post-doctoral position on discrete element modeling of slow moving landslides (M/F)

CNRS; France; Sur place; EUR 40 000 - 60 000; Plein temps

Résumé du poste

A leading research organization in France is seeking a postdoctoral researcher specializing in numerical modeling of slow moving landslides. The candidate will work on the SLIDE project, conducting parametric studies and developing new features in modeling software. A PhD in geoscience or related field, along with expertise in scientific programming, is required. This is a full-time, temporary role based in Clermont-Ferrand and Nancy, France, focusing on interdisciplinary approaches to natural hazard prediction.

Qualifications

• PhD degree should be obtained by employment decision date.
• Solid foundation in mechanics is essential.
• Experience in numerical modeling and scientific programming required.

Responsabilités

• Conduct parametric studies on slow moving landslides.
• Introduce pore pressure effects in numerical models.
• Explore sensitivity of landslides to different forcing parameters.
• Collaborate with project team members and participate in discussions.

Connaissances

Numerical modeling

Scientific programming

Geomechanics

Formation

PhD in geoscience, engineering or computational mechanics

Outils

Yade-DEM

Description du poste

Organisation/Company CNRS Department Centre de recherches pétrographiques et géochimiques Research Field Geosciences Astronomy Environmental science Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Country France Application Deadline 7 Jan 2026 - 23:59 (UTC) Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Hours Per Week 35 Offer Starting Date 1 Feb 2026 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

In mountainous landscapes, landslides are a major source of erosion and a significant natural hazard threatening the safety of populations and infrastructure. The diversity of geological contexts leads to a wide variety of landslide types and deformation rates, ranging from rapid and catastrophic to extremely slow. The project funding this position focuses more specifically on slow moving landslides.
The processes that control the deformation of slow landslides are complex and only partially understood. Understanding these phenomena requires numerical modeling. Because deformation phases generally involve an increase in pore pressure, cyclic variation in pore pressure is an essential ingredient in any numerical model aimed at representing the behavior of slow moving landslides. Among the various numerical approaches, discrete element models seem to provide the essential characteristics needed to describe many of the deformation mechanisms and processes that cause landslides.
Based on our recent work (Huber et al., 2024), we propose that the recruited researcher study the response of slow moving landslides to hydrological stresses using the open source code YADE-DEM (Angelidakis et al., 2024) or another discrete element code that he or she is familiar with, developing new features adapted to the problem at hand.

Responsibilities

The postdoctoral researcher's main task will be to use numerical codes to conduct parametric studies and to understand the behavior of a few landslides in central Nepal that have been monitored in the framework of the SLIDE project. The modeling strategy will follow several steps:

• Familiarize yourself with Yade-DEM
• Introduce the effects of pore pressure into the existing model in Yade-DEM or complementary software
• Introduce time-dependent deformation processes
• Explore in 2D the sensitivity of slow landslides to different forcing parameters, for example by varying the amplitude of the seasonal rise in the water table and/or incorporating seismic accelerations;
• After extending the approach to 3D, reproduce the behavior of different landslides according to their geometry/structure.

The position is open as part of the collaborative research projectSLIDE: Assessing the contribution of slow moving landslides to erosion in the Himalayas, funded by the French National Researh Agency (ANR) for 4 years. The SLIDE project has started in November 2024 and involves 12 researchers from 3 research institutes (CRPG, ISTERRE, ECGS). It is structured in 3 work packages (WP):

The proposed position is part of WP3 (Assessment of the erosive flux of slow moving landslides in Nepal and exploration of the sensitivity of slow moving landslides to external forcing using numerical modeling). However, the postdoctoral researcher will be involved in project discussions, participate in team meetings and, if they wish, in the field instrumentation of active slow moving landslides in central Nepal.
The contract working time will be divided between the LMV (Clermont-Ferrand, France) to work and familiarize yourself with the Yade-DEM code in collaboration with Luc Scholtès, and the CRPG (Nancy, France) in collaboration with Jérôme Lavé.

Qualifications

The applicant should hold a PhD degree in geoscience, engineering or computational mechanics. The degree needs to be obtained by the time of the decision of employment. The applicant should have a solid base in mechanics as well as experience in numerical modeling and scientific programming. We seek a highly motivated researcher with a strong background in quantitative modeling and a keen interest in interdisciplinary approaches to natural hazard prediction. We also strongly encourage the postdoctoral candidate to bring their own ideas, methods, and perspectives to the project.