Next Generation (NG) of Researchers Initiatives
Through the six universities in GEOLAB and the other universities in the user community, we have access to an extensive academic network and international societies. Networking Activities (NAs) and other specified actions are targeted at educating and training the Next Generation (NG) of researchers. These researchers can then be truly called NG as they have acquired the ability to better assess the added value of physical modelling and use the physical modelling tools in combination with data and numerical modelling for science and engineering. Developing the skills of these future research leaders ensures that we have an impact on future research and innovation.
Six leading universities across Europe are part of the GEOLAB consortium and four universities outside Europe are member of the user community. As part of their education program, graduate and doctoral students will be encouraged to participate in the relevant GEOLAB networking events and become involved in the TA projects. GEOLAB will broaden its reach to the NG of researchers by developing the following training opportunities:
- Internships for high-potential NG researchers at TA providers to better understand the ins and outs of the GEOLAB installations.
- Training workshops to learn a range of skills related to experimental research (e.g. best-practices in experimental protocols and measurements).
- Online instruction videos that can be accessed via the GEOLAB website so that all researchers can engage in the educational programme.
Key Objectives:
1. Provide NG researchers and engineers with basic trainings on the latest state-of-the-art laboratory experimentation, scale modelling and measurement techniques
2. Build-up of virtual training resources to share the knowledge and expertise of the GEOLAB network with professionals in the wider science and engineering community
3. Provide NG researchers with unique internship opportunities within the GEOLAB network
Next Generation (NG) of Researchers: Training Workshops
Several Networking Activities within the GEOLAB project are targeted at educating and training the Next Generation (NG) of researchers and engineers. These candidates will acquire the ability to better assess the added value of physical modelling and use the physical modelling tools in combination with data and numerical modelling for science and engineering. Developing the skills of these future research leaders ensures that we have an impact on future research and innovation.
To this aim, three basic training workshops will be organised within the duration of the GEOLAB project. There will be an open call for participants for each training workshop, with travel and subsistence funds for 15 researchers and ten spaces for those willing to self fund their attendance.
In the framework of the NG training workshops, the GEOLAB community is committed to developing and improving the skills and knowledge of these researchers and engineers in the following key areas:
- Experiments with the GEOLAB installations with focus on scaling issues, experimental design, measurement techniques and interpretation
- Physical modelling of CI subjected to external processes such as climate change, geo-hazard and aging
- Use of data collection tools and data processing and analyses techniques, including software protocols
- Examples of interaction between physical modelling, numerical modelling, and engineering solutions
The 2023 Next Generation of Researchers Training Workshops will take place in-person on Thursday 30th November and Friday 1st December at the Norwegian Geotechnical Institute, Oslo.
Deadline for applications is August 25th, 2023, 23.59 CET.
Early Stage Researcher Internship:
The Early Stage Researchers (ESR) Internships program aims to offer a unique opportunity to researchers to gain a significant range of experiences and valuable new skills by a stay in the GEOLAB facilities during their experiment programs (Transnational Access Projects (TA)). These internships will also provide unique networking opportunities and broaden the number of ESRs who can participate in GEOLAB activities and learn from the experience within the community and will provide a better understanding of the ins and outs of the GEOLAB installations throughout Europe.
According to the European Commission (EC), “Early Stage Researches (ESRs) are considered individuals in the first four years (full-time equivalent research experience) of their research careers and have not been awarded a doctoral degree. Full-time equivalent research experience is measured from the date when the researcher obtained the degree entitling him or her to embark on a doctorate, (either in the country in which the degree was obtained or in the country in which the researcher is recruited) even if a doctorate was never started or envisaged. Part-time research experience will be counted pro-rata.”
The applicants can choose the facility where they are interested to stay during the internship program. GEOLAB will provide information relative to the experiments that are planned to be performed in the different facilities. A calendar with the dates during which the tests are scheduled to take place will also be included on the GEOLAB website.
What Early Stage Researchers Internship offers:
1. Maximum of 15 people will be selected to participate in the ESR Internships program during all the project. Until the end of 2023, a maximum of 7 people will be selected.
2. Maximum duration of the stay is 2 weeks.
3. Funding for Travel and Subsistence (T&S) is paid for by the GEOLAB project (see more details in the selection criteria document provided).
4. Some of the facilities also offer the opportunity to carry out the internship program during the periods between the TA projects.
All applicants will receive a status update via email at the end of July as to the final decision on their application.
Attachments
Please note that the European Research Executive Agency (REA) prohibits any direct or indirect support, including financing, to legal person, entity or body established in Russia. No access to the GEOLAB research infrastructure may be provided to Russian researchers included in the sanctions list or to researchers affiliated to Russian public entities. Related cost are no longer eligible for funding.