PhD scholarship in Precision Polishing of Miniature AM Impellers - DTU Construct

The Department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering of the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) has an open PhD position on the topic of “Precision polishing of miniature impellers”. The position is for 3 years.

The position is funded in the context of the EuroTech strategic network and a collaboration between DTU and EPFL in Switzerland. The PhD student will be working in the framework of the ongoing collaboration between DTU Construct, the Laboratory of Applied Mechanical Design at EPFL, and the Industrial partner FANUC Europe GmbH. This position offers unique opportunities with respect to high level research, training and innovation within manufacturing engineering, in an exciting combination of academic and industrial environments.

The selected candidate will receive strong guidance from academic supervisors as well as from industrial experts from FANUC Europe GmbH. The company produces machine tools and factory automation solutions. Short working periods are expected at both EPFL (Lausanne) and FANUC Europe GmbH (Stuttgart). 

It is expected that the selected candidate will start in the position in October 2024.

Responsibilities and qualifications
The PhD project will focus on the development of manufacturing solutions for miniature impellers where the form generating process is an additive manufacturing process. The purpose is to develop the hardware and software tools enabling the generation of miniature thin wall feature components with high geometrical accuracy combined and low surface roughness and deterministic micro topography features in a single machine, without additional manufacturing steps. The PhD student will therefore develop solutions based on micro polishing for processing of low stiffness elements such as turbine blades, addressing the challenges related to the management of tool and workpiece compliance. The task will require development of a Digital Twin of the part/process/system suitable for application in efficient production lines and including automated identification of material removal regions for on-machine dynamic balancing, experimental validation of the models’ performance through extensive testing and complete part characterization using high resolution measurement techniques.

The position includes both theoretical and experimental work and carries project as well as academic responsibilities. The scientific work conducted must be positioned relative to current literature and published in conference and journal articles. 

Candidates are required to have an excellent academic background and must have a strong knowledge of production engineering technologies and manufacturing systems for subtractive manufacturing. Good knowledge of process monitoring, manufacturing metrology, FEA, CAD/CAM and programming tools such as Matlab is highly desirable. The candidate should have good analytical skills as well as good communication skills in English.

You must have a two-year master's degree (120 ECTS points) or a similar degree with an academic level equivalent to a two-year master's degree.

Approval and Enrolment  
The scholarship for the PhD degree is subject to academic approval, and the candidate will be enrolled in one of the general degree programmes at DTU. For information about our enrolment requirements and the general planning of the PhD study programme, please see DTU's rules for the PhD education . 

Assessment
The assessment of the applicants will be made by Associate Professor Giuliano Bissacco according to the qualification requirements stated above.

We offer
DTU is a leading technical university globally recognized for the excellence of its research, education, innovation and scientific advice. We offer a rewarding and challenging job in an international environment. We strive for academic excellence in an environment characterized by collegial respect and academic freedom tempered by responsibility.

Salary and appointment terms 
The appointment will be based on the collective agreement with the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations. The allowance will be agreed upon with the relevant union. The period of employment is 3 years.

You can read more about career paths at DTU here http://www.dtu.dk/english/about/job-and-career/working-at-dtu/career-paths.

Further information  
Further information may be obtained from Associate Professor Giuliano Bissacco ([email protected]  +45 45254895).

You can read more about Department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering at www.construct.dtu.dk.

If you are applying from abroad, you may find useful information on working in Denmark and at DTU at DTU – Moving to Denmark . Furthermore, you have the option of joining our monthly free seminar “PhD relocation to Denmark and startup “Zoom” seminar ” for all questions regarding the practical matters of moving to Denmark and working as a PhD at DTU. 

Application procedure 
Your complete online application must be submitted no later than 10 September 2024 (23:59 Danish time) . Applications must be submitted as one PDF file containing all materials to be given consideration. To apply, please open the link "Apply now", fill out the online application form, and attach all your materials in English in one PDF file . The file must include:

• A letter motivating the application (cover letter)
• Curriculum vitae 
• Grade transcripts and BSc/MSc diploma (in English) including official description of grading scale

You may apply prior to ob­tai­ning your master's degree but cannot begin before having received it. 

Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.

All interested candidates irrespective of age, gender, race, disability, religion or ethnic background are encouraged to apply.

DTU Civil and Mechanical Engineering develops and utilizes science and technical knowledge for the benefit of society and sustainable development. We undertake research, education, innovation, and scientific advice of the highest quality within building design and processes, building construction and safety, building energy and services, solid mechanics, fluid mechanics, materials technology, manufacturing engineering, engineering design and thermal energy systems.

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DTU develops technology for people. With our international elite research and study programmes, we are helping to create a better world and to solve the global challenges formulated in the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Hans Christian Ørsted founded DTU in 1829 with a clear mission to develop and create value using science and engineering to benefit society. That mission lives on today. DTU has 13,500 students and 6,000 employees. We work in an international atmosphere and have an inclusive, evolving, and informal working environment. DTU has campuses in all parts of Denmark and in Greenland, and we collaborate with the best universities around the world.