Job Information
- Organisation/Company: Czech Technical University in Prague, Faculty of Civil Engineering
- Department: Department of Mechanics, Department of Mathematics
- Research Field: Mathematics » Mathematical analysis; Mathematics » Applied mathematics; Engineering » Mechanical engineering; Engineering » Civil engineering
- Researcher Profile: First Stage Researcher (R1)
- Positions: PhD Positions
- Application Deadline: 6 Jan 2027 - 23:59 (Europe/Prague)
- Country: Czech Republic
- Type of Contract: Temporary
- Job Status: Full-time
- Hours Per Week: 40
- Offer Starting Date: 1 Mar 2027
- Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme
- Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No
Offer Description
We are excited to announce a funded Ph.D. position within a research project “Constraint-based Analysis in Mechanics” (CVUT Starting Grant 2026 led by Ivan Gudoshnikov, Ph.D.). This is an opportunity to participate in novel research with a heavy focus on connecting mathematical theory to applications in mechanics.
The project focuses on the modeling of irreversible processes in materials (plasticity, fracture, damage) by the tools of convex analysis, sweeping process, vector hysteresis, variational and quasi-variational inequalities. They allow to properly describe one-sided constraints that represent mechanical properties of deformable bodies. From the numerical point of view, these methods are related to constrained optimization and complementarity problems.
The goals of the project extend beyond proving the existence of a solution, and include analysis of problems, coming from specific mechanical models, limiting behavior analysis (shakedown theory), applications of optimal control methods for sweeping processes, and topological analysis in the spirit of Hodge decomposition. To represent the spatial structure, we work in the setting of Partial Differential Equations (PDEs) for continuous bodies, as well as in the setting of discrete networks of springs (the so-called Lattice Spring Models).
Where to apply
E-mail: [contact details available in the full listing]
Requirements
- Research Field: Mathematics » Applied mathematics; Education Level: Master Degree or equivalent
- Research Field: Engineering » Civil engineering; Education Level: Master Degree or equivalent
- Languages: ENGLISH; Level: Excellent
Additional Information
Benefits
- Participation in an ambitious interdisciplinary research project on the intersection of mechanics and mathematics, hosted at a globally renown institution.
- Support from a funded project for 3 years. Support from the department for year 4 is anticipated.
- About 38K CZK net monthly payment to the Ph.D. student; see the Numbeo database for the cost of living in Prague.
Institutional benefits:
- Travel support for conferences and research visits.
- An informal and inclusive international working environment at the Department of Mechanics, Faculty of Civil Engineering.
- Office facilities located on the Czech Technical University in Prague’s Dejvice campus. Prague regularly ranks among the top five European cities to live in (cf. Time Out Magazine index for 2021).
- Full social and health insurance.
- 30 days of paid annual leave.
- Children’s corner, kindergarten, and elementary school operated by the Czech Technical University in Prague.
- Additional benefits such as subsidized meals, yearly benefits supporting recreational and sports activities, as well as health care programs.
Eligibility criteria
- a recent MSc degree in mathematics, applied mathematics, mechanical or civil engineering, or a similar discipline,
- mathematical background at least up to the level of real analysis, functional analysis and PDEs, or an engineering background in continuum mechanics (elasticity, plasticity, fracture mechanics etc.),
- a positive attitude towards mathematical modeling and mechanics involving nonsmooth processes,
- speaking, reading and writing in English.
Additionally, knowledge of the following topics is relevant to the project and, while not required, would give a head-start:
- constrained optimization, convex analysis,
- variational inequalities, sweeping process, complementarity problems,
- linear-algerbaic aspects of graph theory (see Bapat, “Graphs and matrices”),
- discrete exterior calculus, de Rham-type Hilbert complexes.
Programming skills with Python/NumPy or C++ are welcome, but they are not crucial for this position.
Selection process
Interested candidates are strongly encouraged to contact Ivan Gudoshnikov [contact details available in the full listing] as the future advisor, including their CV in the initial message. Suitable candidates will be asked to participate in an informal online interview.
For a chosen candidate it will be necessary to follow the formal admission procedure to a Ph.D. study program “Mathematics in Civil Engineering” on the topic “Modeling of Irreversible Mechanical Processes”.
The admission process and necessary documents are described in details here.
The deadline of the admission procedure is January 6, 2027.
Additional comments
For more information
- About the project and research topics: please feel free to contact Ivan Gudoshnikov: [contact details available in the full listing]
- About Ph.D. studies at CTU, please consult the basic information compiled here,
Contact Information
Institution: Czech Technical University in Prague
Faculty: Faculty of Civil Engineering
Contact person: Ivan Gudoshnikov
Contact e-mail: [contact details available in the full listing]
Work Location(s)
- Number of offers available: 1
- Company/Institute: Faculty of Civil Engineering
- Country: Czech Republic
- City: Prague 6
- Postal Code: 16629
- Street: Thákurova 7
Contact
- State/Province: Czech Republic
- City: Prague
- Website: https://www.fsv.cvut.cz/?lang=en
- Street: Thákurova 7
- Postal Code: 16629
