Doctoral student in Engineering Materials Science

Project description

Third-cycle subject: Engineering Materials Science

The department of materials science and engineering is looking for a PhD student in materials characterization and developing structure-property correlation in advanced high-strength steel (AHSS) with a focus on fatigue performance of thick-plate AHSS for the automotive industry. With the growing demand for sustainable material solutions to reduce carbon emissions in the automotive industry, AHSSs have emerged as the most cost-effective option for achieving lightweight designs, particularly in heavy-duty vehicles. Given that structural components in such vehicles are predominantly subjected to dynamic loading, fatigue performance becomes a critical factor in material and component design. This is particularly important for chassis components, where shearing processes such as hole punching and trimming—essential steps in manufacturing—significantly influence the mechanical properties of the steel and thereby the chassis’ lifetime and performance. Despite their importance, the relationship between microstructural constituents and the mechanisms of fatigue crack initiation and propagation in these materials remains underexplored. The overarching goal of this project is therefore to develop fatigue-optimized AHSS solutions tailored for dynamic automotive components. This involves an in-depth understanding of microstructures and mechanical properties to be able to design the materials to meet the simultaneous requirements of high static strength and enhanced fatigue performance. The project will be conducted within the center for mechanics and materials design (MMD) and Steel4Fatigue project, which involves collaboration of academic and industrial partners.

Supervision: Peter Hedström and Mohammad Hoseini Athar is proposed to supervise the doctoral student. Decisions are made on admission

What we offer

• The possibility to study in a dynamic and international research environment in collaboration with industries and prominent universities from all over the world.
• A workplace with many employee benefits and monthly salary according to KTH’s Doctoral student salary agreement.
• A postgraduate education at an institution that is active and supportive in matters pertaining to working conditions, gender equality and diversity as well as study environment.
• Work and study in Stockholm, close to nature and the water.
• Help to relocate and be settled in Sweden and at KTH.
• The opportunity to collaborate with researchers in academia, institutes and industry within a center with the aim of integrating materials design and mechanics for enhanced industrial materials
• An international work environment with collaboration in an EU-funded project
• An opportunity and support to develop expertise via access to a broad range of advanced materials characterization instruments at Hultgren laboratory

Admission requirements

To be admitted to postgraduate education (Chapter 7, 39 § Swedish Higher Education Ordinance), the applicant must have basic eligibility in accordance with either of the following:

• passed a second cycle degree (for example a master's degree), or
• completed course requirements of at least 240 higher education credits, of which at least 60 second-cycle higher education credits, or
• acquired, in some other way within or outside the country, substantially equivalent knowledge
• MSc in Materials Science and Engineering or equivalent.

In addition to the above, there is also a mandatory requirement for English equivalent to English B/6.

Selection

In order to succeed as a doctoral student at KTH you need to be goal oriented and persevering in your work. During the selection process, candidates will be assessed upon their ability to:

• independently pursue his or her work
• collaborate with others,
• have a professional approach and
• analyse and work with complex issues.

After the qualification requirements, great emphasis will be placed on personal skills. 

Target degree: Doctoral degree 

Information regarding admission and employment

Only those admitted to postgraduate education may be employed as a doctoral student. The total length of employment may not be longer than what corresponds to full-time doctoral education in four years ' time. An employed doctoral student can, to a limited extent (maximum 20%), perform certain tasks within their role, e.g. training and administration. A new position as a doctoral student is for a maximum of one year, and then the employment may be renewed for a maximum of two years at a time. In the case of studies that are to be completed with a licentiate degree, the total period of employment may not be longer than what corresponds to full-time doctoral education for two years.

Union representatives

Contact information for union representatives.

Doctoral section (Students’ union on KTH Royal Institute of Technology)

Contact information for doctoral section.

To apply for the position

Apply for the position and admission through KTH's recruitment system. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that the application is complete in accordance with the instructions in the advertisement.

Applications must be received at the last closing date at midnight, CET/CEST (Central European Time/Central European Summer Time).

Applications must include the following elements:

• CV including your relevant professional experience and knowledge. Please clearly state courses in the Materials Science and Engineering field..
• Application letter with a brief description of why you want to pursue research studies, about what your academic interests are and how they relate to your previous studies and future goals. (Maximum 2 pages long)
• Copies of diplomas and grades from previous university studies and certificates of fulfilled language requirements (see above). Translations into English or Swedish if the original document is not issued in one of these languages.Copies of originals must be certified.
• Representative publications or technical reports. For longer documents, please provide a summary (abstract) and a web link to the full text.

Other information

Striving towards gender equality, diversity and equal conditions is both a question of quality for KTH and a given part of our values.

For information about processing of personal data in the recruitment process.

It may be the case that a position at KTH is classified as a security-sensitive role in accordance with the Protective Security Act (2018:585). If this applies to the specific position, a security clearance will be conducted for the applicant in accordance with the same law with the applicant's consent. In such cases, a prerequisite for employment is that the applicant is approved following the security clearance.

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Disclaimer: In case of discrepancy between the Swedish original and the English translation of the job announcement, the Swedish version takes precedence.