The Institute of Materials Simulation (WW8) of the Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen- Nürnberg (FAU), Department of Materials Science is looking for a Post-Doctoral Researcher in the field of Dislocation Plasticity, offering a temporary contract for initially 3 years; the salary is based on the German public service salary scale (TV-L E13).
This position is part of a German Research Unit (DFG Forschergruppe FOR1650, “Dislocation- based Plasticity”) which is concerned with the physically based modelling of dislocation systems within a meso-scale continuum dislocation dynamics (CDD) theory. The CDD approach is based on physically informed statistical averages of systems of discrete dislocations, and strongly benefits from interactions with experimental, theoretical and numerical groups (ranging from discrete dislocation dynamics to gradient plasticity) within FOR1650.
The goal of this position is the development of a self-consistent, physically based formulation of dislocation mobility functions: Dislocation mobility functions connect dislocation velocities to the internal and external stress state, and to the dislocation field variables and their spatial derivatives as well as to properties of the underlying crystal lattice. Obtaining the mobility for continuum descriptions is – unlike for discrete dislocations – a still unsolved, major problem. Our novel approach consists in assembling a large database of local stress, velocity, and dislocation microstructure data from extensive DDD simulations. Statistical analysis of those dislocation structures and their evolution will then – in a data-driven approach – yield generic expressions that constitutively complete plasticity theories on the mesoscale and furthermore will guide towards understanding the collective behavior of dislocations.
Applicants must have a doctorate/Ph.D. or equivalent. A successful candidate will have an University degree (master or equivalent) in Physics, Mathematics, Computational Materials Science, Computational Mechanics of Materials (or comparable). We expect candidates to have excellent knowledge of dislocation mechanics and very solid programming and data handling skills. You will be involved in teaching and will have the opportunity to interact with researchers in Germany, France and the US (with a visit abroad of up to 6 months). Due to the international environment, excellent English-skills are compulsory.
The FAU is certified as a “Family-Friendly University”. We particularly welcome and encourage applications from women, disabled persons and ethnic minority groups. The principles of fair and open competition apply and appointments will be made on merit. Please send your application (including a CV, list of publications and conference talks, university/PhD certificates, letter of motivation and contact information of 2 references) by August 1, 2015 to Dr. Stefan Sandfeld (stefan.sandfeld@fau.de). Applications after this date might be considered if the position is still vacant.