Vacant job

Do you want to develop your research and teaching in an environment where collaboration with industry and society is a given? Here you will work with engaged colleagues, have access to modern research infrastructure, and good opportunities to attract external funding. You will be given room to make a real difference for your students, your research, and society at large.

In geotechnics, we work with the mechanical properties of tailings sand, which is a by-product from ore beneficiation. The material is collected in large piles near the processing plant and surrounded by tailings dams. Everything must remain stable over very long periods, which places high demands on the design of the dams. One method for describing the mechanical properties of soil materials is so-called CPT (Cone Penetration Test) sounding. Extensive work, including at Luleå University of Technology, has been conducted to clarify the mechanical properties of tailings. This work is carried out at Luleå University of Technology in close collaboration with research institutions and universities in many countries, primarily those with a large mining industry. At Luleå University of Technology, significant work has been conducted in a specially built and internationally unique calibration chamber. We are looking for a postdoc to now efficiently utilize the results from these tests and put them into practical use. The goal is to understand and increase the safety of tailings dams in an international context.

Subject Description

Geotechnics covers soil mechanics, soil material science, and foundation engineering. The subject includes applications within construction and infrastructure, energy, and mineral extraction.

Project Description

You will work with the implementation and utilization of results from previous projects related to the internationally unique calibration chamber for CPT equipment. This also involves further development of the CPT method for use in crushed products like tailings. The work takes place at Luleå University of Technology but with several international cooperation partners. In the first phase, the work is linked to improved methods for determining the liquefaction susceptibility of tailings. The work is carried out in close collaboration with the mining company Boliden.

Job Responsibilities

The responsibilities involve research and development work. Primarily, work on implementing results from previous research projects regarding the use of the CPT method in tailings. Further development of methods to assess the liquefaction susceptibility of tailings. Further development of the calibration cell and the theoretical basis for the CPT method. Using, among other things, the calibration cell to clarify the impact of water compressibility on evaluated properties.

Qualifications

To be eligible for employment, a PhD degree or equivalent foreign degree in geotechnics is required. It is meritorious if your degree was completed no more than three years before the last application date for this position. If there are special reasons, it may be considered as having completed a PhD degree earlier, for example, in cases of various types of statutory leave.

Very good knowledge of soil mechanics is required, as well as experience in numerical modeling of geotechnical problems. Experience with the "Critical State Soil Mechanics" concept is meritorious.

Experience from advanced laboratory work is required, and experience in conducting triaxial tests is particularly valuable. Experience with dynamic testing methods is meritorious.

You must have good language skills in English and Swedish and be able to express yourself well both orally and in writing. Additional language skills are meritorious.

Industry experience is meritorious, as the implementation work takes place close to industry partners. You must have good ability to collaborate and work together with selected partners, both national and international.

Information

This position is for full-time employment for a period of at least two years, up to three years. The workplace is in Luleå. Intended start date is as soon as possible, latest August 2026.

For further information, you are welcome to contact Professor Jan Laue, 0920-49 1288, [email protected] or Senior Professor Sven Knutsson, 0920-49 3312, [email protected]

Union Representatives:

SACO-S Diana Chroneer, 0920-49 2037 [email protected]

OFR-S Marika Vesterberg, 0920-49 1721 [email protected]

Application

We prefer that you apply for the position via the application button below, where you attach a cover letter, CV/resume, and copies of verified degree certificates. Please mark your application with the reference number below. Both the application and degree certificates must be written in Swedish or English.

Last application date: June 23, 2026

Reference number: 3476-2026