SEMNI Mentor Award Manuel Casteleiro (ENGLISH)

The SEMNI Mentor Award recognizes outstanding individuals who show exceptional dedication to nurturing the next generation of computational scientists.

This award celebrates those who promote independence in young researchers, foster inclusive research environments, and demonstrate sustained commitment to their mentees’ growth across different career stages. While teaching excellence is highly valued, the SEMNI Mentor Award specifically honors mentorship beyond the traditional classroom, emphasizing activities that enhance mentees’ research skills, career development, and integration into the broader scientific community.

Eligibility.

Nominees must be active members of the SEMNI community and must not have received this award previously.

Frequency.

The SEMNI Mentor Award is presented every two years during.

Nominations.

One mentee acts as the nomination manager, and all documents must be submitted as a single package (nominations must be submitted as a single PDF file coordinated by one nominator.).

Required documents:

  • Cover Letter (max. 2 pages): Introduces the nominee with a short biography, explains what makes them special as a mentor, describes the mentoring environment, and provides examples addressing the selection criteria. Multiple mentees may sign the letter, specifying type and duration of mentorship and current positions.
  • Four Personal Letters/Impact Statements (max. 1 page each): Describe personal experiences with the mentor, highlighting qualities, impact on professional and personal development, and specific examples of mentorship. Letters should explain what the mentor did to support and promote mentee growth, and what distinguishes them from other outstanding mentors. These letters can be of researchers from any nationality, not necesarily affiliated to SEMNI.

Nominators information : Information on the type and duration of mentorship and current positions of all nominators.

Evaluation Criteria and selection process

The SEMNI Mentor Award recipient is selected by an independent committee of four international young researchers, potentially including members of the ECCOMAS Young Investigators Committee (EYIC). Committee members must confirm they have no conflicts of interest and must recuse themselves if any personal or professional ties to a nominee exist.

The evaluation is based exclusively on the nominee’s mentoring quality and impact, according to the criteria stated in the call. Key aspects assessed include the mentor’s ability to:

  • Support professional development and academic growth;
  • Encourage mentee independence and diverse career paths;
  • Foster inclusive, collaborative environments across sectors and countries;
  • Demonstrate scientific integrity and outstanding mentorship.

The committee deliberates collectively, may use anonymous ranking tools for shortlisting and voting, and makes final decisions by majority vote. The comittee manages the evaluation process and informs SEMNIj and the SEMNI Executive Committee of the results.

Important: The assessment concerns the mentor’s qualities, not those of the nominators.

Call for Nominations

Opens: 15 December 2025

Submission Deadline: 29 Febraury 2026

Submission Email: 

Award Presentation: July 2026 at CMN Congress in Gijon

For more information or questions, please contact the SEMNIj at 

Please check detailed basis in PDF.


Premio SEMNI al Mentor Manuel Casteleiro (SPANISH)

El Premio SEMNI al Mentor reconoce a personas excepcionales que demuestran una dedicación sobresaliente a la formación de la próxima generación de científicos computacionales.

Este premio celebra a quienes fomentan la independencia de los jóvenes investigadores, crean entornos de investigación inclusivos y muestran un compromiso sostenido con el crecimiento de sus mentorizados a lo largo de las distintas etapas de su carrera. Aunque la excelencia docente es muy valorada, el Premio SEMNI al Mentor distingue específicamente la labor de mentoría más allá del aula, poniendo énfasis en las actividades que fortalecen las capacidades de investigación, el desarrollo profesional y la integración de los mentorizados en la comunidad científica.

Elegibilidad

Los candidatos deben ser miembros activos de la comunidad SEMNI y no haber recibido este premio anteriormente.

Frecuencia

El Premio SEMNI al Mentor se otorga cada dos años.

Nominaciones

Un/a mentorizado/a actúa como responsable de la nominación, y todos los documentos deben enviarse en un único paquete (es decir, un solo archivo PDF coordinado por un único nominador).

Documentación requerida

  • Carta de presentación (máx. 2 páginas):
    Presenta al candidato con una breve biografía, explica qué lo hace especial como mentor, describe el entorno de mentoría y aporta ejemplos que respondan a los criterios de selección. La carta puede estar firmada por varios mentorizados, indicando tipo y duración de la mentoría y los puestos actuales.
  • Cuatro cartas personales / declaraciones de impacto (máx. 1 página cada una):
    Describen experiencias personales con el mentor, destacando cualidades, impacto en el desarrollo profesional y personal, y ejemplos concretos de la mentoría. Las cartas deben explicar qué hizo el mentor para apoyar y promover el crecimiento del mentorizado, y qué lo distingue de otros mentores destacados.
    Estas cartas pueden provenir de investigadores de cualquier nacionalidad, no necesariamente afiliados a SEMNI.

Información de los nominadores:
Tipo y duración de la mentoría, y posición actual de todos los nominadores.

Criterios de evaluación y proceso de selección

El ganador del Premio SEMNI al Mentor es seleccionado por un comité independiente de cuatro jóvenes investigadores internacionales, que puede incluir miembros del ECCOMAS Young Investigators Committee (EYIC). Los miembros del comité deben confirmar que no tienen conflictos de interés y deben abstenerse si existe algún vínculo personal o profesional con un candidato.

La evaluación se basa exclusivamente en la calidad e impacto de la mentoría del candidato, conforme a los criterios establecidos en la convocatoria. Los aspectos principales que se valoran son su capacidad para:

  • Apoyar el desarrollo profesional y el crecimiento académico.
  • Promover la independencia del mentorizado y diversas trayectorias profesionales.
  • Fomentar entornos inclusivos y colaborativos entre sectores y países.
  • Ejercer como modelo de integridad científica y excelencia en la mentoría.

El comité delibera de forma colectiva, puede utilizar herramientas de clasificación anónima para preseleccionar y votar, y toma la decisión final por mayoría. El comité gestiona el proceso de evaluación e informa del resultado a SEMNIj y al Comité Ejecutivo de SEMNI.

Importante: La evaluación se centra en las cualidades del mentor, no en las de los nominadores.

Convocatoria

Apertura: 15 de diciembre de 2025

Fecha límite de envío: 29 de febrero de 2026

Correo de envío: 

Entrega del premio: Julio de 2026 en el Congreso CMN en Gijón

Para más información o preguntas, puede contactar con SEMNIj en  

Consulte las bases detalladas en PDF.

Premios SEMNI 2025

Queridos compañeros,

Me es muy grato anunciaros los premios SEMNI 2025, que fueron acordados por la Comisión Ejecutiva de nuestra Sociedad en su sesión extraordinaria celebrada el 8 de mayo de 2025.

Ganador del Premio Juan Carlos Simó a Jóvenes Investigadores 2025: Guillermo Lorenzo.
La comisión para la selección del premio destaca el elevado nivel científico de los candidatos en el ámbito de la mecánica e ingeniería computacionales. La comisión, coordinada por Elías Cueto (Universidad de Zaragoza), contó también con Karen Veroy (Eindhoven University of Technology), Alessandro Reali (Università di Pavia), Fadi Aldakheel (Leibniz Universität Hannover) y Julien Yvonnet (Gustave Eiffel University, presidente de la CSMA francesa).

Ganador del premio a la mejor tesis defendida en 2024: Carlos Uriarte por la tesis «Solving partial differential equations using Artificial Neural Networks », dirigida por David Pardo y Elisabete Alverdi, de UPV/EHU.
La comisión para la selección del premio destaca la muy alta calidad de las tesis presentadas, todas ellas con importantes contribuciones científicas y numerosas publicaciones en revistas internacionales de reconocido prestigio. La comisión, coordinada por Rena C. Yu (University of Castilla-La Mancha, Spain), incluía también a Laura De Lorenzis (ETH Zürich, Switzerland), Óscar López-Palmies (UIUC, USA), Zhenjun Yang (Wuhan University, China) y Bo Li (Peking University, China).

Quiero transmitir a los premiados nuestra más sincera enhorabuena y a los miembros de las comisiones nuestro agradecimiento por su trabajo, talento y dedicación.

Un saludo muy cordial,
Pedro Díez

Postdoc position at Purdue – Large Language Models (LLMs) in Computational Mechanics

We have an opening for a postdoc position. The successful candidate will have a PhD in Mechanical Engineering or a related field, excellent programming skills, and knowledge of computational mechanics and Large Language Models (LLMs). The positions is in the Gomez Research Group (https://engineering.purdue.edu/gomez/) in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Purdue.


Applications
Please send an email expressing your interest, together with a CV to Prof. Hector Gomez (). Please, use the subject line “LLM-Comp-Mech-Postdoc Application”. Reviews of applications will start on February 15th, 2025 and continue until the position is filled.


Information
You may find some information about Purdue University at
https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-engineering-schools/eng-rankings
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5sUwW7lbdQc&list=PLFD4dMAcmZXYP7PSRxaNm7h2kSTNtuhb2&index=22&t=2s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1dGtPOsEznQ&t=1s
https://www.youtube.com/purdue/videos

Notificación candidatos renovación Comisión Ejecutiva de SEMNI 2024

Una vez concluido el plazo de presentación de candidaturas para la renovación de seis puestos en la Comisión Ejecutiva de SEMNI, les informamos que se han presentado las siguientes candidaturas:

Lucia Gratiela Barbu, CIMNE-UPC Barcelona
Ignasi Colominas, Universidade da Coruña
Alex Ferrer,
CIMNE-UPC Barcelona (PDF)
David Portillo Gracía, Universidad Politecnica de Madrid
Matteo Giacomini,
CIMNE-UPC Barcelona (PDF)
Jesús Martínez Frutos,
Universidad Politécnica de Cartagena
Enrique Nadal,
Universitat Politècnica de València (PDF)
Roberto Palma, 
Universidad de Granada
Esther Reina,
Univerdidad de Sevilla (PDF)
Ignacio Romero,
Universidad Politécnica de Madrid
Riccardo Rossi,
CIMNE-UPC Barcelona

Se inicia el período de campaña electoral el día 15 de enero de 2025 a través del canal de Noticias de SEMNI, finalizando el mismo el día 20 de enero de 2025.

Barcelona acogerá el GIMC SEMNI Workshop 2025

La ciudad de Barcelona será la sede del GIMC SEMNI Workshop 2025, un destacado evento en el ámbito de los métodos numéricos en ingeniería, organizado por la Sociedad Española de Métodos Numéricos en Ingeniería (SEMNI). Este encuentro tendrá lugar los días 30 y 31 de enero de 2025 en la Facultat de Nàutica de Barcelona.

El taller reunirá a expertos, investigadores y profesionales del sector para compartir conocimientos y discutir los avances más recientes en este campo.

Para más información, inscripciones y detalles del programa, visite la web oficial del evento: https://gimc.semni.org.

Research Grant

Project title: Development of a new and original 3D finite element model for the study of thermo-hydro-mechanical behaviour of multiphase porous materials, with application to the simulation of the initiation, propagation and deposition of landslides, including catastrophic ones.

Supervision: Professor Lorenzo Sanavia, 

Host institution: University of Padua, Italy

Research Grant: 24 months, gross remuneration of 24,589 Euro per annum.

Work plan:

1) Implementation of the non-isothermal elasto-plastic and multiphase porous media model available in the finite element code COMES-GEO (UniPD) into the open-source code KRATOS (CIMNE). The porous media model, based on the Hybrid Mixture Theory, allows for the description of the multiphase and multiphysics nature of porous materials and the interactions present between the phases (solid, liquid, and gaseous).
2) Validation of the implementation using test cases.
3) Numerical simulation of two experimental tests performed with SHIVA (Slow to High Velocity Apparatus) at INGV (National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology) in Rome on Vajont clays and comparison between experimental and numerical results.

4) Link of COMES-GEO with the KRATOS MPM solver.
5) Application (back-analysis) to the study of the thermo-hydro-mechanical conditions of initiation and propagation of the catastrophic Vajont landslide (October 9, 1963).


The activity will be carried out primarily at the Centre for Studies on Climate Change Impacts CRITICAL of the University of Padua, located in Rovigo (Italy).


Knowledge of programming in at least two of the three languages is required: Fortran, C++, and Python.

The deadline to apply is January 7 at 3:00 p.m. CET

[EYIC-ECCOMAS] The 2025 Geilo Winter School: Inverse Problems

Dear SEMNI members,

EYIC-ECCOMAS sent us this piece of information about the 2025 Geilo Winter School in inverse problems. Please, forward this message to any researcher and PhD student that could be interested in participating. We thank you in advance for your collaboration. 

Registration for the 2025 Geilo Winter School is now open! The topic of the school is inverse problems, with more details and lecturers to be announced in the weeks to come. Follow us on 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/geilo-winter-school/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/geilowinterschool

 or check the webpages to keep track of updates:

https://www.sintef.no/projectweb/geilowinterschool/2025-inverse-problems

To go directly to the registration form, click here

Key information:

Topic: Inverse Problems

Time: January 19-24, 2025

Place: Geilo, Norway

We would be very grateful if you were willing to forward this information to others who might be interested in attending. 

On behalf of the organizing committee,

Øystein Klemetsdal 

Postdoctoral Research Assistant in Computational Solid Mechanics

Description

We are seeking a full-time Postdoctoral Research Associate in Computational Solid Mechanics to join Prof. Emilio Martinez-Paneda’s research group (the Mechanics of Materials Lab) at the Department of Engineering Science (central Oxford).  This fixed-term post is funded by an UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship grant (NEWPHASE).  This post is available for 12 months in the first instance.

We are looking for a researcher with interesting in running finite element simulations to understand inter-disciplinary mechanics topics spanning the areas of biology, materials science and glaciology, with a particular emphasis on coupled multi-physics problems. Examples include the growth of crevasses in large ice-sheets, the modelling of neurogenerative diseases, the degradation of Li-Ion batteries, and the corrosion and hydrogen embrittlement of metallic materials. There is certain flexibility and the tasks can be tailored the strengths and interests of the applicant. You will have the opportunity to use commercial finite element packages such as COMSOL or ABAQUS but also in-house or open-source codes such as FEniCS or MOOSE. You will also be expected to take part in collaborative work, take part in the activities of the research group, submit publications to reputed journals and liaise with academic collaborators and sponsors.

You must have obtained or be close to obtaining a PhD in engineering, mathematics, physics, materials science, or other closely-related disciplines. Also, you should have experience in at least one of the following:

•            Finite element analysis

•            Multi-physics modelling

•            ABAQUS or COMSOL

•            Fracture Mechanics

•            Phase field models

•            Computational Mechanics

Informal enquiries may be addressed to Prof. Emilio Martinez-Paneda  (email: )

For more information about working at the Department, see

www.eng.ox.ac.uk/about/work-with-us/

Only online applications received before midday on Monday 2nd December 2024 can be considered. You will be required to upload a covering letter/supporting statement, including a brief statement of research interests (describing how past experience and future plans fit with the advertised position), CV and the details of two referees as part of your online application.

For those candidates about to finish their PhD degrees, a lower grade offer may be made (Grade 6: £34,982 – £40,855 p.a.) with a commensurate reduction in responsibilities (and amendment in job title to Research Assistant) until the PhD is awarded .

The Department holds an Athena Swan Bronze award, highlighting its commitment to promoting women in Science, Engineering and Technology.

Keywords – Computational Solid Mechanics, Finite Element Analysis, Numerical Analysis, Multi-Physics Modelling, Phase Field Methods

Salary

Research Grade 7: £38,674 – £46,913 per annum

Closing date

Dec 02, 2024 12:00PM

Contact name: Emilio Martinez-Paneda

Contact email:

Elecciones en SEMNIj

Estimados compañeros:

Como sabéis estamos en proceso de formalizar la Sección de Jóvenes de SEMNI (SEMNIj). Todo ello empezó con la ilusión de dinamizar SEMNI a través de iniciativas enfocadas a los más jóvenes y dotarles de cierta autonomía dentro del seno de SEMNI. Una vez encaminada SEMNIj, el grupo actual a cargo va a dimitir para dar paso a uno nuevo democráticamente elegido. Por ello, en breve, iniciaremos un proceso para escoger Presidente de SEMNIj, la sección de jóvenes de SEMNI. Para ello, los interesados en presentar su candidatura deben enviarnos la siguiente documentación antes del próximo 31 de marzo de 2024:

·         Un video de 60s explicando su candidatura y dándose a conocer.

·         (MAX) 2 páginas A4 con una presentación suya y de lo que querrían hacer.

Una vez recibidas las candidaturas iniciaremos el proceso de renovación con la idea de tener al nuevo presidente elegido antes del próximo congreso de Aveiro. Recordad que los requisitos para presentarse son:

·         Tener menos de 40 años durante el mandato (4 años).
                                                              o
·         Haber defendido su primera tesis doctoral en los últimos 7 años.

Tenéis las bases de la sección e el siguiente link:
https://semni.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Reglamento-seccion-de-jovenes.pdf

Cualquier duda, no dudéis en contactar a Beatriz Moya ().

Un saludo,

SEMNIj

Two post-doc positions at the University of Zaragoza

2 Postdocs position on physics-informed AI
 
In the context of the ESI Group-UZ Chair of the Spanish National Strategy on AI, we are looking for two highly skilled postdoctoral researchers to join the chair in the following two topics:

AI-powered mechanics of materials

One of the challenges of nowadays industry is to be able to accurately introduce the observed behavior of complex materials into high-fidelity simulations. In this framework, plasticity and damage play a fundamental role. Our thermodynamics-informed neural networks are an appealing choice for the incorporation of theoretical inductive biases to the learning process of complex constitutive equations including plasticity and damage.

Accelerating simulation by Artificial Intelligence

One of the biggest appeals of physics-informed neural networks relies in the possibility of developing learned simulators. Learned simulators are particular instances of simulation systems that are constructed not by discretization of the governing PDE—which may even be unknown—but by learning from data.
In this project, the objective is primarily to speedup complex parametric simulations. The typical example of such a simulation is a detailed crash test.

The successful candidates will join a dynamical and interdisciplinary team with a world-class network of collaborators towards:
• Creating the next-generation physics-informed AI techniques
• Develop advanced numerical methods and algorithms required to address cutting-edge scientific multidisciplinary problems
• Deploy state-of-the-art, open-source software that will be used on a daily basis by a wide range of researchers and industries around the world to advance science.

Required Qualifications

• Strong skills in phyton programming, preferably with a strong background in PyTorch
• Knowledge and previous experience in the development of physics-informed AI
• Ph.D. in computer science, computational mathematics, computational physics, or computational engineering. 
• Experience and understanding of numerical methods for partial differential equations.
• Enthusiasm for programming, learning, problem-solving, and tracking other library trends
• Exceptional collaboration and communication skills, in particular in English
• Strong background in computational solid and fluid mechanics
• Experience in finite element programming

You will have access to state-of-the-art computing facilities, a generous travel allowance for conferences and specialized training, and will be given the freedom to develop your own ideas and collaborate within the group and with other groups. These positions are designed so as to allow you to grow your abilities as a research advisor, by directing and collaborating with our doctoral students, under the supervision of profs. Cueto, González and Alfaro.

Besides Skype interviews, it is possible to arrange on-site visits to the lab and the campus in Zaragoza. 

The preferred starting date is June 2024 (or as soon as possible). We offer a two-year contract.
Interested applicants are encouraged to send a CV as soon as possible with a list of up to 3 references and a very concise statement describing your past research/technical experience and your interests. This and specific inquiries should be addressed to Elías Cueto ().