Postdoctoral Research Associate in Computational and Experimental Fracture Mechanics

Atomic Layer Deposition; Liverpool; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 34,000; Full time

Job summary

A prestigious academic institution is seeking a Postdoctoral Research Associate in Computational and Experimental Fracture Mechanics to join the MAGMA Laboratory. This role involves developing numerical simulations of magma intrusion and methodologies for geodetic inversion models. The position demands expertise in geophysical fluid dynamics and applied mathematics, with funding available for up to 24 months. Candidates pending PhD confirmation will start at Grade 6, advancing to Grade 7 upon award.

Qualifications

• PhD in a relevant field or expected shortly.
• Experience with numerical simulations and geophysical fluid dynamics.

Responsibilities

• Develop numerical simulation of magma intrusion and its impact.
• Create methodologies for applying geodetic inversion models to analogue datasets.

Job description

Postdoctoral Research Associate in Computational and Experimental Fracture Mechanics

Applications are invited for a post‑doctoral research associate (PDRA) position within the Mechanical and Geological Model Analogues (MAGMA) Laboratory in the Department of Earth, Ocean and Ecological Sciences at the University of Liverpool (UoL), UK. The position is funded by a Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) Pushing the Frontiers award ‘CALDERA: Collaborative Approach to integrate multidisciplinary datasets into volcanic eruption assessments’ led by Prof. Janine Kavanagh, Dr. Katy Chamberlain and Prof. John Wheeler, and is associated with Kavanagh’s UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Future Leaders Fellowship.

Funding is available for up to 24 months. The position is open from 1 March 2026 and is anticipated to commence no later than 1 October 2026.

The PDRA will work as part of a multidisciplinary team of researchers spanning geology, geophysical fluid dynamics, applied mathematics and geophysical/geodetic volcano monitoring to deliver a step‑change in understanding the origin of surface deformation at explosive caldera‑forming volcanoes.

Responsibilities

• Develop a numerical simulation of magma intrusion within a deep magma mush to resolve its impact on surface distortions in the presence of a shallow crustal hydrothermal system at a model caldera volcano. The model will use the phase‑field approach and be implemented in Alya, the parallel multi‑physics Computational Fluid Dynamics simulation code developed by our Project Partners at the Barcelona Supercomputing Center. The PDRA will improve and validate an existing model we have developed to simulate analogue dyke experiments in gelatine (https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-9211). This model will be tested with analogue experiment results from the MAGMA Lab, run by other members of the project team.
• Develop new methodologies which allow geodetic inversion models used on natural volcano datasets to be applied to surface deformations produced by analogue volcano models. The PDRA will quantify the differences in calculated and measured experimental conditions by adapting the Geodetic Bayesian Inversion Software (https://doi.org/10.1029/2018GC007585). Working alongside our geodesy and geophysics Project Partners at the USGS, who developed GBIS, the project will ensure the uncertainties in the inverse modelling approach can be taken into account when analysing natural datasets.

If you are still awaiting your PhD to be awarded you will be appointed at Grade 6, spine point 30. Upon written confirmation that you have been awarded your PhD, your salary will be increased to Grade 7, spine point 31.

Commitment to Diversity

The University of Liverpool is committed to enhancing workforce diversity. We actively seek to attract, develop, and retain colleagues with diverse backgrounds and perspectives. We welcome applications from all genders/gender identities, Black, Asian, or Minority Ethnic backgrounds, individuals living with a disability, and members of the LGBTQIA+ community.