PhD Opportunities in Physical and Finite Element Modelling of Backward Erosion Piping at TU Delft Delft University of Technology in Netherlands

TU Delft’s Section of GeoEngineering is advertising two PhD openings in the NWO-funded Digital Dikes programme, focused on backward erosion piping (BEP) and soil failure processes in geotechnical structures.

PhD 1: Physical Modelling of BEP — This project emphasizes experimental work, pushing physical modelling boundaries with new setups and measurement techniques, including the study of complex mechanisms such as 3D pipe network formation.

PhD 2: Finite Element Modelling of BEP — This project uses RFEM to quantify how soil heterogeneity and uncertainty drive piping processes in spatially variable soils.

The positions are at Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands, with supervision involving Prof. M. Hicks and Assistant Professor Miguel Angel Cabrera Cabrera. The post is aimed at candidates with a background in geotechnical engineering, hydraulic engineering, granular physics, geosciences, or related fields.

Funding: The programme is NWO-funded, indicating funded PhD positions. No stipend, tuition, or additional financial details are stated in the post.

Deadlines: 14 June 2026 for the physical modelling PhD and 22 June 2026 for the finite element modelling PhD.

Interested applicants should use the relevant TU Delft careers link for the specific project and apply before the deadline.