DC Positions

Host institution: KU Leuven (BE): Department of Mechanical Engineering (Leuven Mechatronic System Dynamics Group)

Main supervisor: Elke Deckers (KUL)

Co-supervisors/mentors: Varvara Kouznetsova (TU/e)

Duration: 48 months

Gross salary: You will receive a monthly gross salary of €3400, plus €600 mobility allowance and if applicable, €660 family allowance. The net income will be lower since a deduction of compulsory (employer/employee) social contributions as well as direct taxes (e.g. income tax) need to be considered.

Objectives: A numerical investigation and experimental validation of novel non-linear metamaterial concepts to design metamaterials outperforming linear metamaterials of a comparable weight, i.e. non-linear metamaterials with broadband and/or self-adaptable frequency range of vibration reduction.

Expected results: Efficient simulation tools for investigation of non-linear metamaterials. Design(s) of (a) non-linear metamaterial for frequency modulation or broadband vibration reduction. Realization and experimental validation of this design(s) on an academic prototype.

Planned secondments: Academic: TUE, 3 months, computational homogenization for simulation of non-linear metamaterials, with DC9, WP3. Industrial: ASML, 3 months industrial perspective and requirements for advanced broadband, self-adaptable vibration control.

Female researcher contact information: elke.deckers [at] kuleuven.be

Female researcher contact information: Elke Deckers

For details of application procedure, click on Apply now.

Host institution: TU/e (NL): Department of Mechanical Engineering (Mechanics of Materials Group)

Main supervisor: Varvara Kouznetsova (TU/e)

Co-supervisors/mentors: Valentina Zega (PoliMi)

Duration: 48 months

Gross salary: Monthly gross salary is €2770 in the first year and increases to €3539 in the fourth year.

Required profile: The applicant should have excellent analytical, numerical and experimental skills and hold a university degree (MSc) in Mechanical Engineering, Applied Mathematics, Physics or similar. A strong interest in computational mechanics and multi-scale material modelling is required. Experience with computational and/or experimental non-linear dynamics is preferred.

Objectives: Investigation of non-linear phenomena exploitable for metamaterial design for 3D meta-MEMS. Analysis of the suitability of the amplitude dependent energy exchange between propagating and evanescent waves for potential design of a sensor or actuator. Development of efficient modelling and analysis techniques for non-linear metamaterials going beyond the direct fully resolved time domain simulations.

Expected results: Identification and analysis of suitable non-linear wave phenomena for potential application in 3D meta-MEMS (with DC10). Non-linear computational homogenization methodology (with DC9) for modelling non-linear metamaterial integrated in a 3D meta-MEMS package. Non-linear reduced order model for non-linear metamaterials (with DC10).

Planned secondments: Academic: GIT, 3 months, identification and analysis of suitable non-linear wave phenomena; PoliMi, 2 months, development of non-linear reduced-order models, with DC10, WP3. Industrial: STM, 2 months, non-linear 3D meta-MEMS design requirements and perspectives.

Female researcher contact information: Varvara Kouznetsova

For details of application procedure, click on Apply now.

• I have a master degree in engineering, physics or mathematics, obtained no longer than four years ago, and performed above average in comparison to my peers.
• I am proficient in written and spoken English.
• I have not had residence or main activities in Belgium for more than 12 months in the last 3 years.
• During my courses or prior professional activities, I have gathered some basic experience with additive manufacturing, design, and/or mechanical testing and/or I have a profound interest in these topics.
• I am a hands-on problem solver and I like experimentation. I see myself working regularly in the AM lab and in the AM durability lab.
• I am interested in performing research in a structured and scientifically sound manner. I read technical papers, understand the nuances between different theories and implement and improve methodologies myself.
• I feel comfortable to work as a team member and I am eager to share my results to inspire and being inspired by my colleagues.
• I value being part of a large research group which is well connected to the additive manufacturing industry and I am eager to learn how academic research can be linked to industrial innovation roadmaps.

• Highly motivated, independent, and enthusiastic candidate with a professionally relevant background within one or more of the following subject areas: Mechanical/civil/aerospace/processing/Industrial engineering, and/or Materials technology.
• Your education must correspond to a five-year Norwegian degree program, where 120 credits are obtained at the master’s level.
• You must have a strong academic background from your previous studies and an average grade from the master’s degree program, or equivalent education, which is equal to B or better compared with NTNU’s grading scale. If you do not have letter grades from previous studies, you must have an equally good academic basis. If you have a weaker grade background, you may be assessed if you can document that you are particularly suitable for a PhD education.
• You must meet the requirements for admission to the engineering faculty’s doctoral program
• Excellent written and oral English skills.
• Strong background on solid mechanics and mechanics of materials.
• Experience in mechanical testing of materials or components.
• Skills in using Finite Element Codes such as ABAQUS, ANSYS, etc. are well evaluated during the recruiting process.
• Excellent track record of academic achievement and a strong interest in conducting experimental and numerical research.

• Understanding basic principles of additive manufacturing and how the process conditions may alter the quality of AM parts.
• Knowledge of metallography and material science would be given additional credit in evaluation.
• The ability to conduct high quality research and publish results in acknowledged peer-reviewed journals is an asset.

• I have a master degree in engineering, physics or mathematics, obtained no longer than four years ago, and performed above average in comparison to my peers.
• I am proficient in written and spoken English.
• I have not had residence or main activities in Belgium for more than 12 months in the last 3 years.
• During my courses or prior professional activities, I have gathered some basic experience with additive manufacturing, design, and/or mechanical testing and/or I have a profound interest in these topics.
• I am a hands-on problem solver and I like experimentation. I see myself working regularly in the AM lab and in the AM durability lab.
• I am interested in performing research in a structured and scientifically sound manner. I read technical papers, understand the nuances between different theories and implement and improve methodologies myself.
• I feel comfortable to work as a team member and I am eager to share my results to inspire and being inspired by my colleagues.
• I value being part of a large research group which is well connected to the additive manufacturing industry and I am eager to learn how academic research can be linked to industrial innovation roadmaps.
• During my PhD I want to grow towards following up the project that I am involved in and representing the research group on project meetings or conferences. I see these events as an occasion to disseminate my work to an audience of international experts and research colleagues, and to learn about the larger context of my research and the research project.

Host institution: PoliMi (IT): Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

Main supervisor: Valentina Zega (PoliMi)

Co-supervisors/mentors: Alberto Corigliano (PoliMi), Ondrej Rokos (TU/e), Marc Geers (TU/e), Carlo Valzasina (STM)

Duration: 36 months

Gross salary: You will receive a monthly gross salary of ~€3311, plus €600 mobility allowance and if applicable, €660 family allowance. The net income will be lower since a deduction of compulsory (employer/employee) social contributions as well as direct taxes (e.g. income tax) need to be considered.

Required profile: Highly motivated, independent and enthusiastic doctoral researcher with master degree in mechanical engineering, civil engineering, mathematical engineering, material engineering or equivalent relevant master degrees. Strong background on solid mechanics, computational methods and mechanics of materials. Excellent track record of academic achievement and a strong interest in conducting applied research.

Objectives: The objective of this project is design for integration of metamaterials with switchable stiffness in Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) testing equipment and MEMS packages for harsh environment, where the cross-coupling between different MEMS or between a MEMS package and external vibrations should be controlled and mitigated to improve the versatility of the equipment and ensure correct operation of MEMS based sensors.

Expected results: Fully resolved and reduced-order multi-physics models for designing (graded) metamaterial assemblies, based on the optimized geometries from DC1 and their integration into the MEMS testing equipment. Manufacturing proof-of-concept prototypes, in collaboration with DC5, and testing under conditions representative for MEMS testing equipment and packaging for harsh environment, including reliability assessment.

Planned secondments: Academic: TUE, 3 months, simulation techniques development and metamaterial optimization; KUL, 2 months, fabrication of the proof-of-concept prototypes. Industrial: STM, 2 months, test of the proposed solution in representative conditions.

Female researcher contact information: Valentina Zega

For details of application procedure, click on Apply now.

Host institution: PoliMi (IT): Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

Main supervisor: Valentina Zega (PoliMi)

Co-supervisors/mentors: Alberto Corigliano (PoliMi), Varvara Kouznetsova (TU/e), Micheal Leamy (GIT), Carlo Valzasina (STM)

Duration: 36 months

Gross salary: You will receive a monthly gross salary of ~€3311, plus €600 mobility allowance and if applicable, €660 family allowance. The net income will be lower since a deduction of compulsory (employer/employee) social contributions as well as direct taxes (e.g. income tax) need to be considered.

Required profile: Highly motivated, independent and enthusiastic doctoral researcher with master degree in mechanical engineering, civil engineering, mathematical engineering, material engineering or equivalent relevant master degrees. Strong background on solid mechanics, computational methods, (nonlinear) dynamics and mechanics of materials. Excellent track record of academic achievement and a strong interest in conducting original research and innovation.

Objectives: Develop design approach for innovative 3D meta-MEMS sensors/actuators able to combine the tri-dimensionality of additive manufacturing techniques and the advanced control and manipulation of elastic waves by the nonlinear metamaterial. Demonstrate the performance on the proof-of-principle prototype.

Expected results: Design, using numerical simulations and analysis from DC4, a 3D meta-MEMS sensor/actuator based on nonlinear wave interaction phenomena. Fabrication of the proof-of-principle prototype (with DC 5), testing and dynamic performance evaluation of the design in collaboration with STMicroelectronics and fatigue and reliability assessment (with DC7).

Planned secondments: Academic: GIT, 3 months, analysis of suitable non-linear wave phenomena; TUE, 3 months, non-linear reduced-order techniques development with DC4, WP1. Industrial: STM, 2 months, tests of the fabricated proof-of-concept demonstrator.

Female researcher contact information: Valentina Zega

For details of application procedure, click on Apply now.