Accelerated Material-Point Modelling of Host Rock

Beck Engineering (BE) invites Expressions of Interest for our Graduate PhD Program, run in collaboration with the University of New South Wales (UNSW). This is an exciting opportunity to launch a research career at the intersection of cutting-edge academic research and applied industrial impact.

Beck Engineering’s current cave-draw workflows rely on large-scale FEM host rock models, where meshing consumes more time than simulation itself. This bottleneck delays design iterations, reduces scenario coverage, and raises project costs. A mesh-free, GPU-accelerated Material Point Method (MPM) solver can remove this barrier, enabling faster decision-making and richer model fidelity.

About the Program

• Duration: 3.5 years full-time
• Host Organisations: Beck Engineering and UNSW
• Outcome: PhD awarded by UNSW, with the opportunity to continue in R&D roles in industry with BE post-completion
• Scholarship: The successful candidate would need to secure a UNSW main scholarship (RTP rate) and would then receive a top up from Beck Engineering, which would equate to AUD ~$69,000 per annum (tax-free), equivalent to ~$88,000 gross salary. 

Research Themes at Beck Engineering

Our research and consulting efforts cover a diverse range of technical areas including:

Simulation & Modelling

• Simulation-Aided Design
• Multi-Scale & Coupled Modelling (Fluid-Particle-Solid Mechanics)
• Dynamic Behaviour Simulation

Mining & Geomechanics

• Cave, Open Pit & Stoping Methods
• Shaft & Ground Deformation
• Support Design, Subsidence & Seismicity

Applications & Consulting

• Grade Forecasting & Mine Simulation
• Oil, Gas & Coal Geomechanics
• Stockpile, Waste & Operational Studies
• Expert Analysis & Consulting

Who Should Apply

• Final-year undergraduate or Master’s students in Engineering (Mining, Computer Science, Civil, Mechanical, or related), or recent graduate (up to 3 years)
• Strong interest in computational modelling, fluid mechanics, geomechanics, or software development
• Motivated to pursue a career in high-impact R&D with industrial application
• Skills of particular interest include: a general background in Computational Physics, C++, Python, CUDA, MPI, Open-Source Simulation Libraries (OpenFOAM, MOOSE)

How to Express Interest

To submit an EOI, please provide:

• A brief cover letter (max 1 page) with an outline of your research interests and motivation
• Your CV (including academic transcripts)

Send your materials or inquiries to: yingda.wang@unsw.edu.au.

If shortlisted, you would need to apply for a UNSW main round scholarship.

Deadline: Rolling expressions accepted — apply early for 2026 intake consideration.