MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship 2023 – Advanced Concrete and Structures - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

Call for Expression of Interest for a joint application under the EU Marie Skłodowska-Curie Action Postdoctoral Fellowship scheme – Call: MSCA-PF-2023

Hereby OsloMet invites interested experienced researchers of any nationality, who have a PhD degree and maximum eight (8) years of research experience after having obtained the PhD degree, to apply for the EU-funded Marie Skłodowska Curie Action Postdoctoral Fellowship (call HORIZON-MSCA-PF-2023) to conduct research at OsloMet - Oslo Metropolitan University for a period of two years.

Department of Built Environment, Faculty of Technology, Art and Design

The department conducts high-impact research on various topics within national, European, and international projects. Activities cover various R&D areas of major interest in Civil and Structural Engineering and rely heavily on the integrated use of experimental testing, analytical methods, numerical simulation, and modelling with a modern holistic approach to research.

Area of research

Reinforced concrete (RC) structures/infrastructures are often exposed to different types of damage and deterioration due to exposure conditions during their service life. Assessment of such structural damages plays a key role in public safety concerning long-term damage accumulation and post extreme-event scenarios. Given its importance, there has been increasing interest in automating damage assessment of RC infrastructures using computer vision and data-driven techniques in the last ten years. On the other hand, concrete is a continuously developing material, and even the definition of durable and sustainable concrete has changed over time. The desirable characteristics of concrete structures imply several requirements for advanced concrete material. 

Modification, characterization, modelling, and recycling of concrete to improve sustainability, mechanical properties, and durability as well as imposing digitalization and smartness to such composites and consequently concrete structures, are the potential research approaches in this position. Researchers who join us will cooperate with a diverse group of experts who work on different aspects of the material, structural assessment, and digitalization. The project aims to fill the knowledge gap in numerical and experimental works on advanced concrete and concrete structures in various fields, including but not limited to:

• Digital twin in construction
• Net-zero structures
• Application of soft computing in concrete structures
• Advanced modelling and simulation of concrete and concrete structures
• Advanced modelling and simulation of cementitious composites
• Non-linear static and dynamic analysis of concrete structures with FEM
• Durable concrete and concrete structures
• Corrosion in concrete structures
• Self-sensing concrete
• 3D printed concrete
• Sustainable concrete and alternative cementitious binders
• Ultra high-performance concrete
• Structural health monitoring and control
• Probabilistic modelling of concrete structures

Applicants are invited to propose more detailed and focused topics within the scope of this research area, as a part of their application. Successful candidates will be supervised by Associate Professor Mahdi Kioumarsi, whose research has been ranging from large scale (structural level) to small scale (material level) within the field of concrete structures; all his research has in common the combination of soft computing methods, FE modelling and experimental work, see his profile at ResearchGate and https://uni.oslomet.no/kioumarsi.

With this call for Expression of Interest, we invite researchers to submit their application accompanied by CV (including publication list) and a one-page project description, that will be the basis for selecting a maximum of two candidates with whom we will collaborate for developing competitive MSCA-PF proposals. The cooperation for the proposal development will be carried out remotely, with regular online communication via email and virtual meeting platforms. Applicants who are successful in getting their proposals funded by the EU, must relocate to work in the Department of Built Environment, at OsloMet main campus, in the center of Oslo.

Starting Date of the fellowship

The EU shall inform the results on the MSCA-PF-2023 applications in February 2024. Successful applicants are expected to be available to start the fellowship project from within the two months following the announcement of results and no later than summer 2024. 

Main duties of the position

The successful candidate will primarily work on the MSCA fellowship funded project, but will be integrated in the Department of Built Environment in general, taking part in regular meetings and discussion groups. The candidate will specifically be introduced to Associate Professor Mahdi Kioumarsi’s national and international network of researchers. In agreement with the candidate, he/she would be included in other ongoing projects and/or in the development of grant application processes. 

Expected qualification of applicants 

Candidates must have a PhD in civil, structural or material engineering as the minimum requirement. We are primarily looking for experienced researchers who wish to use this period as an opportunity to further develop their research, and to develop longer term research collaborations with OsloMet and other organisations conducting research in the field. The candidates must be eligible for a MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship: have a PhD successfully defended by the submission deadline (mid-September 2023), a maximum of eight (8) years research experience after PhD, and not having worked/studied in Norway more than 12 months in the last three years.

We are looking for applicants who have

• Knowledge and skills in experimental tests and modelling and simulation of
  material, civil and structural systems with computational methods and relevant tools.
• A good track record in research and publications
• Commitment to develop a competitive MSCA-PF grant application
• An open, creative and cooperation-oriented nature, with strong abilities for independent academic work
• Excellent command / highly proficient spoken and written English

Assessment and selection of candidates

Evaluation will be based on the qualification and project idea. Interested candidates must submit with their application the following documents:

• CV (including research track record and list of publications)
• A one-page description of the project idea for which a MSCA-PF grant will be applied (no predefined structure, excluding references)

Short-listed candidates will be invited for a virtual interview to select candidates that will be invited to develop the full MSCA-PF application with deadline by mid-September 2023 under the supervision of Associate Professor Mahdi Kioumarsi and with the support of the professional research administration staff at OsloMet. 

Under this call announcement a maximum of five candidates will be interviewed and two candidates will be invited to write applications with the endorsement of OsloMet. Candidates will be informed of the results of the internal pre-selection and invitation to apply within the two weeks following the interview. 

Original documents about your qualification must be presented if you are invited for an interview. OsloMet performs document inspections in order to give you as a candidate a proper evaluation and to ensure a fair competition. Proposals will be pre-selected based on internal evaluation and the availability of suitable supervision. All documents that you hand in to OsloMet, including your proposal idea, will be handled in full confidentiality and in strict compliance with GDPR regulations.

Selected candidates must participate in the virtual masterclass on MSCA-PF, a two-day workshop organised by OsloMet on 19-20 April 2023 to provide applicants with detailed information and explanation of the application template to complete their proposal in compliance with the EU Commission requirements.

The postdoctoral position

Successful applicants who obtain a MSCA-PF grant will be offered a position at OsloMet to be hired as postdoctoral researchers to implement their proposed research projects, in conditions as explained below.

We offer:

OsloMet assists in developing competitive MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship proposals. Then, to successful applicants who are awarded the MSC-PF grant, we offer:

• Flexible working conditions
• An inclusive and friendly work environment
• Unique academic network with the possibility for the right candidate(s) to pursue his/her academic goals under the auspices of Associate Professor Mahdi Kioumarsi
• Norwegian language classes
• Onboarding assistance for relocation and other services

It is important for OsloMet to reflect the population diversity, all qualified candidates from any nationality are welcomed to apply. OsloMet is an IA (Inclusive Workplace) organisation and operates in compliance with the Norwegian IA agreement. We make our active endeavour to further develop OsloMet as an inclusive workplace and to adapt the workplace if required. If there are periods in your career when you have not been working, under education or training, you are also eligible to apply. Questions may be directed to the contact persons (per below).

Remuneration:

The competitive fellowship opportunities are 100% funded and include living and mobility allowances. 

• Type of employment: Temporary position
• Contract type: Full time
• Annual Salary: Approx. EUR 60,000
• Starting day of employment: (expected): TBD between 1 April – 1 Sept 2024
• Number of positions: 1 – 2 
• Working hours: 37.5 hours/week 

OsloMet has implemented the Charter & Code for researchers and been granted the HR Excellence in Research (HRS4) by the EU Commission and is part of the EU network for mobility of Researchers EURAXESS. Practical information about relocation to OsloMet can be found in the link here and EURAXESS Norway

Contact

Mahdi Kioumarsi, Associate Professor, mahdi.kioumarsi@oslomet.no

If you have administrative questions to your application, please contact hrtkd@oslomet.no. 

Last day of application

Call closes on 31st January 2023

Reference number: 22/09007