Ph.D. positions for research

Fully-funded Ph.D. positions are available in the Ferdowsi Research Laboratory within the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Houston. Positions are available with start date as early as Spring 2022 and Fall 2022. Some of our active research areas are experimental and computational mechanics of Earth materials, rheology of Earth materials, granular mechanics, physics-based modeling and quantitative studies of Earth’s near-surface processes. Applications are welcomed from students with bachelor’s or master’s degree in Earth Science, Environmental Science, Geology, Geophysics, Physics, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Applied Mathematics, or related fields. A strong background or a strong interest in granular physics, solid mechanics, fluid mechanics, and some experience in either of computer programming, high performance computing, discrete element method, molecular dynamics or atomistic simulations, computational fluid dynamics (CFD), experimental investigation for rheology of soft materials and complex fluids, soil mechanics, rock friction and deformation experiments, is a plus. The research projects will be designed in collaboration with the students and will be motivated by their interests and career goals, within the general research areas of the laboratory. There are also opportunities for collaboration with researchers and faculty at the National Center for Airborne Laser Mapping (NCALM), and that can connect modeling and laboratory-scale studies to the larger field-scale, geological-scale, and remote sensing observations. The interested candidates are encouraged to (i) apply directly to the Ph.D. programs in Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Houston, and (ii) fill out the application form below:

https://forms.gle/CHgZR8zbNpBDt9EW7

In the application form, you can also request a meeting time with me if you would like to discuss about research ideas and the lab, before sending a formal application. Feel free to reach out to me at bferdowsi@uh.edu if you have any questions.

I strongly encourage applications from members of under-represented groups or members of groups typically under-represented and minoritized in STEM fields, Earth and Planetary Science, and higher education. The University of Houston embraces diversity and recognizes our responsibility to foster an open, welcoming environment where students, faculty and staff of all backgrounds can collaboratively learn, work and serve: https://uh.edu/diversity-equity-inclusion/

More information about the Ferdowsi Research Laboratory can be found on the laboratory website: https://ferdowsi-lab.github.io

More information about the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Houston is available on the department website: http://www.cive.uh.edu

Review of applications will start immediately and will continue until the positions are filled.
———
Behrooz Ferdowsi, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
University of Houston
Houston, TX 77204-4003 *