Researcher
in Computational Mechanics
(PhD student or Postdoc)

code no. 2018/WM 3
The place of employment is Geesthacht, Germany. The Department for Simulation of Solids and Structures of the Institute of Materials Research at Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht is offering a 3-years PhD student or postdoc position in the area of computational mechanics with special focus on finite element methods and coupled multi-field and multi-physics problems. A primary objective of the position will be the development of a computational multi-physics model of the degradation of biomedical magnesium implants and of the growth and remodeling processes in the surrounding bone tissue. These phenomena depend on a sophisticated interplay between mechanical and (bio)chemical factors. We offer an environment where new computational methods can be developed and tested in close collaboration with in-house experimentalists.

Your job:

• development of a computational multi-physics model of chemo-mechanical degradation of biomedical magnesium implants and related phenomena; you will develop a general computational framework based on the finite element method. In this framework you will incorporate detailed models of biological and chemical processes developed by two postdocs with whom you will closely collaborate
• implementation of your computational framework in an in-house simulation code in C++
• validation of your results in collaboration with in-house experimentalists
• publication and presentation of your scientific results in international scientific journals and at international conferences and workshops

Your background::

• master‘s or PhD degree in computational mechanics, mechanical engineering or similar area
• excellent knowledge of computational modeling, in particular of computational mechanics
• very good programming skills in C++
• proven experience in code development (coding skills will be checked during the job interview!)
• very good knowledge of the theoretical foundations of engineering (mechanics, thermodynamics, applied mathematics etc.)
• very good English

We offer:

• a vibrant scientific environment where you have the opportunity to collaborate closely with experts from multiple areas with a combined expertise covering the full range from simulation and theory to experiments
• opportunity to enroll in a PhD program at Hamburg University of Technology (for non-postdocs)
• fixed-term contract for 3 years
• attractive salary