PhD training in Civil Engineering
DOCC is an interdisciplinary Marie Skłodowska-Curie COFUND doctoral programme at the University of Innsbruck that will train 15 PhD students for 3 years on modelling and simulation of complex dynamical continuum systems. DOCC prepares Europe’s next top modellers to link simulations and the real world within a multi-disciplinary environment, by providing beyond essential technical expertise also the training in key abilities to communicate and transfer methods and results.
The Environmental Engineering Section (https://www.uibk.ac.at/umwelttechnik/index.html.en) offers for a period of three years a PhD fellowship in the frame of DP DOCC (https://docc.eu) in the research area of
Urban Water Management
Proposed Projects:
Computational Fluid dynamics: Lagrangian microscopic model (UWM-1)
Application of Lagrangian based Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) methods in urban water management (such as smoothed particle hydrodynamics) is a relatively recent method which allows for a novel treatment of biochemical processes in the water phase. The thesis aims to couple the flow simulation with a microscopic description of biokinetic conversion, based on a stochastic distribution of particles representing microbial flocs. This will allow to decouple fluid and particle phase in the numerical description of biokinetic processes in urban water systems. The sucessful candidate must have thorough experience with CFD application and software.
Details: https://www.uibk.ac.at/projects/dp-docc/application/thesis_topics.html#UWM-1
Data Science: Prevalence estimation – based on wastewater epidemiology (UWM-2)
Wastewater-based epidemiology is the evidence of viral load (such as the recent SARS-CoV-2 virus) in the wastewater. The measured viral-RNA is introduced into the sewer systems by viral shedding of infected persons. The thesis aims to introduce data science methods (statistical models, machine learning, predictive analysis) in order to estimate prevalence (percentage of infected persons) in the sewer catchment. Key underlying mechanism are transport and fate of virus in the sewer system. A thorough understanding of principles of sanitary engineering is thus prerequisite for a successful application as well as evidenced experience with programming (C, C++, Python, etc.)
Details: https://www.uibk.ac.at/projects/dp-docc/application/thesis_topics.html#UWM-2
Project proposed by the candidate: Please contact the future supervisor, Prof. Wolfgang Rauch (wolfgang.rauch@uibk.ac.at), for a letter of support if you wish to propose an own project.
Admission Requirements: Master’s degree in civil or environmental engineering science (or equivalent).
Application deadline: 2nd of November 2020
The successful candidate will be part of the highly active Environmental Engineering Section, which is internationally well integrated in the scientific community of modelling, simulation and systems analysis of urban water systems.
The PhD research work should preferably start in the period between 01/2021 and 03/2021. We offer an employment contract for 3 years, with an annual gross salary of around 40’103 EUR (susceptible to taxes) for 40 hour/week employment. All PhD fellows will be liable to full medical and social contributions according to the Austrian federal legislation, implying a retirement scheme and (partly paid) parental leave.
More information on DP DOCC, requirements and eligibility criteria, and the application and recruiting process are available on the following website: https://docc.eu
Specific questions regarding the PhD topic should be directed to Prof. Wolfgang Rauch, e-mail: wolfgang.rauch@uibk.ac.at.
Innsbruck is a university city situated in Austria, Europe. English is widely spoken.