Ph.D. position in the study program “Mathematics in Civil Engineering” on the topic “Modeling of irreversible processes in Mechanics”

Doctorat / PhD Profil chercheur : First Stage Researcher (R1) Type de contrat : Temporary Date limite de candidature : 6 Jan 2027 - 23:59 (Europe/Prague) Date de début : 1 Mar 2027 Programme UE : Not funded by a EU programme Département : Department of Mechanics, Department of Mathematics Domaine : Engineering » Civil engineering

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).

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 [email]