POST-DOC OPPORTUNITY – Post-Doc Researcher in Earthquake Engineering M/F

Institut-Seism; Paris; Sur place; EUR 30 000 - 50 000; Plein temps

Résumé du poste

A leading Earth Science institution in Orléans is seeking a researcher with a PhD to develop procedures for seismic data management. The ideal candidate will have experience in engineering seismology and strong programming skills in tools like Matlab and Python. This full-time role requires collaboration with international partners and may involve short travels across France and Europe. Application is due by August 16th, 2019.

Qualifications

• Previous experience in engineering seismology, structural engineering, or earthquake engineering.
• Proven track record of peer-reviewed publications in international journals.

Responsabilités

• Develop procedures for generating strong-motion maps.
• Evaluate and apply vulnerability models for buildings.
• Generate damage maps combining field observations and predictive models.
• Collaborate and exchange results with project partners.

Connaissances

Scientific programming skills (Matlab, Python, bash scripts)

Fluency in English

Knowledge of seismological data visualization tools

Understanding of earthquake engineering community in Europe

Formation

PhD degree within the last five years

Outils

SeisComp

Description du poste

The BRGM, French Geological Survey, is the reference public institution for Earth Science applications in the management of surface and subsurface resources and risks (www.brgm.eu ). Its action is oriented towards scientific research, support to public policies and international cooperation.

Location of the position: France, Centre, Orléans

Direction: Risk and Prevention Direction – Division of Seismic and Volcanic Risks (DRP/RSV)

Planned start date of the contract: October 2019

Contract type: Fixed-term – 24 months

Description of the position

BRGM is a partner of the Horizon-2020 research project TURNkey, «Towards more Earthquake-resilient Urban Societies through a Multi-sensor-based Information System enabling Earthquake Forecasting, Early Warning and Rapid Response actions».

This project is starting in June 2019 and it aims to develop procedures for the acquisition and treatment of data from various types of seismic sensors, in order to build an operational platorm in support of seismic crisis managers. The developments will be applied to six test-bed areas in Europe, each of them posessing distinct characteristics in terms of seismic hazard and exposures of assets and population. BRGM will be responsible for the management of the test-bed in the Pyrenees mountain range, which will pertain to the exploitation of the live data flow from the ground-motion network, and to the generation of shake-maps and damage maps in a rapid response context.

Within the Division of Seismic and Volcanic Risks, you will be actively involved in the project’s activities and in the completion of the followign technical tasks:

To develop procedures for the generation of strong-motion maps (shake-maps):

• To exploit data from the seismic sensors, through the SeisComp architecture;
• To generate strong-motion maps and to update them from field observations (i.e., shake-maps);
• To treat uncertainties related to the use of various types of «sensors» (e.g., broad-band seismometers, strong-motion stations, «low-cost» accelerometers, macroseismic accounts, etc.);
• To use statistical inference techniques in order to update local site amplification models (i.e., accounting for specific site effects in the test-bed area).

To develop procedurees for the rapid prediction of damage and losses:

• To evaluate and to apply vulnerability models for exposed buildings and infrastructure components;
• To participate in the monitoring of selected structures, as a support for real-time damage detection;
• To generate damage maps, combining field observations (e.g., data from sensors, witness accounts, etc.) and predictive models (strong-motion maps and fragility functions);
• To build a toolbox, contaning a set of algorithms that will facilitate the application of the developed procedures, in a rapid response context.

To exchange with the project partners and to disseminate results:

• To collaborate actively with the partners and to mutualise the efforts in order to complete the required tasks;
• To participate in the life of the project (e.g., attendance to plenary meetings, workshops, etc.);
• To disseminate results, through papers in international journals and presentations at conferences.

Profile

You have completed a PhD degree within the last five years and you have a first experience of research acitvities in the field of engineering seismology, structural engineering or earthquake engineering, with a proven track record of peer-reviewed publications in international journals.

You will also possess the following skills and qualities:

• Advanced skills in scientific programming tools (e.g., Matlab, Python, bash scripts);
• Fluency in English (written and spoken communication), in order to collaborate with international partners;
• Knowledge of tools for the visualisation and treatment of seismological data (e.g., SeisComp, tools for the localisation of earthauqkes);
• A good knowledge of the earthquake engineering community in Europe would be appreciated.

Specific requirements of the position: This full-time position will imply occasional short-term travels in France and in Europe.

Applications

With equal skills, all our positions are open to people with disabilities.

Please send your application (updated CV and cover letter in French or English), until August 16th, to [e-mail] .