Research Assistant 2

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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 tailings consolidation, seepage, effective-stress behaviour or critical-state soil mechanics is an asset.

Minimum requirement: MSc degree; Masters degree in civil, geotechnical or geoenvironmental engineering, or a closely related discipline, with research experience in geosynthetics, soil-structure interaction or computational geomechanics.

Knowledge of French and English: McGill University is an English-language university where day to day duties may require English communication both verbally and in writing. The level of English required for this position has been assessed at a level #4  on a scale of 0-4.

Posting expiry date: October 23, 2026
Supervisor: Prof. Fangzhou Albert Liu
Schedule: Full time, 35 hours, schedule to be determined with supervisor.
Pay: $32.15/hour
Dates: November 1, 2026 - April 30, 2027

This position is covered by the Association of McGill University Research Employees (AMURE) collective agreement.

Hourly Salary:

$32.15

Hours per Week:

35 (Full time)

Location:

Macdonald Eng. Bldg.

Supervisor:

Associate Professor

Position Start Date:

2026-11-01

Position End Date:

2027-04-30

Deadline to Apply:

2026-10-23

This position is covered by the Association of McGill University Research Employees (AMURE) collective agreement.

McGill University hires on the basis of merit and is strongly committed to equity and diversity within its community. We welcome applications from racialized persons/visible minorities, women, Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, ethnic minorities, and persons of minority sexual orientations and gender identities, as well as from all qualified candidates with the skills and knowledge to productively engage with diverse communities. McGill implements an employment equity program and encourages members of designated groups to self-identify. Persons with disabilities who anticipate needing accommodations for any part of the application process may contact, in confidence, accessibilityrequest.hr@mcgill.ca.