PhD student in Scientific Computing focusing on numerical simulation of earthquakes

Are you interested in working with earthquake simulations, with the support of competent and friendly colleagues in an international environment? Are you looking for an employer that invests in sustainable employeeship and offers safe, favorable working conditions? We welcome you to apply for a PhD position at Uppsala University.

The Department of Information Technology holds a leading position in both research and education at all levels. We are currently Uppsala University's third largest department, have around 350 employees, including 120 teachers and 120 PhD students. Approximately 5,000 undergraduate students take one or more courses at the department each year. You can find more information about us on the Department of Information Technology website.

The position is hosted by the Division of Scientific Computing (TDB) within the Department of Information Technology. As one of the world’s largest focused research environments in Scientific Computing the research and education has a unique breadth, with large activities in classical scientific computing areas such as numerical analysis, mathematical modeling, development and analysis of algorithms, scientific software development and high-performance computing. The division is currently in an expansive phase in new emerging areas such as cloud and fog computing, data science, and artificial intelligence, where it plays key roles in several new strategic initiatives at the University. The division currently hosts 20 PhD students, with more than 90 doctorates awarded. Several PhD alumni from the division are successful practitioners in the field of scientific computing and related areas, in industry as well as in academia.

Project description
The topic of this project is modeling and simulation of earthquakes. All earthquake models contain partially unknown parameters, such as seismic wave speeds and frictional parameters on a fault. Since direct measurements of these parameters remain infeasible, we have to use seismometer data and other indirect measurements to constrain the parameters. This inverse problem is the main focus of the project. In close collaboration with geophysicists at Stanford University, we have recently developed a framework to invert for frictional parameters. The project goals are to extend the framework to different kinds of geophysical data and to implement the new methods in efficient software to facilitate earthquake simulations of with realistic physics and complex fault geometries in 3D.

Duties
A PhD student is expected to devote their time to graduate education mainly. The rest of the duties may involve teaching at the Department, including also some administration, to at most 20%.

Requirements
Entry requirements for doctoral education are regulated in the Higher Education Ordinance. To meet the general entry requirements for doctoral studies, you must:

• hold a Master’s (second-cycle) degree in scientific computing, engineering physics, applied mathematics, or a related field, or
• have completed at least 240 credits in higher education, with at least 60 credits at Master’s level including an independent project worth at least 15 credits, or
• have acquired substantially equivalent knowledge in some other way.

The University may permit an exemption from the general entry requirements for an individual applicant, if there are special grounds (Chapter 7, § 39 of the Higher Education Ordinance). For special entry requirements, please see the subject’s general study plan.

We are looking for candidates with:

• a strong interest in numerical methods, mathematical modeling, and computational physics,
• good communication skills with sufficient proficiency in oral and written English,
• excellent study results,
• programming proficiency,
• suitable personal characteristics, such as a high level of creativity, ability to cooperate, thoroughness, and a structured approach to problem-solving.

Additional qualifications
Experience and courses in one or more of the following subjects are valued: numerical analysis for partial differential equations, inverse modeling, high-performance programming, optimization.

Rules governing PhD students are set out in the Higher Education Ordinance chapter 5, §§ 1-7 and in Uppsala University's rules and guidelines.

Application
The application must include:

1. a statement (at most 2 pages) of the applicant’s motivation for applying for this position, including a self-assessment on why you would be the right candidate for this position;
2. a CV;
3. degrees and transcript of records with grades (translated to English or Swedish);
4. the Master’s thesis (or a draft thereof, and/or some other self-produced technical or scientific text), publications, and other relevant documents;
5. references with contact information (names, emails and telephone number) and up to two letters of recommendation.

Applicants who meet at least one of the entry requirements are strongly encouraged to apply. All applicants should state their earliest possible starting date.

About the employment
The employment is a temporary position according to the Higher Education Ordinance chapter 5 § 7. Scope of employment 100 %. Starting date August 18, 2025 or as agreed. Placement: Uppsala.

For further information about the position, please contact: Assistant Professor Martin Almquist, e-mail: martin.almquist@it.uu.se or Head of Division Emanuel Rubensson, e-mail: emanuel.rubensson@it.uu.se.

Please submit your application by 24 February 2025, UFV-PA 2025/197.

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