PhD in Experimental micro-mechanics applied to cultural heritage paintings

VANGOGH (Unravelling and predicting degradation of canvas paintings: a multiscale and multiphysics framework) is a challenging research project funded by the European Research Council (ERC Starting Grant). We are currently building a team of talented and enthusiastic researchers to work on this exciting research program.

Traditional canvas paintings represent an inestimable cultural legacy, holding artistic and historical value. At the same time, however, from an engineering perspective, canvas paintings are also sophisticated multiphase hierarchical systems subjected to complex loading conditions triggered by the interaction between multiple physical fields. This complicated scenario may result in different degradation mechanisms, including wrinkling of the painting surface, cracking, delamination, and flaking of the paint, which crucially affect the appearance, integrity, and longevity of the artworks.

The goal of this PhD project is to unravel the origin of the multiscale and multiphysics processes affecting the degradation response of canvas paintings, by means of advanced experimental methodologies framed in the context of experimental micro-mechanics.

You will work in the chair of Applied Mechanics, Department of the Built Environment, under the supervision of dr. Emanuela Bosco and dr. Johan Hoefnagels. The chair of Applied Mechanics is responsible for education and research in the field mechanics, working on multi-scale, multi-physics and optimization problems related to the built environment. The chair is a member of the Graduate School on Engineering Mechanics, Netherlands. This graduate school offers the PhD students an advanced training program in the field of Engineering Mechanics, of which the core is formed by a joint series of advanced graduate courses that are closely connected to state-of-the-art research themes.

You will carry out the experiments at the Multiscale Mechanics Laboratory, Department of Mechanical Engineering and the Building Physics and Services Laboratory, Department of the Built Environment. The Multiscale Mechanics laboratory, led by dr. Johan Hoefnagels, bridges the gap between traditional materials science and mechanical characterization labs, by integrating micro-mechanical testing with real-time and in-situ microscopic observation. The Building Physics and Services laboratory has a large experience in research projects related to environmental monitoring for museums.

You will closely interact with other PhD students (both numerical and experimental), who work on other aspects of the degradation response of cultural heritage materials.

The project is embedded within NICAS (Netherlands Institute for Conservation, Art and Science), and received the support of important national and international museums and cultural heritage institutions (Rijskmuseum NL, CBC - Conservazione Beni Culturali, The Getty Conservation Institute, …).

A meaningful job in a dynamic and ambitious university, in an interdisciplinary setting and within an international network. You will work on a beautiful, green campus within walking distance of the central train station. In addition, we offer you:

• Full-time employment for four years, with an intermediate evaluation (go/no-go) after nine months. You will spend 10% of your employment on teaching tasks.
• Salary and benefits (such as a pension scheme, paid pregnancy and maternity leave, partially paid parental leave) in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, scale P (min. €2,872 max. €3,670).
• A year-end bonus of 8.3% and annual vacation pay of 8%.
• High-quality training programs and other support to grow into a self-aware, autonomous scientific researcher. At TU/e we challenge you to take charge of your own learning process.
• An excellent technical infrastructure, on-campus children's day care and sports facilities.
• An allowance for commuting, working from home and internet costs.
• A Staff Immigration Team and a tax compensation scheme (the 30% facility) for international candidates.