I. Introduction of the PI

Prof Dr Ze-Jian Chen is a recipient of the National Excellent Young Scientists Fund (Overseas) of China. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Zhejiang University in 2017 and his PhD from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University in 2022 under the supervision of Prof Jian-Hua Yin. From 2023 to 2026, he served as a Research Assistant Professor at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. In August 2026, he joined the College of Civil and Transportation Engineering, Shenzhen University, as a Distinguished Professor. His primary research interests include multiphysics coupling in geomaterials, rheological constitutive models and computational simulation, soft soil consolidation and ground improvement, and low-carbon energy geotechnics.

Over the past five years, he has published more than 30 papers in leading international SCI journals, including Géotechnique, Computers and Geotechnics, Engineering Geology, Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering, and Canadian Geotechnical Journal, and has contributed to two technical books. He has supervised postdoctoral researchers and doctoral, master’s, and undergraduate students. One of his proposed methods has been adopted by the Canadian Foundation Engineering Manual (CFEM 2023). He was awarded the Fugro Prize by the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers and the Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme by Hong Kong SAR government.

He has led one project under the National Excellent Young Scientists Fund (Overseas)  from NSFC, one Young Scientists Fund (Category C) project from NSFC, and one research start-up fund project in Hong Kong, and participated as a key researcher in two major Research Grants Council projects under the Theme-based Research Scheme/Research Impact Fund, as well as several General Research Fund projects. He is a member of the Technical Committee TC214 of the International Society for Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering (ISSMGE), the International Geosynthetics Society (IGS), and the Early Career Editorial Board of the Journal of Geomechanics and Measurements. He has been a reviewer for more than 20 leading international journals, including Canadian Geotechnical Journal, Computers and Geotechnics, Tunnelling and Underground Space Technology, and Journal of Rock Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering.

II. Research team and platforms

The lab is affiliated with the research team led by Prof Xiang-Sheng Chen (Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering) and Prof Jian-Hua Yin (Fellow of the Hong Kong Academy of Engineering & Emeritus Professor of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University). Supported by the State Key Laboratory of Intelligent Geotechnics and Tunnelling and the MoE Key Laboratory of Coastal Urban Resilient Infrastructures, our group focuses on improving the resilience of low-carbon geothermal systems and marine renewable-energy infrastructure. Its frontier research spans multiscale and multiphysics coupling in geomaterials, advanced constitutive and numerical models, and physics- and data-driven prediction of geostructure deformation.

Founded in 1983, Shenzhen University has grown alongside the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone into a comprehensive research university, with engineering and other disciplines ranked among the top 1% worldwide by ESI. The College of Civil and Transportation Engineering offers a doctoral programme in civil engineering and hosts a postdoctoral research station, supported by high-level platforms such as the National Key Laboratory of Intelligent Construction and Maintenance of Geotechnical and Tunnel Engineering in Extreme Environments.

The research group enjoys a friendly and collaborative atmosphere with a strong focus on the growth of every member: students are supported in attending conferences and joint-training programmes, encouraged to pursue research topics matching their interests and strengths, and given guidance and recommendations for further study and employment.

III. Research topics

·        Interactions between offshore energy facilities and marine deposits

·        Interactions between low-carbon energy geo-structures and soft soil ground

·        Thermo-hydro-mechanical multiphysics coupling in geomaterials and associated constitutive relationships

·        Micro- and meso-scale thermo-hydro-mechanical properties of geomaterials

·        Physics- and data-driven prediction of ground deformation

IV. Eligibility of applicants

·        Demonstrate strong academic integrity, a spirit of inquiry, and effective teamwork;

·        Hold a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree, or another research appointment, in civil engineering, geology, ocean engineering, computational mechanics, or a related discipline. Candidates for postdoctoral or Research Associate positions should hold a doctoral degree from a reputable university or research institution, and candidates for Research Assistant positions should hold a bachelor's or master's degree from a reputable university or research institution;

·        Candidates with experience in finite element methods, material point methods, molecular dynamics simulations, code development, machine learning, or geotechnical laboratory testing will be given preference;

·        Candidates with excellent academic performance and a solid foundation in research will be given preference;

·        Possess strong English communication, reading, and writing skills;

·       Postdoctoral applicants should generally be no older than 35 years of age, inclusive, and should have received their doctoral degree within the past three years. Applicants may not undertake postdoctoral research in a postdoctoral station within the same first-level discipline at the institution from which they received their doctoral degree.

V. Compensation and Benefits

Postdoctoral fellows at Shenzhen University receive a comprehensive annual salary starting from RMB 330,000, including provincial and municipal in-post living allowances of RMB 180,000 per year (up to RMB 360,000 in total) and a university salary of RMB 150,000; those selected for the 'Lixin Incentive Programme' receive an additional RMB 4,000 per month. In addition, all group members receive a competitive research allowance. Eligible postdocs may apply for the Guangdong Overseas Postdoctoral Talent Programme, with an annual salary of RMB 420,000 or above plus a housing subsidy of RMB 400,000 for staying in Guangdong after completion. Postdocs may independently apply for national, provincial, and municipal research grants as principal investigators, and outstanding fellows may apply, through the 'Liyuan Liujing Programme', for regular faculty positions at Shenzhen University and for high-level talent programmes such as 'Pengcheng Peacock'. Those who take up full-time employment in Shenzhen within 6 months after completing the programme, under a contract of at least 3 years, receive a municipal living allowance of RMB 360,000.

Full-time researchers (Research Associates and Research Assistants) are remunerated on an annual-salary basis paid monthly by the University, depending on qualifications and research experience. Benefits include social insurance, housing fund, meal allowances, health checks, and performance bonuses. Outstanding Research Assistants may be recommended for doctoral or overseas study.

Graduate students, including MPhil and PhD students, are supported by full scholarships and stipends, as well as a competitive research allowance. Outstanding students may be recommended for further study or employment in Hong Kong, Macao, or abroad.

VI. Contact

Applicants can send their CV (including academic records, representative achievements, and contact information) to this email: zjchen@szu.edu.cn (please indicate the position applied for, your name, and your university in the email subject).