With the advent of 3D printing, it has become possible to manufacture complex structures that were previously very hard or impossible to acquire using conventional manufacturing processes. 3D printing techniques have come a long way in terms of printing speed and quality, and are extensively used in various fields including academic research. When it comes to sustainability, however, they have a long way to go since the bulk of materials used in 3D printing is still plastic based. This is the fundamental motivation for this PhD track that focusses on the development of eco-friendly 3D-printed acoustic materials. With respect to this topic, the PhD student will be addressing the following aspects

• Design, manufacturing (printing), and validation of acoustic materials using natural fiber composites,
• Investigation on the influence of material choice, structural design, and printing parameters on the acoustical performance of the printed structures and their optimization,
• Research on advanced and/or alternative 3D printing methods.

The PhD student is expected to perform scientific research in the described domain, publish work in scientific journals and present at conferences, collaborate within the research group as well as with external partners, and assist the staff in teaching undergraduate and graduate students.

The building Acoustics research group https://building-acoustics.net belongs to the department of the built environment at the TU/e. The group provides a lively working environment and is currently made up of 14 researchers all working on a research topic related to acoustics in the built environment. The group strives to contribute to the reduction of adverse health effects caused by human-induced noise and to promote positively perceived sound environments. The research in the group revolves around developing computational and experimental methods for acoustics in the built environment, with research areas on acoustics materials, environmental acoustics, and acoustic virtual reality.

• A master's degree engineering or applied physics
• A research oriented attitude.
• A strong interest in acoustic material design and 3D printing
• Experience in the following skills is prefered
  - Programming in MATLAB, Python, etc.
  - Acoustic simulation in COMSOL Multiphysics, etc.
  - Experience in using CAD software (SolidWorks, AutoCAD, etc.)
• Professional working proficiency in English. A minimum grade of an independent language test is required (TOEFL or IELTS) for all non-native English-speaking candidates who hold a MSc degree from another program than the TU/e. IELTS: Overall grade 7.0 with a minimum sub score of 7.0 for both speaking and writing. TOEFL: Overall band score of at least 90 and a minimum score of 21 for each section. TU/e only accepts the TOEFL internet-based test.
• Ability to work independently as well as collaboratively

• A meaningful job in a dynamic and ambitious university with the possibility to present your work at international conferences.
• A full-time employment for four years, with an intermediate evaluation after 9 months.
• To support you during your PhD and to prepare you for the rest of your career, you will have free access to a personal development program for PhD students (PROOF program).
• A gross monthly salary and benefits in accordance with the Collective Labor Agreement for Dutch Universities.
• Additionally, an annual holiday allowance of 8% of the yearly salary, plus a year-end allowance of 8.3% of the annual salary.
• A broad package of fringe benefits, including an excellent technical infrastructure, moving expenses, and savings schemes.
• Family-friendly initiatives are in place, such as an international spouse program, and excellent on-campus children day care and sports facilities.