Open position for a Graduate Student Researcher

Position Title: Graduate Research Assistant

Salary:             $25,000-30,000 per year (commensurate to student qualifications and dependent on funding availability). Tuition fees are waived.

Duration:         4 years (Fall 2009-Summer 2013)

Location:         Louisiana State University and A&M College, Baton Rouge, LA

Starting date:  August 2009

Advisors:         Drs. Barbato Michele (primary advisor) and Marc Levitan (co-advisor)

A Graduate Research Assistant position is open for a Ph.D. in Structural Engineering, at the Louisiana State University and A&M College, under supervision of Dr. Michele Barbato (primary advisor) and Dr. Marc Levitan (co-advisor). The research project, funded through the Economic Development Assistantship Program by the Louisiana Board of Regents and NSF EPSCoR, will focus on the integral development of a comprehensive Performance-Based Hurricane Engineering methodology for wind-borne debris hazard mitigation through quantitative analysis and design of structural and non-structural components of building envelopes in hurricane-prone geographical regions.

Proficiency in written and spoken English is required. A Bachelor and Master Degree in Civil Engineering or related field (preferably with a minor in Structural Engineering) are also necessary to apply for the position. The recipient of this assistantship will be selected among the qualified applicants based on:

·         strong motivation and interest toward research;

·         solid mathematical background (e.g., familiarity with ordinary and partial differential equations, complex analysis, numerical methods, probability and statistics);

·         excellent preparation in structural analysis, continuum mechanics and finite element method;

·         familiarity with Load and Resistance Factor Design and Probabilistic Methods applied to Structural Engineering problems;

·         knowledge of linear and non-linear finite element programs such as SAP2000, Abaqus, Ansys, and OpenSees.

·         programming skills in Matlab and C or C++;

·         previous knowledge and experience in Wind Engineering and Performance-Based Engineering.

If interested please send a complete CV and/or contact Dr. Barbato (mbarbato@lsu.edu) for further information. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until a student is selected. The position will be filled as soon as possible and, under any condition, not later than May 31, 2009.

==============================================================

Michele Barbato, Ph.D., Assistant Professor

Civil & Environmental Engineering Department, Louisiana State University A&M

3531 Patrick F. Taylor Hall, Baton Rouge, LA 70803

E-mail: mbarbato@lsu.edu

==============================================================