in areas related to railway infrastructure design, including ground improvement techniques e.g. Deep Mixing or piled embankments.
• Experience working in industry-academic partnerships, especially related to high-speed rail.
• Proficiency in numerical modelling tools relevant to soil-railway dynamics, with an understanding of modelling reinforced ground structures.
• Familiarity with field instrumentation and validation techniques for dynamic system. 
• Awareness of diversity and equal opportunity issues, with specific focus on gender equality

Great emphasis will be placed on personal skills.

Trade union representatives

Contact information to trade union representatives.

To apply for the position

Log into KTH's recruitment system to apply for this position. You are responsible for ensuring that your application is complete according to the instructions in the ad.

The application must include:

• CV including relevant professional experience and knowledge.
• Copy of diplomas and grades from your previous university studies. Translations into English or Swedish if the original documents have not been issued in any of these languages.
• Brief account of why you want to conduct research, your academic interests and how they relate to your previous studies and future goals. Maximally two pages long. 

Your complete application must be received at KTH no later than the last day of application, midnight CET/CEST (Central European Time/Central European Summer Time).

About the employment

The position offered is for, at the most, two years.

A position as a postdoctoral fellow is a time-limited qualified appointment focusing mainly on research, intended as a first career step after a dissertation.

Others

Striving towards gender equality, diversity and equal conditions is both a question of quality for KTH and a given part of our values.

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It may be the case that a position at KTH is classified as a security-sensitive role in accordance with the Protective Security Act (2018:585). If this applies to the specific position, a security clearance will be conducted for the applicant in accordance with the same law with the applicant's consent. In such cases, a prerequisite for employment is that the applicant is approved following the security clearance.

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Disclaimer: In case of discrepancy between the Swedish original and the English translation of the job announcement, the Swedish version takes precedence.

About KTH

KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm has grown to become one of Europe’s leading technical and engineering universities, as well as a key centre of intellectual talent and innovation. We are Sweden’s largest technical research and learning institution and home to students, researchers and faculty from around the world. Our research and education covers a wide area including natural sciences and all branches of engineering, as well as architecture, industrial management, urban planning, history and philosophy. Read more here