14 PhD positions in Urban Sound Planning

 

SONORUS: 14 Open Positions in the Field of Urban Sound Planning

SONORUS is an Initial Training Network (ITN, Nr. 290110, duration 1/10 2012 – 30/9 2016) in the 7th framework programme People of the EC. The coordinator of the project is Chalmers University of Technology. Within this project we are seeking 14 young researchers (early‐stage researcher, ESR) with a duration of 36 month to join the different partners in the project.

Project Background

Traffic noise pollution in urban areas is a major environmental problem within the European Union. Creating an acceptable acoustic outdoor environment is a big challenge of high need. Creating as well as preserving environments, which are supportive for health and well-being in a sustainable manner is an even bigger but unavoidable task. In order to succeed, specialists are required with a broad research competence covering areas such as acoustic prediction methods, noise control and soundscaping, but also aspects of city and traffic planning. However, specialists equipped with such a competence spectrum are hardly found.

Therefore, the goal of SONORUS is to close this gap and bring together universities, enterprises and public organizations that aim to offer training to ESRs in an arena of trans-disciplinary research. The training is designed around real-life urban test sites that are characterized by a poor acoustic environment due to noise from road, rail or air traffic. These test sites are provided by four major European cities (Berlin, Rome, Antwerpen and Brighton). To these test sites, the ESRs will apply their knowledge and skills gained from individual acoustics related research projects, in-depth courses on acoustics as well as on different aspects of spatial planning.

From SONORUS a new generation of researchers will emerge with the profile needed to reverse the negative trend of a deteriorating acoustic outdoor environment in urban areas. Successfully Participation in the SONORUS will be awarded with an "Urban Sound Planner Certificate".

Vacancy description

There are fourteen individual research projects within SONORUS. A detailed description of the positions can be found under www.fp7sonorus.eu.

The positions are at the following places

Code Position
ESR1 Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden
ESR2 Chalmers, Sweden
ESR3 Eindhoven University of Technology, Netherlands
ESR4 Eindhoven University of Technology, Netherlands
ESR5 Seconda Università degli Studi di Napoli, Italy
ESR6 Seconda Università degli Studi di Napoli, Italy
ESR7 The University of Sheffield , UFSD
ESR8 The University of Sheffield , UFSD
ESR9 Ghent University, Belgium
ESR10 Ghent University, Belgium
ESR11 Müller BBM, Germany
ESR12 ISPRA, Italy
ESR13 EMPA, Switzerland
ESR14 SP Technical Research Institute of Sweden

The position includes individual research, research visits and secondments to other partners inside the project.

All candidates must be fluent in spoken and written English. The R&D is highly multidisciplinary. An ideal candidate has an M.Sc. in engineering (acoustical, mechanical, electrical, industrial or civil engineering, engineering physics, etc.) or an architecture exam. For some positions also a background in Psychology is of interest.

• Knowledge in acoustics is a strong advantage.
• Candidates who have the proper qualifications may get the opportunity to perform this work as part of a PhD study.
• All members of the network are equal opportunity employers, both female and male candidates are invited to apply.

Marie Curie eligibility criteria – in short: Early-Stage Researcher (ESR): holds an M.Sc. degree in Engineering and has less than 4 years of experience and has not yet been awarded a doctoral degree. In addition the following criteria apply for eligibility

• the researcher shall not be a national of the State in which the hosting partner's research team is located
• at the time of appointment, the researcher may not have resided or carried out her/his main activity in the country of the hosting partner for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to her/his appointment.

Benefits:

An extremely competitive salary is offered, including social security (in line with the EC rules for Marie Curie grant holders and consists of a salary augmented by a net mobility allowance http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7). Additional funding for participation to courses, workshops and international conferences is ensured. The city of Göteborg offers a stimulating, young and multicultural working environment.

Start date and evaluation procedure

The start date is February 2013 until summer 2013. While expressions of interest are accepted on a continuous basis, applications received by January 15, 2013 will be considered in the first evaluation cycle. For some of the positions different deadlines may be set. Please check the descriptions on www.fp7sonorus.eu. A common evaluation procedure will be carried out for all positions.

Application procedure
The application should be marked with Ref 20120370 and written in English. The application should be sent electronically and be attached as pdf-files, as below:

•Application: (Please name the uploaded document in ReachMee as: APPLICATION, family name, ref. number)
- CV,
- attested copies of education certificates, including grade reports and other documents, English language test, e.g. TOEFL score,
- letters of recommendation from academic institutions and/or previous employers (optional),
•A letter of application detailing your specific qualifications for the position (named: QUALIFICATIONS, family name, ref. number)
- maximum one A4 page
•Publications: (named: PUBLICATION, family name, ref. number)
- relevant work such as bachelor's or master's thesis (or outline of a thesis under preparation).
Please use the button at the foot of the page to reach the application form. The files may be compressed (zipped).

Application deadline for first evaluation round: January 15, 2013

For questions, please contact:

Contact persons are named in the vacancy offers on www.fp7sonorus.eu. For more general questions contact Wolfgang Kropp (wolfgang.kropp@chalmers.se).

http://www.chalmers.se/en/about-chalmers/vacancies/Pages/default.aspx?rmpage=job&rmjob=961&rmlang=UK

http://www.fp7sonorus.eu

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PhD Candidate with SAP Research Switzerland

PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES

As a part of SAP (Switzerland) Inc., SAP Research offers PhD students the opportunity to work in innovative and applied research projects. SAP Research is a worldwide organization with currently 17 locations. In Switzerland, SAP Research has a close cooperation with world class universities such as the ETH Zürich and the University of St. Gallen (HSG). As a PhD candidate, you will be supervised by experienced colleagues and a professor from one of the Swiss universities. The topic of your PhD thesis will be directly related to our research projects, and you will be an important member of our research team. Your PhD with us will be an ideal combination of scientific excellence and industrial impact, and it will be the basis for your personal career success story.

EXPECTATIONS AND TASKS

What is SAP expecting from you?

- Passion for the IT industry.

- High motivation and commitment.

- Initiative and willingness to learn and improve on a daily basis.

- Taking the responsibility for planning and executing challenging tasks.

What can you expect from SAP?

- Hands-on PhD program in a given time frame.

- A dynamic and cutting-edge working environment of a globally acting enterprise.

- Great international work experience.

- Flexible working hours.

- Highly competitive salary.

- Extensive opportunities to develop with SAP for your future career.

EDUCATION AND QUALIFICATIONS / SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES

- University Degree (Diploma or Master) in computer science, information systems or business administration with excellent grades.

- Strong software development skills in one or more programming languages (Java, C, C++, C#, ABAP).

- Strong theoretic background and practical experience in internet technologies, distributed systems, database systems, data modeling, machine learning, or UI design.

- Strong theoretic background and practical experience in economics: business process management, accounting, supply chain management or innovation management.

- Good knowledge of standard MS office applications.

- Strong organizational, communication, presentation, and team working skills.

- Fluency in English (verbal and written) is mandatory.

- Language skills in German are a plus, but not a must.

Did we raise your interest?

Then take this opportunity and apply online at http://bit.ly/SpeculativeApplicationSAPResearchCH

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PhD position at EAWAG, Switzerland

Within a collaborative Project between Eawag's Department of Aquatic Ecology and the Institute of Biology in Bucharest, Romania, there is an opening for a Ph.D. position in Aquatic Ecology. In this collaborative project between Swiss and Romanian scientists we aim to the reconstruct the cyanobacterial blooms and assess their potential toxicity in lakes from the Danube Delta – a biodiversity hotspot and UNESCO World Heritage Site of global importance.

For more information about the position, requirement and application portal online: http://internet1.refline.ch/673277/0147/++publications++/1/index.html

Applications should include a concise statement describing the motivation to work on this research project, curriculum vitae, copies of your academic qualifications and two letters of support with the affiliations of the supporting scientists.

The deadline for applications is October 15, 2012. Informal inquiries before submitting an application are encouraged. Contact: PD Dr. Piet Spaak, (spaak@eawag.ch)

Other PhD Offerings
Other Switzerland Offerings

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Ph.D Translation

Date: Tue, 28 Aug 2012 09:28:07
From: Phil Garner [Phil.Garner@idiap.ch]
Subject: Translation: PhD Student, Idiap Research Institute, Switzerland

E-mail this message to a friend:
http://linguistlist.org/issues/emailmessage/verification.cfm?iss=23-3588.html&submissionid=4552422&topicid=12&msgnumber=1
Institution/Organization: Idiap Research Institute
Department:
Web Address: http://www.idiap.ch

Level: PhD

Duties: Research

Specialty Areas: Translation
Speech recognition & synthesis

Description:

SIWIS: Spoken Interaction with Interpretation in Switzerland.
Three PhD opportunities in translation, speech
recognition and synthesis.

About SIWIS

The SIWIS project is about speech to speech translation. It will allow
a person to speak to a machine in their native language and have it
automatically recognised, translated and spoken in a different
language. One characteristic of recent technology to achieve this is
that the spoken synthetic voice can sound like the original speaker
instead of a generic speaker or robot.

SIWIS has two broad goals. The first is to customise the current state
of the art to the Swiss language scenario. This entails constructing
recognition, translation and synthesis modules in the main Swiss
languages. The second goal is to advance this state of the art,
focussing especially on prosody. Prosody describes aspects of speech
such as volume, rhythm and pitch; these are the parts that carry
emotion and emphasis, adding extra nuance and personality to the
words.

In order to do this, SIWIS brings together four partners. These
partners possess world leading expertise in each of the component
parts of a translation system. Further, three of the partners are
physically located in cities representing the major language groups of
Switzerland; this includes English, represented by the University of
Edinburgh. The location will be important not only for data collection
(ensuring we have the tools to enable the project), but also for
evaluation, providing native listeners to ensure our results are as
good as can be hoped.

Open Positions

Positions are available at the Universities of Geneva and Edinburgh,
ETH Zurich, and Idiap Research Institute. For details, please see the
project web page at

http://www.idiap.ch/project/siwis

The start dates are expected to be November 2012 - January 2013. All
positions will remain open until filled.

Application Deadline: 28-Jan-2013

Web Address for Applications: http://www.idiap.ch/project/siwis

Contact Information:
Phil Garner
Phil.Garner@idiap.ch

Sent from BlackBerry® on 3

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Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships, 2013-2014

The Swiss Government through the Federal Commission for Scholarships for Foreign Students (FCS) grants limited number of scholarships for Indonesian postgraduates wishing to undertake research or PhD studies. The specific information on the scholarships is available on http://www.sbf.admin.ch/htm/themen/bildung/stipendien/eskas_en.html

Only persons who meet the prerequisites mentioned on the website are qualified to apply for the scholarships. For this reason, the application package will be sent to these persons who have submitted by e-mail to jak.vertretung@eda.admin.ch the following information and documents:

1. Name of the intended university in Switzerland and type of scholarship (research/PhD/postdoctoral research). Please note that the applicants must apply for only one university.

2. Recent CV (information on birth date, language skills, education background, recent address, professional career as well as academic publications should be included)

3. A confirmation letter from a professor from the Swiss host institution stating that he/she is willing to supervise the research; or in the case where PhD is run within a structured doctoral school, the applicants have to provide an admission letter or the proof that they are being considered for admission

4. A research proposal (research and PhD scholarships: approx. 5 pages; postdoctoral research: approx. 15 pages)

5. For postdoctoral scholarships: a copy of PhD certificate

The complete application documents should be submitted to Embassy of Switzerland in Jakarta at the latest on November 16, 2012. Only some short-listed applicants will be invited for an interview in December 2012 at Embassy of Switzerland in Jakarta.

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Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships, 2013-2014

Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships for Foreign Scholars and Artists for the academic year 2013-2014

Indonesia

A.Type of scholarships offered (please see PDF files):
Research Scholarships
PhD Scholarships
Post-doctoral Scholarships
No Bachelor or Master scholarships are available

B.Eligibility:
Please see eligibility criteria in the pdf files

C.Awards:
Applications are subject to preliminary selection by the relevant national authorities and/or the Swiss diplomatic representation. The short-listed applications are then analyzed by the Federal Commission for Scholarships for Foreign Students (FCS) which subsequently takes the final decision.

The FCS is composed of University Professors from all the Swiss public Universities. Scholarship awards are decided on the basis of academic and scientific excellence.

D.Application procedure:
If you fulfill the eligibility requirements cited in the above-mentioned scholarships, please contact the relevant application institution in your country of origin (institution cited in the pdf files).

http://www.sbf.admin.ch/htm/themen/bildung/stipendien/eskas_laender/indonesia_en.html

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Various Positions related to Hydrology

Researcher Positions

1. Griffith University, Centre for Coastal Management, Australia
Two Research Fellow positions at Griffith University, Centre for Coastal Management, Australia
We are looking for two highly-qualified research fellows who are going to work on an upcoming project on a coastal and emergency management decision support system.We are looking for two highly-qualified research fellows who are going to work on an upcoming project on a coastal and emergency management decision support system.
1. Coastal dynamics and computational modelling (storm surge inundation)
The Senior Research Fellow/Research Fellow will implement a state of the art coupled wave/hydrodynamic model to establish the platform of a real-time high resolution multi-regional storm surge forecast and distribution system for more efficient and effective management of extreme weather. The Fellow will work closely with the partner organisations to set up the forecast system on high performance computers. Duties will include development of a coupled wave/hydrodynamic model to simulate storm surge inundation, establish a storm surge forecast on HPC, data analysis and the preparation of scientific publications. A detailed position description can be obtained here. .
2. Data visaulization and management on HPC
The Senior Research Fellow/Research Fellow will carry out research in the establishment of a real-time coastal management decision support system for more effect coastal and emergency management. The Fellow will work closely with eResearch analysts to set up and maintain the system on high performance computers. Duties will include development of a centralised information system with research partner organisations, creation of 2D/3D visualisation tools for the system, archiving of existing data relevant to storm surges and disaster management, and the preparation of scientific publications.. A detailed position description can be obtained here.
For those who want to apply for the positions, please send (1) Cover letter, (2) Full CV, and (3) Response to the selection criteria (which can be obtained in the PDF files on the above links) to Professor Rodger Tomlinson (preferred) or by mail to the following address. References may also be requested when needed.
(Source: Coastal-List)

2. University of Hawaii, Manoa
Faculty Position Announcement, the Department of Ocean and Resources Engineering of the School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology (SOEST), University of Hawaii, Manoa
Applications for a full-time tenure-track position, at the rank of assistant or associate professor, in the field of coastal engineering. Ocean and Resources Engineering is a graduate department offering MS and PhD degrees with strong commitment to teaching and mentoring graduate students, conducting extramurally funded research, and publishing scholarly materials. The ABET-accredited academic program includes coastal engineering, offshore engineering, and ocean resources engineering.
The successful candidate is expected to teach graduate courses and develop funded research projects in topic areas such as littoral processes, sediment transport, ocean observing, structural mechanics, and environmental fluid mechanics. In addition, the selectee will also have the opportunity to further develop the Kilo Nalu Nearshore Reef Observatory.
Applicants must have a PhD degree in Engineering, Applied Mechanics, Fluid Mechanics or a closely related discipline received no later than June 30, 2012. Other requirements include excellent communication skills; demonstrated capability for creative, high quality research; and the demonstrated capability/experience and desire to contribute to teaching and mentoring of students. At the associate professor level, applications must have four years of experience at the rank of assistant professor or equivalent. Practical experience in design of ocean structures and marine systems is highly desirable.
Interested applicants should submit a detailed resume, teaching and research plans, copies of three relevant publications, transcripts (copies acceptable with application, official document upon hire) and names and address of three references to orejob@hawaii.edu. Questions regarding the position may be directed to Dr. K.F. Cheung, Chair of Search Committee, Department of Ocean and Resources Engineering. This position will be available on August 1, 2012.

3. College of Engineering at the American University of Sharjah (AUS), Arab Emirates
World-class researcher in the field of water and environmental engineering, the College of Engineering at the American University of Sharjah (AUS), Arab Emirates
The Chair has been established through the generosity of University Trustee Riad Sadek for the purpose of advancing the theory and practice of water and environmental engineering, particularly in the context of the Gulf of Arabia and the GCC. The successful candidate will head efforts underway at the University to establish a Gulf Coastal Ecosystem Research Center for the study of water and environmental resources. The incumbent must hold a terminal degree and qualify for appointment as a faculty member in the Department of Civil Engineering. The new Chair will have research and instructional responsibilities, as well as some administrative duties associated with the Center.
The successful candidate will be a leader in the field of coastal ecosystem, environmental science and engineering or water resources engineering, as demonstrated by a solid record of research, substantial publications and peer recognition worldwide. The successful candidate will also have a strong record of acquiring external resources to support research. We are looking for someone with a history of collegiality and team building who, likewise, has a successful record of mentoring graduate and undergraduate students. The successful candidate must be a visionary, who can lead the University's efforts to build an internationally recognized research center in coastal ecosystems.
Candidates seeking either a visiting appointment or a regular appointment will be considered for the inaugural appointment to the Riad Sadek Chair.
Screening will begin upon receipt of applications and will continue until the position is filled.
A curriculum vita and the names and contact information of at least three references should be submitted via email.
For more information, visit the website.
Applicants must have earned doctorates in Civil Engineering or closely related fields. Strong preference is given to candidates with teaching experience in an American model/s of higher education and having experience in managing a research center/s. Work experience in North American industry or higher education is highly desirable.

4. University of Kurdistan Hewler, Iraq
Lecturers/Senior Lecturers in Natural Resources Engineering,University of Kurdistan Hewler, Iraq Closing date: May 20, 2012
The University of Kurdistan Hewler (UKH) is a public university funded by the Kurdistan Regional Government within Iraq (www.KRG.org). It is committed to excellence in teaching, learning and research. The medium of instruction, communication and administration is exclusively English and the University follows the British Quality assurance system.
The University is seeking enthusiastic and well qualified academics to fill in a number of vacant Lecturer/Senior Lecturer posts in the following areas of Natural Resources Engineering:
1. Water Resources Engineering.
2. Sedimentation and Stratigraphy, Geomorphology, Petrology and Hydrogeology, Geophysical Analysis and Formation Evaluation;
3. Mineralogy, Mining Engineering, Mineral Processing Engineering, Structural Geology and Analysis, Remote Sensing and GIS, Seismic Methods and Interpretation;
4. Drilling Engineering, Reservoir Engineering, Reservoir Geosciences, Well Completion and Production, Well Logging and Testing, Enhanced Oil Recovery;
5. Fluid Mechanics, Petroleum Fluids, Environmental Hydrology ;
6. Petroleum Engineering, Natural Gas Engineering.
The University offers an attractive remuneration package which includes:
Generous tax-free salary in US$;
Free furnished accommodation;
Round-trip travel to home destination;
Contribution to relocation expenses;
Medical allowance;
Child education contribution.
For an informal discussion regarding these positions, please contact Dr. Tahseen Rafik, Pro Vice Chancellor Learning and Teaching. For detailed job description, person specification and application form, please visit the University's website via Apply Online. To apply, please complete the Application Form - Academic which can be downloaded from our website and email it together with your extended CV (including list of publications and copies of qualification transcripts) to: jobs@ukh.ac. Please include in your application a Personal Statement highlighting the post(s) you are applying for and a mapping of your skills and experience onto the requirements of the post, a list of modules that you are able to deliver at access, undergraduate and postgraduate levels and your research interests.

5. CICESE, Ensenada, Mexico
Postdoc Opportunity at CICESE, Ensenada, Mexico
Closing date: May 18, 2012
The Waves Group of CICESE, as part of the Physical Oceanography Department is seeking candidates for a three-year postdoc position. As part of a recent CONACYT-funded project, the postdoc will work with the Principal Investigator (F. J. Ocampo-Torres) and colleagues in the Waves Group at CICESE (P. Osuna and others), along with several outside collaborators (from UABC in Ensenada, U.Marseilles in France, and Met Institutt in Norway).
Some of the effects of the sea surface in the marine-boundary layer has already been documented. Moreover, detailed aspects related to the presence of swell in opposing direction to the wind generated waves is still a subject of further research.
Understanding the process by which the marine-boundary layer is influenced by combined swell and wind-sea is necessary to constrain the description of its future behavior in coupled models. Within this broad context, the specific purpose of the project is to acquire detailed observations in the Gulf of Tehuantepec, hindcast the wave spectrum in the interest region, study air-sea interaction under accelerating-decelerating winds in the laboratory, and determine ocean-atmosphere fluxes of CO2, heat and moisture under the presence of mixed seas.
We seek for a recent PhD graduate interested in approaching these challenging problems.
Essential qualifications include: PhD in Oceanography, Applied Math, Physics or related field, a strong math and physics background, and the ability to gain insight from observational data. Knowledge of Fortran and model development experience is desirable. She/He is also expected to actively collaborate in writing and submitting scientific manuscripts and proposals for funding, as well as to collaborate in other research activities within the Waves Group in CICESE.
Please send a CV along with the names and contact information of three references to F. J. Ocampo-Torres and Pedro Osuna. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Inquiries regarding further details about the position are welcome.

6. University of Queensland – School of Civil Engineering, Australia
Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Civil Engineering, University of Queensland – School of Civil Engineering, Australia
Closing date: May 16, 2012. Ref. nº 493224
The School of Civil Engineering has a long and proud record of academic achievement and involvement with the profession and industry and is among the leaders in civil engineering education and research in Australia and has world standing in several research areas. Its mission is to provide a cohesive learning environment enabling quality education, leadership with a desire to meet technological challenges and an ability to work with a wide range of people. The School has extensive concrete, steel and soils laboratory facilities that are used for teaching, research and commercial testing. The School is located at the St Lucia Campus and has offices and facilities in the Hawken Engineering Building and the Seddon Buildings. The School will be moving into a new state of the art Advanced Engineering building in 2013.
Further information and details of the research interests of academic staff may be accessed on the school's website.
The successful appointee will work with a multidisciplinary team on an Australian Research Council Linkage project titled: "Multi-scale, two-phase flow in complex coal seam systems"
Applicants should possess PhD qualifications in Hydrogeology or Civil/Environmental Engineering (with a strong hydrogeological background). You should also have a strong desire to develop a successful and highly-productive research career, have good general research skills, a strong methodological background, excellent statistical and analytic skills, very good writing abilities, and the capacity to work with multidisciplinary research teams.
To discuss this role please contact Professor Ling Li. To submit an application for this role, visit the website and use the Apply button. All applicants must supply the following documents: Cover letter, Resume and Selection Criteria responses.
Source jobs.ac.uk

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PhD Positions

1. ETH Zurich, Switzerland
PhD position in the modeling of step formation in steep streams at ETH Zurich, Switzerland
Closing date: June 1, 2012
Research is on the critical state at which steps are formed with the toolbox of self-organized criticality and cellular automaton modeling of step formation by grain blocking and hydraulically-driven step collapse in a 1-d and 2-d channel. Field work in Alptal is involved (in collaboration with WSL).
For more details contact: Dr Peter Molnar.

2. Grenoble, France
PhD, Discrete Element Modelling of Bedload Sediment Transport, Grenoble, France
Transport of bedload, the larger material that is transported in stream channels, has major consequences for public safety, for the management of water resources, and for environmental sustainability. Most particularly, in mountains, steep slopes drive intense transport of a wide range of grain sizes. As discussed recently (Frey and Church 2009)*, an important reason for our limited ability to predict sediment flux is that we have no general understanding of grain-grain interactions in stream channels,
especially due to a very wide range of grain size leading to grain size sorting or segregation (Fig.A). Movement of beads on a mobile bed in a turbulent supercritical flow on steep slopes has been studied at Cemagref in a two-dimensional channel. A high speed camera and image analysis allow us to measure variables at the particle scale such as positions, instantaneous velocities, trajectories, states of movements.
Two datasets are available, one relative to a uniform size of particle, the other pertaining to a segregating binary mixture (Fig.B).
This PhD subject is about discrete element modelling of bedload. In this type of modelling, each individual particle (sand grain, rock, …) is taken into account and intergranular interactions are modelled with simple laws (e.g. Coulomb friction). Gravity and contact forces permit to solve the dynamical behaviour of the system. The main issue will be to couple an existing discrete element model (yade-dem.org) with the fluid,
taking into account hydrodynamic forces. Calibration and validation will be performed with the help of both the uniform and binary datasets.
A. River armoring B. Segregation in a Flume
This PhD located in Grenoble, in the French Alps, will benefit from a collaboration with the laboratory 3SR, sols, solides, structures risques (discrete element modelling and fluid/grain coupling) and the laboratory LEGI, écoulements géophysiques et industriels (Turbulent flow modelling with particles).
Cemagref (Irstea), the National Institute in Science and Technology for Environment and Agriculture, is a public research organisation depending on the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Research of the French Government. It employs over 1000 scientists and technicians specialising in interdisciplinary research in the field of environmental sciences, natural risks, rural life, agriculture, soil conservation, water
quality, vegetation and wildlife. The Grenoble centre is specialised in mountain-related issues. It conducts research in analysis and modelling of physical processes involved in the initiation and flowing of bedload transport, debris flows and snow avalanches, and their interactions with protective structures. Contact here or visit the website.

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Postdoctoral Position In Plant Electrophysiology

Starting date: immediately or upon agreement

Work place: University of Lausanne , Department of Plant Molecular Biology and

Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology

Profile wanted:

Applicants must have a doctorate in a related field, extensive experience in

electrophysiology (animal or plant), and an interest in plant physiology

Description of research topic and environment:

A postdoctoral position is available for research on the roles of electrical signalling in

the wound response in the plant model Arabidopsis. The work involves collaboration

between the dedicated electrophysiology laboratory

of Stephan Kellenberger (http://www.unil.ch/dpt/page61353_en.html)

and a laboratory studying the molecular genetics of the wound response in Arabidopsis

(Edward Farmer; http://www.unil.ch/dbmv/page8006_en.html). The Farmer laboratory

has recently found fast biochemical responses to wounding that may be initiated by ion

fluxes (J. Biol. Chem. 284, 34506). In addition a gain-of-function ion channel mutant

identified in the laboratory mimics the wound response (Plant J. 49, 889). We seek

someone to conduct electrophysiology experiments on intact plants (primarily

intracellular recordings). One aim of the project is to test whether electrical activity is

critical in the wound response. This multidisciplinary project is situated in the vibrant

Lausanne biomedical research community. Lausanne and nearby Geneva offer a superb

lakeside environment.

Application:

Applications, including the names of three referees should be addressed by email to

Stephan Kellenberger, Département de Pharmacologie et de Toxicologie, UNIL, Rue

du Bugnon 27, CH-1005 Lausanne, Stephan.Kellenberger@unil.ch or to Edward

Farmer, Département de biologie moléculaire végétale, UNIL, Bâtiment Biophore,

1015 Lausanne , edward.farmer@unil.ch. A publication record in electrophysiology is

essential and we will only reply to applicants with such publications. Continue Reading...

2 PhD Positions in Statistics/Econometrics at University of Neuchatel, Switzerland

ASSISTANT POSITIONS in STATISTICS/ECONOMET RICS
are announced at the Institute of Statistics, Faculty of Economics, University of Neuchâtel.

The Institute of Statistics of the Faculty of Economics of the University of Neuchâtel expects to open up to two assistant positions (for a total of up to 150% working time) starting in August 2010. The successful candidates are expected to enroll in and begin working towards a Ph. D. degree in Statistics at the University of Neuchâtel. The possible topics of the thesis cover theoretical and/or empirical methods in statistics and econometrics related to the areas of expertise of the department.

The Faculty of Economics of the University of Neuchâtel, has around 400 students, over 30 full professors and guest teachers, 20 lecturers, and about 30 teaching and research assistants.

The Institute of Statistics, one of the seven institutes that constitute the Faculty, gives bachelor and graduate courses included in the university degree programs in economics, mathematics, management, social sciences, labor psychology, and informatics. Moreover, the Institute of Statistics offers a master program in statistics. The research interests of the faculty include sampling, estimation in finite populations, public statistics, extreme values, time series, statistical methods applied to finance and macroeconomics.
Ideally located at the heart of Europe (halfway between Zürich and Geneva), Neuchâtel offers its residents an exceptional quality of life and is an ideal place for study and high-level research work.

QUALIFICATIONS AND ASSESSMENT GROUNDS FOR APPOINTMENT
The applicants should
· have a Bachelor and Master degrees in statistics, mathematics (with some knowledge of economics), economics or finance (with a strong mathematical background), or related fields,
· be willing to start working on a Ph. D. thesis in the fields of statistics or econometrics at the University of Neuchâtel,
· poses a high level of independence, intellectual openness, creativity and scientific curiosity,
· be interested in doing research, be motivated to study, understand and finally master possibly complicated technical problems, be willing to neatly write up the results,
· poses strong quantitative skills, good knowledge of probability and statistics/economet rics,
· be interested in teaching and willing to perform to a high level in the didactic duties,
· have good knowledge of both French and English,
· have less than 30 years of age (see Règlement des assistants - http://rsn.ne. ch/ajour/ default.html? 416453.htm)

JOB DESCRIPTION
The assistants will be employed on a fixed-term contract and will be active in the Institute of Statistics, University of Neuchâtel for the full duration of this position

The successful candidate is expected to conduct research towards the completion of a Ph. D. Thesis.
They will function as a teaching assistant for bachelor and master level courses and expected to interact with the students and to assist them in their learning effort. The teaching is both in French and English.

The assistant will also play an active role in the department. She/he is expected to interact with other researchers in the school, to participate in department's activities, to contribute to the scientific life of the department by attending seminars, conferences, taking part in organizing of scientific events, supervising undergraduate/ graduate theses within her/his research area, etc.

The position offers also the possibility for close academic collaboration with the other institutes and departments of the university (in particular with the Institutes of financial analysis, information management, and economic research, and the department of mathematics) , as well as relevant departments of the Universities of Geneva and Lausanne (these last ones in the frame of the collaboration agreement “Triangle d'Azur”).

SALARY AND BENEFITS
The successful candidates will receive benefits and salary in accordance to the rules and regulations of the University of Neuchâtel (see http://www2. unine.ch/ rh/page12271_ fr.html).

Rough and non-binding estimates of the salary for 100% employment go from a gross salary of around CHF 68,000 (€ 48,000)/year in the first year to roughly CHF 79,000 (€ 56,000)/year in the fourth year.

HOW TO APPLY
Each applicant should send ONE (paper) copy of the following to the address below
(1) Transcripts of certificates of graduate university courses
(2) Copies of bachelor/master diplomas
(3) A CV including biographical information, degrees, work experiences, list of publications (if any), and list of honors, awards, scholarships, fellowships
(3) A short statement (1-2 pages) describing the applicant’s interest in the research area, if possible also the work that he or she would like to do during the appointment (this statement is not a commitment to conduct the outlined work, but is important evidence of the applicant’s ability to think of an appropriate scientific project), her/his views on teaching, relevant previous experiences related to didactic activities of any kind, etc. other experiences and interests demonstrating the qualities listed in the section on QUALIFICATIONS AND ASSESSMENT GROUNDS FOR APPOINTMENT
(4) Three reference letters to be sent directly to the address indicated below. The candidate should arrange for the letters to be posted by the application’s deadline. The names and addresses (including e-mail and FAX) of three referees should be included in the CV.
Address: Secrétariat de l’Institut de Statistique,
Faculté des Sciences Économiques,
Pierre à Mazel, 7
2000 Neuchâtel, Switzerland

In addition the documents (1) to (4) should be sent electronically to the address: messagerie.istat@ unine.ch
(if an electronic version of document (1) is not available, a legible digital picture or a scanned copy should be provided with the original paper version sent by normal mail to the address above).

Applications will be considered on an on-going basis and interviews will be conducted until the qualified candidates are found. The positions will begin in August 2010. The appointment will be announced on the web page of the Institute of Statistics as soon as the positions are filled.

For further information write to Catalin Starica at catalin.starica@ unine.ch Continue Reading...

Klaus J. Jacobs Research Prize

Klaus J. Jacobs Research Prize
The Klaus J. Jacobs Research Prize for Productive Youth Development in the amout of 1 million Swiss francs honours outstanding scientific work with high social relevance for the personality development of adolescents and their successful integration as functional and socially adept members of society. In line with the foundation’s mission, the findings of the prizewinner’s interdisciplinary research should be actively implemented in social and political practice.
The Klaus J. Jacobs Research Prize for Productive Youth Development awards outstanding scientific contributions of individuals from all disciplines aiming at the improvement of young people’s development and perspectives worldwide.
All documents pertaining to the nomination should be submitted to the offices of the Jacobs Foundation by 30 April
Incomplete nominations or documents received after this date will not be considered.
A complete nomination consists of the following documents:

*
Completed nomination form
*
1-2 page appraisal of the academic accomplishments of the nominee, making clear what the nominee’s scientific breakthroughs have been, especially with Productive Youth Development, why the nominee deserves the prize more than his or her talented peers, and how the nominee would bring further distinction to the Klaus J. Jacobs Research Prize
*
Full list of publications as included in nominee’s CV as well as evidence of his or her scientific leadership (such as direction of a research program, scientific committee, leadership role in a scientific society, and the like)
*
Information regarding possible future academic plans, fields of interest, and aspirations of the nominee

Call for Nominations (283KB)

Nomination Form (472KB)

Nominations can be submitted by mail or email to: Jacobs Foundation Seefeldquai 17 P.O. Box 8034 Zurich Switzerland. Email: award@jacobsfoundat ion.org

Moreinfo: http://award. jacobsfoundation .org/en/call- for-nominations/ Continue Reading...

PhD Position on Weather Insurance Design project, Univ. of Zurich

website link:
http://www.afee.ethz.ch/positions/ETH_PhD-Position_Weather-Insurance_Design

The Agri-food & Agri-environmental Economics Group of ETH Zurich (www.afee.ethz.ch) invites applications for a Ph.D position.

The successful candidate will implement a research project on the weather insurance design. The project will be financed by Swiss National Science Foundation and an ETH Zurich internal PhD-grant. The
objective of the project is to enhance the methodology of the weather insurance contract design considering conditions of limited relevance and applicability of historical data. The project will focus on the
application of extremal dependence analysis and elaboration of the methodology for the utilization of a priori information available in the form of climate change projections. The project will be conducted based on historical data, climate change projections and results of crop simulation models for Kazakhstan where grain producers are especially prone to risk of drought.

The basic requirements are:
• A master degree in Mathematics, Economics, Agricultural Economics;
• Strong background in Probability Theory and quantitative methods;
• Programming skills;
• Good command of spoken and written English;

As the project will be implemented in collaboration with the scientists from Russia and Kazakhstan, knowledge of Russian would be an asset but is not a prerequisite.

Please send your application including CV, two letters of recommendation and (if possible) a copy of the Master thesis by January 15, 2010 to Dr. Raushan Bokusheva at the following postal address:
ETH Zurich
Institute for Environmental Decisions (IED)
Agri-Food and Agri-Environmental Economics Group
SOL C9
Sonneggstr. 33
8092 Zurich
Switzerland

The earliest starting date of this position would be February 1, 2010. Continue Reading...

PhD Position in Geomatics, University of Lausanne, Switzerland

website link:
http://www.unil.ch/webdav/site/igar/shared/pdf_jobs/Post_PhD_IGAR_2010.pdf

Institute of Geomatics and Analysis of Risk (IGAR);
Faculty of Geosciences and Environment (FGSE), University of Lausanne
Position: Assistant, PhD student
Starting Date: February-March 2010

Place of work: Institute of Geomatics and Analysis of Risk (IGAR), University of Lausanne

Education and skills: MS degree in one of the following disciplines: statistics, machine learning, computer science, physics, geosciences, applied mathematics. Candidates should have a sound background in spatio-temporal data analysis using machine learning and geostatistical approaches. Knowledge of scientific programming languages as Matlab, C, or R is important.

Description: IGAR opens a position in the field of application of machine learning algorithms (neural networks of different architectures, support vector machines, etc.) and geostatistics for geo/environmental sciences. The main tasks concern the development, adaptation, and programming of data mining (pattern recognition) models and tools. In particular, topics to be studied include modeling of data clustering, novelty detection, feature selection,
manifold learning, risk mapping, and spatio-temporal simulations. In addition to the PhD the candidate is expected to assist in teaching (French, English) and other projects at the institute.

Remarks: Motivation letter, CV, list of publications, MS thesis or equivalent, and recommendation letter should be sent by e-mail to Prof. Kanevski.

Deadline for applications: 10.01.2010

Contact
IGAR, Prof. M. Kanevski
Mikhail.Kanevski@unil.ch
Homepage:
http://www.unil.ch/igar Continue Reading...

PhD position in Quantitative Modeling at ETH Zurich, Switzerland

website link:
http://www.sg.ethz.ch/openpositions/phd

PhD Position (Quantitative Modeling)

At the Chair of Systems Design, we use methods from complex systems theory to understand the dynamics of social and economic systems. This includes methods from statistical physics, evolutionary game theory, micro economics, mathematics, and computational sciences.

We are looking for candidates with a strong quantitative background in one of these fields to fill in a doctoral student position starting as soon as possible, or by agreement. We offer excellent working conditions in a lively team and innovative research in close collaboration with leading teams all over the world.

Applicants should have excellent credentials and a proven interest in interdisciplinary research to explore scientific problems beyond the beaten track, both within the team and independently. But most of all, they should be highly motivated to work in the genuinely transdisciplinary environment of our team consisting of economists, physicists, computer scientists, mathematicians, and engineers. This also requires strong communication skills and fluently spoken and written English.

Applicants are asked to send their curriculum vitae, list of (and links to) their publications, names of at least three references, and an overview of their research interests (all in PDF files and in English) to

Ms. Rahel Dulik
rdulik@ethz.ch

For specific inquiries, please contact Prof. Dr. Dr. Frank Schweitzer (fschweitzer@ethz.ch).





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PhD position at the Department of Geography

PhD position at the Department of Geography
Justus-Liebig- Universitä t Gießen

We seek a highly motivated PhD-student to investigate the variability and projected future changes of weather and climate extremes in Germany, with a focus on the state of Hesse, in the climatology research group of Prof. Jürg Luterbacher and Dr. Douglas Maraun

Work description:

The PhD position is part of the INKLIM programme funded by the Hessian Centre on Climate Change, Agency for Environment and Geology (Fachzentrum Klimawandel Hessen, Hessisches Landesamt für Umwelt und Geologie). INKLIM comprises research groups that work on different questions related to a better understanding of current and future regional climate change, extremes and impacts assessment on different sectors (e.g. forestry, agriculture, ecosystem, town planning).

The successful candidate will study the meteorological mechanisms causing extreme events in Germany (in particular extreme precipitation and heat waves) using station data and reanalysis driven regional climate simulations. The candidate will then develop a novel statistical approach to correct regional climate model simulations and construct and analyse an ensemble of future changes in extreme events across Germany.

The candidate will present their results at national and international conferences and publish them in international peer-reviewed journals.

The PhD student will work with Prof. Jürg Luterbacher and Dr. Douglas Maraun using recent developments in extreme value statistics, and closely collaborate with scientists within the research group. The collaboration with international partners in the fields of climatology and statistics, for instance, in France and England, is possible.

This position provides an excellent opportunity to work in a dynamic and growing group integrated with a network of international collaborations.

The position is for 3 years initially, with a possible extension after completion of the PhD. Payment will be in accordance with a civil service position (BAT 2A/2).

Requirements:

We seek a motivated, well organised and creative team player. The successful candidate has a MSc degree or equivalent experience in a quantitative science, in an area related to climate, meteorology or hydrology. Experience in statistics and computer programming skills are required.

Application:

The post will start as soon as possible. All applications arriving until 9 December 2009 will be considered, later applications until the position is filled.

Please submit your application, including a letter of motivation, curriculum vitae and copies of your master certificate as a single .pdf electronically to:
juerg.luterbacher[ at]geogr. uni-giessen. de and
douglas.maraun[ at]geogr. uni-giessen. de

The University of Giessen is an equal opportunity employer. To increase the number of women in the faculty, female applicants are recommended to apply for this position. Applicants with severe disabilities will be favoured if they are equally qualified as the other candidates.

Do not hesitate to contact us for informal enquiries.

Inserat-Nummer: 18717
Titel: 2 PhD positions in Environmental Geochemistry

Hochschule: ETH Zuerich

We are inviting applications for two PhD student positions based jointly in the Soil Chemistry Group (Prof. Ruben Kretzschmar) and the Isotope Geochemistry Group (Prof. Bernard Bourdon) at ETH Zuerich. The research topic will be the application of stable mercury (Hg) isotopes as novel tracers for biogeochemical Hg cycling in soil environments. Mercury is an important pollutant element and Hg isotope ratios provide a promising new tool to trace Hg sources and transformations in natural ecosystems. One PhD project will focus mainly on the investigation of field samples, whereas the other PhD project is dedicated to perform laboratory based experiments. Both project parts will be strongly linked and use the state-of-the- art facilities of the Soil Chemistry and Isotope Geochemistry laboratories at ETH Zurich.

We are seeking highly motivated candidates with a strong interest to perform interdisciplinary research at the interface of soil chemistry and isotope geochemistry. Previous experience in these fields and/or analytical chemistry would be beneficial. Applicants should hold a MSc degree (or equivalent) in geosciences, environmental sciences, chemistry, geoecology, or a related discipline. Good knowledge of English is essential. Female and male candidates are equally invited to apply. Employment will be according to standard regulations of ETH Zurich (funding secured for 3 years). Start in March 2010 or upon mutual agreement.

Applicants should submit letter of application, CV, statement of research interests, transcripts/ copy of certificates, and addresses of 2-3 potential referees to:

Prof. Ruben Kretzschmar,

ETH Zuerich

CHN F23.1,

8092 Zurich, Switzerland

(paper copy by mail or single pdf-file by e-mail to jan.wiederhold[ at]env.ethz. ch).

For further details on the project please contact Dr. Jan Wiederhold. Evaluation of applications will start 4.1.2010 and continue until the positions are filled.



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PhD Studentship: Computational Linguistics; Statistical Machine Translation

University or Organization: University of Geneva
Department: Computer Science Department
Job Location: Geneva, Switzerland
Web Address: http://cui.unige.ch

Job Rank: PhD Studentship

Specialty Areas: Computational Linguistics; Statistical Machine Translation


Description:

Applications are invited for a PhD position in the Computational Learning
and Computational Linguistics (CLCL) group of the University of Geneva
(http://clcl.unige.ch/). The successful candidate will pursue research in
connection with a project on statistical machine translation funded by the
Swiss National Science Foundation, in collaboration with researchers in
Geneva's Linguistics Department and the IDIAP Research Institute.

Candidates should have a solid background in computer science or
computational linguistics. They should have excellent programming skills as
well as communication skills in English (and ideally in French as well).
Preference will be given to candidates with a strong interest and/or
experience in machine learning or statistical methods, and in computational
linguistics or natural language processing. A strong academic record,
excellent analytical skills, and a clear aptitude for autonomous, creative
research will be priority selection criteria.

Funding is guaranteed for 3 years through a Swiss National Science
Foundation PhD studentship, with a possible extension for a fourth year.
Starting salary will be around the range 3300-4400 CHF/month (gross)
depending on the conditions of employment (1 CHF = 0.66 EUR).

The position is available starting 1 March 2010 or soon thereafter. We will
begin considering applications immediately, and will give priority to
applications received before 30 November 2009.

How to apply:

Applicants should send their curriculum vitae, academic transcripts
indicating their degrees and all their courses with grades, a statement of
purpose, and names and addresses (with e-mail and telephone number) of at
least two references to the email address James.Henderson@unige.ch, or to
the postal address given below. Electronic applications are strongly preferred.

Informal inquiries should be directed to Dr. James Henderson at
James.Henderson@unige.ch or Dr. Paola Merlo at Paola.Merlo@unige.ch.

About the institution:

CLCL is an interdisciplinary group between the Artificial Intelligence
Laboratory of the Computer Science Department and the Laboratory for the
Analysis and Technology of Language of the Linguistics Department. Further
information on related research activities of the CLCL group can be found
on the CLCL group's website (http://clcl.unige.ch/) and on the home pages
of Dr. James Henderson (http://cui.unige.ch/~hendersj/) and Dr. Paola Merlo
(http://www.latl.unige.ch/personal/paola.html).

The University of Geneva is one of the leading research universities in
Europe and offers excellent working conditions, as well as a stimulating
scientific environment. The University of Geneva wishes to increase the
proportion of female academic staff and, for this reason, especially
welcomes applications from women.

Keywords: computational linguistics, natural language processing, machine
learning, machine translation


Application Deadline: 07-Dec-2009
Mailing Address for Applications:
Dr James Henderson
CUI - University of Geneva
Battelle bâtiment A
7 route de Drize
Carouge, Geneva CH-1227
Switzerland
Email Address for Applications: James.Henderson@unige.ch
Contact Information:
Dr James Henderson
Email: James.Henderson@unige.ch

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Doctoral Position in Economics at University of Zurich, Switzerland

website link:
http://www.iew.uzh.ch/chairs/jgoeree/news/Grad/DoctoralPositionGoeree.pdf

Doctoral Position (Research and Teaching Assistant) Chair of Professor J. Goeree

University of Zurich (Switzerland)

The candidate is expected to do research during a period of four years leading to a doctoral thesis. In addition, he or she will be involved in teaching activities. A bachelor's or master's degree in economics, mathematics or physics is required. The focus of the research in our group is on microeconomics, in particular, auction theory and mechanism design. We encourage applications of young researchers who want to benefit from and contribute to a stimulating environment at an internationally renowned economics department.

The candidate will attend doctoral courses offered by UZH. The thesis typically consists of three pieces of original research, including both single-authored and co-authored papers. For information on our research activities, please consult:
http://www.iew.uzh.ch/chairs/jgoeree.html.

Please send applications by email to jgoeree@iew.uzh.ch. We plan to fill the position by February 1, 2010.



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PhD Position in Agricultural Economics, ETH Zurich, Switzerland

website link:
http://www.afee.ethz.ch/positions/open_PhD_position.pdf


Ph.D. Position in Agricultural Economics at ETH Zurich

The Agri-food & Agri-environmental Economics Group (AFEE) of ETH Zurich (www.afee.ethz.ch) invites applications for a Ph.D position:
We are looking for a Ph.D. student to conduct research in the project "Water Demand in Swiss Agriculture, and Sustainable Adaptive Options for Land and Water Management to Mitigate Impacts of Climate Change -AGWAM" within the framework of the National Research Programme "Sustainable Water Management" (NRP 61, www.nfp61.ch).

The main goal of the AGWAM project is to investigate sustainable strategies for agricultural land use and farm management to mitigate negative impacts of climate change on agricultural water demand in Switzerland around the year 2050. The Ph.D. student at our group will develop a model that integrates bio-physical component models and an economic farm decision model based on genetic algorithms. This study focuses on the farm scale, identifying on-farm strategies to adapt to changes in climatic conditions under a range of possible changes in agroenvironmental policies, socio-economic boundary conditions, and land use. Moreover, strategies for water conservation in agricultural land use are analyzed.

The candidate is expected to hold a Diploma or Master degree in agricultural economics or another quantitative discipline by January 2010. Profound knowledge in economics, mathematics, statistics, and a very good understanding of agricultural and agri-environmental processes is expected. Moreover, we expect that the candidate has experience in programming C or C++. In addition, excellent writing and communications skills in English are required. Knowledge of German and French is not a prerequisite but would be an advantage.

Please send applications by post, including a cover letter, a CV, and two letters of recommendation to: Robert Finger, ETH Zürich, Sonneggstrasse 33, 8092 Zürich, Switzerland.

Applications have to be received by December 10, 2009.
JEL Classification(s): A, C, D, Q
Application has to be received by December 10, 2009.
The preferred starting date is January 2010. Continue Reading...

PhD Position in higher education studies, University of Lugano,Switzerland

website link:
http://www.usi.ch/call-phd-position-core-86900.pdf

Funded PhD position on higher education studies at the Centre for
Organizational Research

The Centre for Organizational Research at the Faculty of Economics of the University of Lugano invites applications for a PhD position in the area of higher education studies.
The successful candidate will work in the Area of Management and Performance of Research and Higher Education Institutions led by Dr. Benedetto Lepori; he/she will work in the European project on Transforming Universities in Europe supported by the European Science Foundation through the Swiss National Science Foundation. Her work will especially focus on procedures for internal allocation of budget of higher education institutions and their impact on their strategy.
The CORE offers an attractive working environment due to its strong
competences in organizational studies, as well as its portfolio of projects and excellent international connections in the field in the field of organizational research and higher education studies.

Required competences include:
• a master degree (or equivalent) in economics, social or economics statistics or social sciences with a quantitative focus.
• good knowledge of qualitative methods (case studies, interviews).
• excellent knowledge of English.

The position will be for a three-year period under usual contractual conditions of the University of Lugano (Swiss National Science Foundation norm for PhD students).

To apply for this position please send to blepori@unisi.ch following documents:
• a complete CV.
• a letter stating the reasons of your interest in the topic.

Closing date for applications is September 31, 2009, but applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Owing to the large number of enquiries received, only those applicants whose profiles are likely to fit the positions will be notified for further details and eventual interviews.

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PhD Position in Architecture at University of Lugano, Switzerland

website link:
http://www.usi.ch/bando-arch-dottorando-cus-en-91094.pdf

The Accademia di architettura dell'Università della Svizzera italiana, Mendrisio
invites applications for a

Funded PhD position
from October 15th 2009, for a minimum period of 36 months.

The position requires full time attendance. Remuneration is based on the Swiss National Fund parameters.

Duties
The PhD student will take part in the CUS research project (Swiss Cooperation Project in Architecture) Critical encyclopaedia of re-use and restoration of Twentieth-Century architecture, coordinated by professors Bruno Reichlin (USI), Franz Graf (EPFL) and Vittorio Magnago Lampugnani (ETHZ). He/She will work under the supervision of the responsible faculty members (B. Reichlin, R. Grignolo). The area of his/her research will be the theory and history of re-use and restoration of Twentieth-Century heritage and work will comprise the documentation of case studies. She/He will also write some of the encyclopaedia's entries.

Requirements
- Master degree in architecture
- Good knowledge of Twentieth-Century architecture and restoration
- Good knowledge of Swiss national languages, German especially, and English.
Postgraduate qualifications will receive positive evaluation.
Requirements and regulations for this position are specified in the "Regolamento degli studi di dottorato"
(http://www.arch.unisi.ch/aam_regolamento_dottorato.pdf)

Further information can be obtained from
Dr. Arch. Roberta Grignolo (roberta.grignolo@usi.ch)
The PhD application must include a curriculum vitae, list of publications, presentation of Master degree work, two letters of reference from professors who have followed the candidate in her/his academic career and a letter of motivation.

A PhD research program, accompanied by a letter of the PhD tutor at the Accademia, will have to be presented by November 2009. The contract validity is subordinated to the acceptance of the PhD research program by the Consiglio dell'Accademia di architettura of USI (Università della Svizzera Italiana).

Applications should be mailed and postmarked no later than September 15th 2009 to the following address:
Dr. Arch. R. Grignolo
Accademia di architettura
Università della Svizzera italiana
Largo Bernasconi 2
CH-6850 Mendrisio

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PhD Position in Computational Seismology at ETH Zurich, Switzerland

website link:
http://www.seg.ethz.ch/positions/index

PhD Opportunities at ETH Zurich, Switzerland

Computational Seismology (contact person: Dr. Lapo Boschi - lapo@erdw.ethz.ch )

We seek a highly motivated Ph.D. candidate at ETH Zurich to be working within the newly funded European Marie-Curie training network QUEST in the domain of computational seismology. This network comprises 14 partner institutions, and guarantees a unique basis for fruitful and innovative research through vigorous scientific exchange, workshops, and industrial internships. QUEST revolves around the seismic inverse problem, i.e. deducing viable earth models from seismic data. Modern approaches solve the seismic wave equation via sophisticated numerical methods and high-performance computing facilities. Our proposed research project engages in such techniques in order to constrain the structure of the deep earth, core-mantle boundary region, and core. Of specific interest is the aspherical topography on sharp seismic interfaces: We expect the applicant to further develop forward and inverse modeling in this context, possibly combined with ideas from the exploration industry. This will result in more coherent and refined images of these discontinuities which is key to understanding and further constraining the geomagnetic field and thermal evolution of the earth.

Applicants must hold a M. Sc., Diploma or equivalent in the
geosciences, physics, applied mathematics, computer sciences or
related field. Central to this project are strong analytical and
quantitative skills in numerical analysis, programming,
high-performance computing, and an interest in wave phenomena, inverse
theory, data analysis, and global dynamics of the earth. A solid
knowledge of English as the spoken and written language of work is
mandatory. We expect good interpersonal skills, the ability to thrive
in a diverse, multidisciplinary environment as much as the willingness
to spend time at partner institutions, and to present at international
conferences.

The Institute of Geophysics at ETH Zurich boasts a strong research and teaching environment covering a wide array of disciplines. Please consult the Seismology and Geodynamics web pages, or contact Dr. Tarje Nissen-Meyer and Dr. Lapo Boschi for further information or any remaining questions. Complete applications must include a statement of scientific interests, curriculum vitae and contact details of two referees familiar with the academic ability of the candidate, and should be emailed to Dr. Boschi: lapo@erdw.ethz.ch (electronic PDF format preferred), preferably by early September, 2009. the earliest starting date is January 2010, but no later than June 2010. ETH Zurich is an equal-opportunity and non-discriminating employer. Continue Reading...