Applications for the Advanced Masters in Structural Analysis of Monuments and Historical Constructions, approved and financially sponsored by the European Commission within the framework of the Erasmus Mundus Programme, are opened up to January 20, 2014.

This Master Course is organized by a Consortium of leading European Universities/Research Institutions in the field, composed by University of Minho (coordinating institution, Portugal), theTechnical University of Catalonia (Spain), the Czech Technical University in Prague (Czech Republic), the University of Padua (Italy) and the Institute of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics of the Czech Academy of Sciences (Czech Republic). The course combines the most recent advances in research and development with practical applications.

A significant number of scholarships, ranging from 4000 to 24000 Euro, are available to students of any nationality.

The Consortium is also available to provide Erasmus Mundus International Fellowships to outstanding non-European scholars for teaching and research activities for a period of up to three months.

The SAHC leaflet can be downloaded at www.msc-sahc.org/upload/docs/Leaflet_low.pdf

Full details on the MSc programme, as well as electronic application procedure, can be found on the website www.msc-sahc.org

Technology and imagination.

Applications are invited for one (1) post-doctoral researcher position at the Department of Civil and Environmental (HKUST) under the supervision of Dr. Elias Dimitrakopoulos. The research will be focused on the investigation of the Seismic Behaviour of Rocking Bridge Systems and will involve collaboration with researchers at Cambridge University in UK. The primary role of the post-doctoral researcher will be a fundamental investigation of rocking bridge systems through analytical modelling. Preference will be given to candidates with expertise in (one or preferably more of the following fields): analytical dynamics, earthquake engineering, nonlinear dynamics and control of dynamical systems. For further information, please send an informal enquiry to ilias@ust.hk (Dr. DIMITRAKOPOULOS).

The work place
The Civil and Environmental Engineering Department at the HKUST is young and dynamic, and is one of the most creative and most innovative, Civil Engineering Departments in universities in the region. Our faculty and facilities are recognized internationally and rank among the very best in the world. In addition, our School of Engineering has been consistently ranked among top 20 in the world according to the Times Higher Education Supplement.

Eligibility
The successful candidate will have a PhD in Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field, and a proven track record of successful research. English Requirements: fluency in English is an indispensable requirement

Funding
The salary will be at least HK$20,000 per month, depending on experience and qualifications.

Employment
Form of employment: Time-limited
Work time: Full time
Starting date: 1 Oct 2013 (the latest)

How to apply
Applications should consist of a letter of application explaining your reasons for applying for the position, a detailed CV (including published or accepted for publication papers), together with the names and contact details of two academic referees who can be contacted prior to interview. The aforementioned documents (all in pdf format) should be sent by email to ilias@ust.hk (Dr. Dimitrakopoulos).

Application deadline: 16 August 2013
Interviews will be held with selected candidates as soon as possible after the application deadline

Within the frame of the project “Quantifying and reducing uncertainty in structural dynamics” (1 October 2013 – 30 September 2017), the Structural Mechanics Section of the Department of Civil Engineering of KU Leuven has vacancies for 3 PhD students. The project aims to identify, quantify and reduce uncertainty on models and input parameters in numerical predictions for vibration problems in the built environment, focusing on accurate prediction of railway induced vibration in buildings. More particularly, the project will focus on (1) the quantification and reduction of uncertainties related to building models, (2) the quantification and reduction of parameter and model uncertainties related to dynamic soil characteristics, and (3) a study of dynamic soil-structure interaction effects. Numerical developments will be supported by elaborate in situ testing. Each PhD student will concentrate on one of these topics, while strong collaboration will be pursued Three PhD students are sought, holding a MSc degree in Civil Engineering (or related) with a solid background in structural dynamics, stochastic dynamics, and/or geotechnical earthquake engineering that are motivated to complete a PhD within four years, starting 1 October 2013.

The Structural Mechanics Section of KU Leuven presently counts 3 professors (Guido De Roeck, Geert Degrande and Geert Lombaert), 6 post-doc researchers and 11 PhD students. We offer an excellent and international research environment in vibrations in the built environment, vibration based structural identification and evaluation, and shape and topology optimization of structures (www.kuleuven.be/bwm). We offer a competitive PhD grant of about 1870 euro per month (depending on family situation), subject to an annual increase of about 35 euro per month. We are working in a very nice environment, centrally located in Europe. More information on becoming a PhD student at KU Leuven and living in Leuven can be found at www.kuleuven.be/phd, set.kuleuven.be/phd (Leuven Arenberg Doctoral School) and www.kuleuven.be. Depending on their background (MSc diploma, research experience), students may need to pass a pre-doctoral test (e.g. selected courses and presentation of research plan) prior to being allowed to the PhD program. Interested persons are invited to email their application file (as a single pdf file) before 15 August 2013 to prof. Geert Degrande (geert.degrande@bwk.kuleuven.be), containing the following information: (1) motivation letter, (2) curriculum vitae, (3) list of publications, (4) transcript of records (BSc and MSc degrees), (5) copy of diplomas (BSc and MSc degrees), (6) proof of proficiency in English (TOEFL or IETLS certificate), and (7) contact details of two persons who can provide a reference on our request.

Bauhaus-Universität Weimar and 13 Partner Universities from Belgium, Bulgaria, Greece (Aristotle University of Thessaloniki), Hungary, Italy, Luxembourg, Portugal, United Kingdom, Switzerland and Turkey will present special topics of structural engineering in a summer program to be held August 4–16, 2013, at BauhausUniversität Weimar in Germany. The program is funded by the European Commission Lifelong Learning Programme. Through a challenging and demanding series of lectures, as well as seminars and project work, presented with state-of-the-art information and communication technology, this program seeks to impart knowledge and to combine research with a practical context. The course is tailored to advanced master’s and doctoral candidates in the fields of structural engineering, numerical simulation and modeling, and their applications to natural hazards, risk management, geodynamics, and foundation engineering. The course language is English. The course fee is €450. A small number of scholarships are available. A letter of application and an abstract must be submitted by May 15. For more information, visit http://www.uni-weimar.de/summerschool/mvs.

COUNCIL OF EUROPE/EUROPEAN CENTRE ON PREVENTION AND FORECASTING OF EARTHQUAKES (ECPFE)

EARTHQUAKE PLANNING AND PROTECTION ORGANIZATION (EPPO)
ATHENS WORKSHOP / EC 8-3 : 2005 and GCSI 2012, APRIL 12/2013

PROGRAMME
09:00/09:30 Welcome
09:30/09:45 K. Stylianidis Opening/General
09:45/10:15 M. Chronopoulos Main differences between EC8-3:2005 and GCSI:2012.
10:15/10:45 K. Stylianidis Basic principles of the GCSI – Performance Levels.
10:45/11:30 A. Kappos A pilot application of EC8-3. Reflections and comparisons with the GCSI.
11:30/11:45 Coffee break
11:45/12:30 S. Lagomarsino Performance based assessment of ancient masonry Buildings: Outcome of the European Project PERPETUATE.
12:30/13:00 M. Chronopoulos, P. Chronopoulos The GCSI and the RC infilled buildings.
13:00/13:45 V. Petkov Bulgarian seismic design codes and civil construction practice. Infilled reinforced concrete frames – Application and assessment of their resistance to lateral forces.
13:45/14:45 Light Lunch
.
14:45/15:30 I. Craifaleanu Implementation of the EC8-p.3:2005 – Assessment and Interventions on buildings in Earthquake prone areas.
15:30/16:15 M. Fardis Modelling of concrete members: Developments after the completion of EN 1998-3:2005.
16:15/16:30 Coffee break
16:30/17:00 S. Dritsos Differences in the design of structural interventions according to the EC 8-3 and the GCSI.
17:00/17:30 T. Tassios, N. Koutsia Some comparisons between retrofitting provisions of EC 8-3 and other Codes For R.C. elements.
17:30/19:00 Discussion