PhD Research Opportunities

Civil and Environmental Engineering

Fully-Funded PhD positions (starting Fall 2020) at the University of South Florida’s Corrosion Engineering Laboratory

Laboratory Objective:
Physics-based corrosion deterioration models for service-life prediction of civil infrastructure towards a sustainable and resilient future.
Position Details:
Positions are available in the Corrosion Engineering Laboratory for talented and inspired graduate students seeking to learn and contribute to the field of electrochemical and corrosion engineering. Research areas will include:
1. Forecasting corrosion in critical civil infrastructure including but not limited to bridges, water and wastewater distribution and treatment systems, and pipelines by developing relationships between corrosion damage evolution, material microstructure, and service environment.
2. Advanced analysis and mechanistic insight of hydrogen embrittlement of post-tensioned bridge tendons in regions within galvanized steel ducts.
3. Development and implementation of corrosion detection methods incorporating magnetic and impedance-based sensors.
4. Corrosion performance and mechanisms of steel in a novel green concrete that consumes carbon-dioxide through its curing process.
5. Spatially and temporally resolved electrochemical kinetics of galvanized and aluminized steel in areas of coating deficiencies.

University Details:
The University of South Florida (USF), located in the sunny city of Tampa Bay, is a Florida Preeminent State Research University that is dedicated to student success. USF is a Top 50 research university among both public and private institutions nationwide in total research expenditures, according to the National Science Foundation. At USF you will find opportunities to excel in a rich academic environment that fosters the development and advancement of our graduate students.

Eligibility:
Master’s/Bachelor’s degree in Civil, Chemical, Materials Science and Engineering or similar field of study. Preference will be given to students who have experience in electrochemical analysis techniques, materials characterization, and multi-physics finite element modeling analysis and/or a fundamental understanding of corrosion of metals.
Motivated and qualified students with are encouraged to apply in accordance with USF graduate program requirements.  Candidates may also send a letter of interest and CV to Christopher Alexander clalexa2@usf.edu. Undergraduates interested in conducted research may also apply.

Christopher L. Alexander is an assistant professor in Civil & Environmental Engineering at USF. He completed a postdoctoral appointment at Sandia National Laboratories in 2018 and obtained his PhD from the University of Florida in Chemical Engineering (2017). He has received research funding from multiple agencies including the Florida Department of Transportation, Solidia Technologies, and the Hillsborough County Public Utilities Department.