Post-Doctoral Associate - Computational Geomechanics

Allocation Assist Middle East; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Medical insurance

Housing allowance

Annual home-leave travel

Educational subsidies for children

Other employment benefits

Job summary

New York University Abu Dhabi invites applications for a Post-Doctoral Associate in Computational Geomechanics to advance coupled fracture and damage modeling under multiphysical loading. The scholar will work with the SHORES center and the Division of Engineering in Abu Dhabi, contributing to hydraulic fracturing and carbon sequestration research.

The position emphasizes theoretical mechanics, numerical methods, and experimental validation, collaborating with multidisciplinary teams on energy

Qualifications

• PhD within the first five years since obtaining the degree.
• Experience in computational mechanics and computational geomechanics.

Responsibilities

• Conduct research in computational mechanics and computational geomechanics.
• Develop models for coupled fracture and damage behavior in geomechanical materials.
• Investigate material response under hydraulic, thermal, chemical, and multiphysical loading conditions.
• Develop theoretical formulations for advanced mechanics and numerical models.
• Implement computational methods for geomechanical simulations.
• Perform constitutive model calibration and validation using experimental data.
• Contribute to modeling approaches for hydraulic fracturing.
• Investigate geomechanical modeling relevant to carbon sequestration.
• Collaborate with SHORES research teams.

Skills

Computational mechanics

Geomechanics

Multiphysics modeling

Numerical methods

Education

PhD in Engineering Mechanics

PhD in Civil Engineering

PhD in Mechanical Engineering

Job description

Post-Doctoral Associate - Computational Geomechanics

Location: Abu Dhabi, UAE

Industry: Higher Education

Function: Research

Experience: Within the first 5 years since receiving a PhD

Job Type: Full Time

New York University Abu Dhabi is seeking a Post-Doctoral Associate to join the Center for Sand Hazards and Opportunities in Resilience, Energy, and Sustainability (SHORES) and the Division of Engineering in Abu Dhabi, UAE. The position focuses on advanced computational geomechanics for energy applications, including coupled fracture and damage modeling under hydraulic, thermal, and chemical loading. Working under the supervision of Professor Mostafa Mobasher, the researcher will contribute to modeling technologies relevant to hydraulic fracturing, carbon sequestration, and multiphysics behavior of geomechanical materials.

Job Details

Country: UAE City: Abu Dhabi Industry: Higher Education Function: Research Salary: Not disclosed Gender: No Preference Candidate Nationality: Not specified Job Type: Full Time Work Arrangement: On-site

Research Focus

The project investigates advanced modeling of coupled fracture and damage processes in geomechanical materials subjected to multiphysical loading regimes. These include hydraulic, thermal, and chemical processes relevant to subsurface engineering and energy applications. Research activities will combine theoretical development with implementation of advanced mechanics and numerical models. Constitutive models will also be calibrated and validated using physical experimental data, creating a direct connection between computational modeling and experimental geomechanics. The resulting methods are intended to advance the modeling of hydraulic fracturing and carbon sequestration.

Research Activities

• Conduct research in computational mechanics and computational geomechanics.
• Develop models for coupled fracture and damage behavior in geomechanical materials.
• Investigate material response under hydraulic, thermal, chemical, and other multiphysical loading conditions.
• Develop theoretical formulations for advanced mechanics and numerical models.
• Implement computational methods for geomechanical simulations.
• Perform constitutive model calibration and validation using physical experimental data.
• Contribute to modeling approaches for hydraulic fracturing.
• Investigate geomechanical modeling relevant to carbon sequestration.
• Collaborate closely with multidisciplinary researchers within the SHORES research teams.

Required Qualifications

Candidates must hold a PhD in one of the following disciplines:

• Engineering Mechanics.
• Civil Engineering.
• Mechanical Engineering.

Applicants must be within the first five years since receiving their PhD and should demonstrate research experience in computational mechanics and computational geomechanics.

Preferred Research Experience

Relevant experience in one or more of the following areas is preferred:

• Modeling of geomechanical systems.
• Hydraulic fracturing modeling.
• Carbon sequestration modeling.
• Multiphysics modeling within a solid mechanics framework.
• Nonlinear solid material response.
• Fracture modeling.
• Machine learning for solid mechanics applications.
• Development and coupling of numerical methods for solid mechanics.
• Digital rock technology.
• Advanced imaging and associated analysis.
• High-pressure and high-temperature triaxial testing.
• Experimental rock mechanics.

Research Environment

The Post-Doctoral Associate will work directly with Professor Mostafa Mobasher and collaborate extensively with multidisciplinary teams within the SHORES center. The position combines theoretical mechanics, computational methods, constitutive modeling, numerical implementation, and experimental validation, providing a research environment connecting fundamental geomechanics with practical challenges in energy and subsurface engineering.

Employment and Benefits

NYU Abu Dhabi states that the employment package includes:

• Competitive salary.
• Medical insurance.
• Housing allowance.
• Annual home-leave travel.
• Educational subsidies for children.
• Other employment benefits.

About New York University Abu Dhabi

New York University Abu Dhabi is a degree-granting research university with an integrated liberal arts and sciences undergraduate program spanning the Arts, Sciences, Social Sciences, Humanities, and Engineering. Together with NYU New York and NYU Shanghai, NYU Abu Dhabi forms part of NYU's global university network connecting campuses and academic centers across six continents. The Abu Dhabi campus supports advanced research, scholarly collaboration, knowledge creation, and multidisciplinary academic activity within an international research environment.