Post-Doctoral Associate - Geotechnical Engineering

Allocation Assist Middle East; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Medical insurance

Housing allowance

Annual home-leave travel

Educational subsidies for children

Relocation allowance

Access to health and wellness services

Research support

Support for dual-career families

Job summary

New York University Abu Dhabi invites applications for a Post-Doctoral Associate in Geotechnical Engineering to join SHORES and the Civil and Urban Engineering Program in Abu Dhabi. The role focuses on developing, testing, and analyzing resilient geotechnical systems using centrifuge modeling, laboratory testing, and numerical simulations.

Research targets soil behavior and system performance for infrastructure, energy, and sustainability applications, with a collaborative, multidisciplinary

Qualifications

• PhD in Geotechnical Engineering or closely related field.
• Within five years of PhD award.
• Experience in geotechnical lab testing.
• Experience with centrifuge experimental modeling.

Responsibilities

• Perform and interpret geotechnical laboratory tests supporting the experimental research program.
• Plan, design, conduct, and analyze centrifuge model experiments.
• Conduct soil characterization and sample preparation for laboratory investigations.
• Perform mechanical testing and analyze experimental data.
• Design centrifuge experiments, including instrumentation and data collection requirements.
• Interpret experimental observations and centrifuge modeling results.
• Contribute to the development and evaluation of resilient geotechnical systems.
• Support complementary numerical simulations associated with experimental research.
• Contribute to the design and development of experimental setups and laboratory apparatus.
• Prepare research findings for publication in high-quality peer-reviewed journals.
• Collaborate with faculty, postdoctoral researchers, students, and other members of the multidisciplinary research team.

Skills

Geotechnical lab testing

Soil characterization

Sample preparation

Mechanical testing

Data analysis

Centrifuge modeling

Centrifuge design

Instrumentation

Data acquisition

Education

PhD in Geotechnical Engineering or related field

Tools

CAD

SolidWorks

Job description

Post-Doctoral Associate - Geotechnical Engineering

Job Snapshot

• Role: Post-Doctoral Associate - Geotechnical Engineering
• Location: Abu Dhabi, UAE
• Industry: Higher Education
• Function: Research
• Experience: Less than 5 years post-PhD
• Job Type: Full Time

Position Overview

New York University Abu Dhabi is seeking a Post-Doctoral Associate - Geotechnical Engineering to join the Center for Sand Hazards and Opportunities in Resilience, Energy, and Sustainability (SHORES) and the Civil and Urban Engineering Program in Abu Dhabi, UAE. The position focuses on developing, testing, and analyzing resilient geotechnical systems through centrifuge modeling, laboratory testing, and complementary numerical simulations. The research aims to advance understanding of soil behavior and geotechnical system performance for infrastructure, energy, and sustainability applications.

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 Project

The successful candidate will contribute to experimental and computational research addressing the performance and resilience of geotechnical systems. The research program combines centrifuge experiments, geotechnical laboratory testing, experimental apparatus development, and numerical simulation to investigate soil behavior under conditions relevant to infrastructure, energy, and sustainability applications.

Research Responsibilities

• Perform and interpret geotechnical laboratory tests supporting the experimental research program.
• Plan, design, conduct, and analyze centrifuge model experiments.
• Conduct soil characterization and sample preparation for laboratory investigations.
• Perform mechanical testing and analyze experimental data.
• Design centrifuge experiments, including instrumentation and data collection requirements.
• Interpret experimental observations and centrifuge modeling results.
• Contribute to the development and evaluation of resilient geotechnical systems.
• Support complementary numerical simulations associated with experimental research.
• Contribute to the design and development of experimental setups and laboratory apparatus.
• Prepare research findings for publication in high-quality peer-reviewed journals.
• Collaborate with faculty, postdoctoral researchers, students, and other members of the multidisciplinary research team.

Required Qualifications

Applicants must hold a PhD in Geotechnical Engineering or a closely related field and must be within five years of receiving the doctoral degree. Candidates should have research experience in one or more of the following areas:

• Geotechnical laboratory testing.
• Soil characterization.
• Sample preparation.
• Mechanical testing of soils.
• Experimental data analysis.
• Centrifuge experimental modeling.
• Centrifuge test design and execution.
• Experimental instrumentation.
• Data acquisition and interpretation.

Preferred Technical Experience

Experience with CAD and modeling tools for experimental design and apparatus development is preferred. SolidWorks experience will be considered an advantage.

Research Environment

The Post-Doctoral Associate will work within the Center for Sand Hazards and Opportunities in Resilience, Energy, and Sustainability and the Civil and Urban Engineering Program at NYU Abu Dhabi. The position provides a multidisciplinary research environment combining geotechnical engineering, physical modeling, laboratory experimentation, numerical simulation, infrastructure resilience, energy, and sustainability research.

Employment and Benefits

Source-listed employment benefits include:

• Competitive salary.
• Medical insurance.
• Housing allowance.
• Annual home-leave travel.
• Educational subsidies for children.
• Relocation allowance.
• Access to health and wellness services.
• Research support.
• Support for dual-career families.

Application Requirements

Applicants must submit the following materials in PDF format:

• Cover letter.
• Curriculum Vitae with full publication list.
• Academic transcript.
• Statement of research interests.
• Contact information for at least two references.

Applications are welcomed from all qualified candidates. In line with UAE regulations, Emirati candidates are encouraged to apply.

About New York University Abu Dhabi

New York University Abu Dhabi is a comprehensive liberal arts and research campus in Abu Dhabi and part of NYU 's global university network. Its academic and research activities span science, engineering, social sciences, humanities, and the arts. Together with NYU 's campuses in New York and Shanghai, NYU Abu Dhabi supports multidisciplinary research, advanced scholarship, and international academic collaboration within a globally connected university community.