Are you enthusiastic about exploring the fascinating interplay between physics and mechanics? Are you interested in real world applications of metamaterials? We are delighted to open a PhD position on the field of fracture metamaterials: the goal is to steer fracture using the internal architecture of metamaterials.

What are you going to do?
Examples of potentially interesting challenges you will meet in this PhD project is to design fracture with extremely long on-demand patterns and that can in turn dissipate energy; fracture that leads to many broken pieces of controlled size. There will be a particular emphasis on edible fracture metamaterials. You will 3d print and mechanically test metamaterials made from chocolate and protein blends and use fracture to control the sensory experience, and collaborate with Unilever and TNO to explore how such edible metamaterials could lead to food innovation. You will also collaborate with the group of Alejandro Aragon (TU Delft), who will focus on the computational design of fracture metamaterials with PhD student starting in parallel. Together with our colleagues from TU Delft, we will devise a holistic approach combining computational design, 3d printing and experiments to design fracture metamaterials. Another application area we will explore with our collaborators and with institutions such as Tata Steel, NLR and TNO is to use fracture metamaterials to enhance energy dissipation.

You:

• have a creative, curious and driven nature
• enjoy experimental physics, additive manufacturing
• like to combine fundamental science with clear application prospects
• experience with mechanical metamaterials, 3d printing, rheology, fluid dynamics is a plus.

A temporary contract for 38 hours per week for the duration of 4 years (the initial contract will be for a period of 18 months and after satisfactory evaluation it will be extended for a total duration of 4 years). The preferred starting date is to be discussed. This should lead to a dissertation (PhD thesis). We will draft an educational plan that includes attendance of courses and (international) meetings. We also expect you to assist in teaching undergraduates and master students.

The gross monthly salary, based on 38 hours per week and dependent on relevant experience, ranges between €2.770 (first year) and €3.539 (fourth year). This does not include 8% holiday allowance and 8,3% year-end allowance. A favourable tax agreement, the ‘30% ruling’, may apply to non-Dutch applicants. The Collective Labour Agreement of Universities of the Netherlands is applicable.

Besides the salary and a vibrant and challenging environment at Science Park we offer you multiple fringe benefits:

• 232 holiday hours per year (based on fulltime) and extra holidays between Christmas and 1 January;
• multiple courses to follow from our Teaching and Learning Centre;
• a complete educational program for PhD students;
• multiple courses on topics such as leadership for academic staff;
• multiple courses on topics such as time management, handling stress and an online learning platform with 100+ different courses;
• 7 weeks birth leave (partner leave) with 100% salary;
• partly paid parental leave;
• the possibility to set up a workplace at home;
• a pension at ABP for which UvA pays two third part of the contribution;
• the possibility to follow courses to learn Dutch;
• help with housing for a studio or small apartment when you’re moving from abroad.

Are you curious to read more about our extensive package of secondary employment benefits, take a look here.

Faculty of Science

The University of Amsterdam is the Netherlands' largest university, offering the widest range of academic programmes. At the UvA, 30,000 students, 6,000 staff members and 3,000 PhD candidates study and work in a diverse range of fields, connected by a culture of curiosity.

The Faculty of Science has a student body of around 8,000, as well as 1,800 members of staff working in education, research or support services. Researchers and students at the Faculty of Science are fascinated by every aspect of how the world works, be it elementary particles, the birth of the universe or the functioning of the brain.

The PhD project will be carried out within the Soft Matter Group and the Institute of Physics of the University of Amsterdam (UvA) at the Machine Materials Laboratory, headed by Dr. Corentin Coulais. The Machine Materials laboratory has recently pioneered the field of dissipative metamaterials (see recent articles) and benefits from an exceptional scientific environment, in soft and condensed matter, biological physics, computational physics and advanced materials. You will be closely collaborating with a PhD student from Dr Alejandro Aragon’s group at TU Delft. While you will focus on the experimental aspect, they will focus on the computational design aspect.

Want to know more about our organisation? Read more about working at the University of Amsterdam.