Full Time Research Fellow (Geotechnical Engineering) Jobs, in National University Of Singapore Central Region (Singapore) - Maukerja

Job Description

The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) invite applications for a Research Fellow position in Geotechnical Engineering.

Singapore, as a densely populated island nation, faces significant challenges in freshwater scarcity and land limitation. Despite its abundant rainfall, there are insufficient natural reservoirs and aquifers for rainwater capture and storage due to its limited land and geological formation. The reclaimed lands, typically filled with sandy soils, are prone to seawater intrusion and erosion due to seepage, intensified by alarming sea level rise. In this context, we propose to construct seepage cut-off walls enclosing the coastal regions, which can provide dual benefits: creating extensive underground reservoirs in the reclaimed sand layer for freshwater storage and protecting reclaimed land from seawater intrusion.

We are seeking a Research Fellow to lead an advanced investigation into ground deformation and wall stability in sand-reclaimed coastal regions. The project evaluates the impact of cyclic water table fluctuations on ground settlement, wall movement, and earth pressure redistribution using a combination of 1-g testing, centrifuge physical modeling, and advanced finite element simulations during water pumping.

Key Responsibilities: He/ She is required to work on:

• Geotechnical Physical Modeling: Plan and execute 1-g and geotechnical centrifuge tests (utilizing a 40 g-ton centrifuge facility at 50g) to capture the vertical and horizontal deformation of sand-clay profiles.
• Advanced Instrumentation: Implement laser displacement transducers, earth pressure cells, and displacement tracking systems to monitor structural and soil responses under accelerated consolidation.
• Numerical & Analytical Modeling: Develop constitutive numerical models in ABAQUS or PLAXIS 3D using advanced elastoplastic models (e.g., Modified Cam-Clay). Integrate non-linear compressibility, permeability, and stress history of Singapore marine clay.
• Risk & Field Assessment: Evaluate structural serviceability, hydraulic gradient risks (seawater seepage beneath cut-off walls), and simulate site-scale multi-layer reclaimed site responses over long-term equivalent periods.
• Project Leadership: Supervise junior researchers, collaborate with industrial/academic partners, and publish high-impact peer-reviewed journal papers.

Job Requirements