Research Assistant 2

Please refer to the How to Apply for a Job (for External Candidates) job aid for instructions on how to apply. If you are an active McGill employee (ie: currently in an active contract or position at McGill University), do not apply through this Career Site. Login to your McGill Workday account and apply to this posting using the Find Jobs report (type Find Jobs in the search bar).

Position Summary

We currently have an opening position as a Research Assistant 2 (RA2) working with Prof. Fangzhou Albert Liu in the Geomechanics and System Resilience Laboratory (GeoSRL). The Research Assistant will support experimental and numerical research on tailings and geotextile-based systems, including their interaction with geomembranes and geosynthetic clay liners. The work combines material characterization, constitutive modelling and finite-element analysis to assess drainage, consolidation, differential settlement and long-term performance of tailings containment and closure systems.

Responsibilities

Reviews scientific literature on tailings consolidation, geotextile filtration and drainage, and geosynthetic barrier and cover performance. Supports laboratory testing of tailings and geotextile-tailings interfaces, and compiles laboratory and available field datasets for material characterization and model calibration. Develops, calibrates and validates finite-element models of tailings-geosynthetic systems, including large deformation, contact and interface slip, and seepage. Implements and evaluates constitutive relationships for tailings and geosynthetics, including stress-dependent behaviour, creep and strain-rate effects.

Quantifies the effects of consolidation and differential settlement on geotextile strains, interface stresses, drainage performance and leakage through associated barriers. Conducts sensitivity analyses of tailings variability, hydraulic properties, interface resistance and geosynthetic stiffness to identify controls on system performance.

Prepares reproducible datasets, model documentation, technical reports and manuscript drafts, and collaborates with students and research partners Other Qualifying Skills and Abilities: Experience with finite-element modelling of geotechnical or geosynthetic systems using Abaqus or equivalent software, including nonlinear material behaviour and contact/interface analysis. Knowledge of the hydraulic and mechanical behaviour of geosynthetics, including geotextiles, geomembranes or geosynthetic clay liners. Ability to analyse laboratory and field measurements, verify numerical models, and document data, assumptions and uncertainty with attention to accuracy and reproducibility.

Strong technical writing, independent problem-solving and collaborative research skills; publications in a relevant research area are an asset. Experience implementing and calibrating constitutive models; familiarity with user-defined material subroutines and Fortran or equivalent programming is an asset. Familiarity with…

Read the full posting