The development of advanced high strength steels has made cars considerably safer and lighter. The weight savings for a modern typical family car, when advanced high strength steel is used, results in 3 - 4.5 tonnes of less CO2 emitted during the total life cycle. To optimise the production process of advanced high strength steels emissivity variations caused by oxidation are to be considered.

This PhD research aims at modeling emissivity such emissivity variations of the product can be predicted. This allows smoother process operation, resulting in reduction of energy use, extended lifetime of production equipment like furnace burners and reduction of product rejects. In parallel a PhD reseacher will develop a measurement technique to assess the emissivity of the steel surface in the production line.

Your tasks will be (i) investigate and characterise the compositional, optical and morphological surface changes due to growth of oxides (ii) develop a numerical model for emissivity based on optical, chemical and physical surface characteristics (iii) design in-situ experiments to simultaneously measure structural changes and optical properties/emissivity (iv) implement the model to achieve an optimal solution for an inline process control.

Furthermore you may be involved in training and teaching BSc and MSc students (up to 10% of your working time).

The project presents a unique opportunity to work in a collaborative team of academic and industrial partners. The position is embedded within the Department of Materials Science and Engineering in the research group Surface and Interface Engineering of Dr. Amarante Böttger (Delft University of Technology), in close collaboration with the research group Non-Destructive Testing of Dr. Roger Groves (Delft University of Technology) and R&D Tata Steel The Netherlands . 

You should have the following qualifications:

• MSc. degree in materials science, physics, chemical engineering, chemistry or equivalent.
• Experience with environment-material interactions, chemistry and physics and numerical modelling
• Experience with surface characterisation, equipment design, and/or optics.
• Motivated to work in a team on a multidisciplinary project
• Excellent experimental skills
• Fundamental research mind-set with clear affinity for applications
• Self-starter with flexibility and ability to set up, organize and execute the research.
• Excellent communication skills in speaking and writing

Doing a PhD at TU Delft requires English proficiency at a certain level to ensure that the candidate is able to communicate and interact well, participate in English-taught Doctoral Education courses, and write scientific articles and a final thesis. For more details please check the Graduate Schools Admission Requirements.

Doctoral candidates will be offered a 4-year period of employment in principle, but in the form of 2 employment contracts. An initial 1,5 year contract with an official go/no go progress assessment within 15 months. Followed by an additional contract for the remaining 2,5 years assuming everything goes well and performance requirements are met.

Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, increasing from € 2541 per month in the first year to € 3247 in the fourth year. As a PhD candidate you will be enrolled in the TU Delft Graduate School. The TU Delft Graduate School provides an inspiring research environment with an excellent team of supervisors, academic staff and a mentor. The Doctoral Education Programme is aimed at developing your transferable, discipline-related and research skills.

The TU Delft offers a customisable compensation package, discounts on health insurance and sport memberships, and a monthly work costs contribution. Flexible work schedules can be arranged. For international applicants we offer the Coming to Delft Service and Partner Career Advice to assist you with your relocation.

Delft University of Technology

Delft University of Technology is built on strong foundations. As creators of the world-famous Dutch waterworks and pioneers in biotech, TU Delft is a top international university combining science, engineering and design. It delivers world class results in education, research and innovation to address challenges in the areas of energy, climate, mobility, health and digital society. For generations, our engineers have proven to be entrepreneurial problem-solvers, both in business and in a social context.

At TU Delft we embrace diversity as one of our core values and we actively engage to be a university where you feel at home and can flourish. We value different perspectives and qualities. We believe this makes our work more innovative, the TU Delft community more vibrant and the world more just. Together, we imagine, invent and create solutions using technology to have a positive impact on a global scale. That is why we invite you to apply. Your application will receive fair consideration.

Challenge. Change. Impact!

Faculty Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering

From chip to ship. From machine to human being. From idea to solution. Driven by a deep-rooted desire to understand our environment and discover its underlying mechanisms, research and education at the 3mE faculty focusses on fundamental understanding, design, production including application and product improvement, materials, processes and (mechanical) systems.

3mE is a dynamic and innovative faculty with high-tech lab facilities and international reach. It’s a large faculty but also versatile, so we can often make unique connections by combining different disciplines. This is reflected in 3mE’s outstanding, state-of-the-art education, which trains students to become responsible and socially engaged engineers and scientists. We translate our knowledge and insights into solutions to societal issues, contributing to a sustainable society and to the development of prosperity and well-being. That is what unites us in pioneering research, inspiring education and (inter)national cooperation.

Click here to go to the website of the Faculty of Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering. Do you want to experience working at our faculty? These videos will introduce you to some of our researchers and their work.