The Chair of Laser Processing in the Faculty of Engineering Technology of the University of Twente (The Netherlands) has an opening for a PhD candidate in the research area of laser-based manufacturing.

A growing economic and social demand for reducing the environmental impact of manufacturing, while improving product integrity and downstream operations, demands outstanding process & product surface control. Currently, the surface finish of rolled products such as in steel production, serving a wide range of market sectors (e.g. automotive, packaging, energy and construction) is achieved by roughness transfer from temper mill rolls textured by methods developed more than 3 decades ago. Such methods also often require or rely on the use of (post‐treatment) Chrome‐plating to negate roll wear and improve product consistency. A step‐change in roll texturing technologies is therefore required to enable functional surface design of innovative products, reduce material losses in processing and improve tribological performance during rolling operations. 

An exciting opportunity has opened for a PhD researcher having a strong affinity with process control and materials science to sculpt that step‐change, by developing a new pulsed laser‐based additive manufacturing (AM) process. The project will be inherently multi‐disciplinary and will include the development of experimental setup, experimental validation and theoretical modelling.

JOB DESCRIPTION

The project “Laser Implantation Surface Texturing (LITex)— Fundamentals and Applications” aims towards a breakthrough manufacturing system for the fabrication of functional surfaces. The two main research activities underpinning the system surround the prediction (and opitimization) of the added volume, microstructure and stresses in the laser-based AM for the development of tailored surface properties of metallic components and secondly, the development of a pulsed powder delivery system.

To predict the relationship between processing conditions (laser parameters and material parameters) and resulting added material you will:

• develop numerical models of Laser-Material Interaction and Micro Melt Pool dynamics:
  • Numerical simulation of rapid pool forming
  • Micro-stresses and strains
  • choose appropriate advanced numerical techniques and optimize them for simulation of micro-scale manufacturing;
  • validate your simulation models by measurements on actually produced samples;
  • Utilising the results above, a pulsed powder delivery system will be realised based on:

• Definition of process requirements and limitations
• Design and build of application system
• Testing of pulsed powder deposition technology

In addition you will take initiative and responsibility in that:

• You will closely collaborate with your research-team colleagues at University of Twente, as well as with the industrial partner;
• You will mentor BSc and MSc students, who do graduation projects in support of your research;
• You will aim at finishing your research with a PhD thesis.

• You hold a MSc degree in mechanical engineering, (applied) physics, materials science, photonics, control engineering, or a closely related discipline,
• You have a strong analytical mind and an eye for detail, as well as a critical attitude towards assessment of simulation and experimental results;
• You are willing and able to collaborate closely with other researchers and the Industrial partner
• You are aware of:
  • fundamental aspects of high power laser-material processing, such as laser cladding,
  • analysis technologies/techniques such as SEM, EDX, AFM, confocal microscopy, etc;
• You like to present your results to colleagues, industrial partners and at international conferences;
• You are fluent in English and express yourself easily both in speech and in writing. We require a TOEFL > 90 or IELTS > 6.5 score.
• You have knowledge of, or willingness to learn Dutch;

 
INFORMATION & APPLICATION

For more information, please contact dr.ir. Dave Matthews (d.t.a.matthewsutwente.nl) or prof.dr.ir. Gert-willem Römer (g.r.b.e.romerutwente.nl) or point your browser to https://www.utwente.nl/en/et/ms3/research-chairs/lp/

The start of the project is as soon as possible. We also invite applications from candidates, who expect to graduate soon.

Your application should include the following documents:

• Letter of motivation
• Curriculum vitae
• List with grades of courses attended
• References and, if applicable, a list of publications.

• We provide excellent mentorship and a stimulating research environment with excellent facilities;
• You are offered a professional and personal development program within Graduate School Twente;
• A starting salary of € 2.325 gross per month in the first year and a salary of € 2.972 in the fourth year gross per month;
• A holiday allowance of 8% of the gross annual salary and a year-end bonus of 8.3%;
• A solid pension scheme;
• Minimum of 29 holidays per year in case of fulltime employment;

The University of Twente. We stand for life sciences and technology. High tech and human touch. Education and research that matter. New technology which leads change, innovation and progress in society. The University of Twente is the only campus university of the Netherlands; divided over five faculties we provide more than fifty educational programmes. We have a strong focus on personal development and talented researchers are given scope for carrying out groundbreaking research.

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status or disability status. Because of our diversity values we do particularly support women to apply.

The Faculty of Engineering Technology (ET) is one of the five faculties of the University of Twente. ET combines Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering and Industrial Design Engineering. Our faculty has approximately 1800 bachelor and master students, 400 employees and 150 PhD candidates. The departments of the faculty cooperatively conduct the educational programmes and participate in interdisciplinary research projects, programmes and the research institutes: Mesa+ Institute, TechMed Centra and Digital Society Institute.