PhD Position Extreme Mechanics of Ultralight Architected Materials

Interested in investigating the mechanics of next-generation ultralight materials? Apply now!

Ultralight architected materials leverage carefully engineered artificial structures (inspired from bone, bamboo, etc.) miniaturized to micro/nano material lengthscales to unlock unprecedented and tailored properties such as high strength and toughness at very low relative densities. However, little attention has been devoted to understanding the behavior of these materials under extreme deformations — particularly since existing theories for continuum materials breakdown due to the presence of architected microstructures. Understanding such behavior is critical to enable the adoption of such ultralight architected materials in the aerospace industry.

Previous efforts in our research have furnished unique capabilities to design architected materials with tailored properties and to model complex material behavior in extreme environments with unprecedented fidelity. Building on these results, the goal of this project is to develop a scalable simulation capability as well as analyze the mechanical behavior of architected materials under extreme deformations. The outcome of this project will pave the road towards the utilization of this technology in novel ultralight aerospace structures.

The position presents a unique opportunity to be embedded in two research groups led by Dr. Sid Kumar (Mechanics, Materials, and Computing Group; mech-mat.com ) and Dr. Bianca Giovanardi (https://sites.google.com/view/biancagiovanardi/home ).

We are looking for a candidate with the following qualifications, knowledge and skills:

• A MSc. degree in computational mechanics, mechanical engineering, applied physics, or applied mathematics.
• A strong interest in computational mechanics, finite element method, and high-performance computing.
• Good programming skills in C/C++; affinity with parallel programming is a plus.

Doing a PhD at TU Delft requires English proficiency at a certain level to ensure that the candidate is able to communicate and interact well, participate in English-taught Doctoral Education courses, and write scientific articles and a final thesis. For more details please check the Graduate Schools Admission Requirements .

Doctoral candidates will be offered a 4-year period of employment in principle, but in the form of 2 employment contracts. An initial 1,5 year contract with an official go/no go progress assessment within 15 months. Followed by an additional contract for the remaining 2,5 years assuming everything goes well and performance requirements are met.

Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, increasing from € 2541,- per month in the first year to € 3247,- in the fourth year. As a PhD candidate you will be enrolled in the TU Delft Graduate School. The TU Delft Graduate School provides an inspiring research environment with an excellent team of supervisors, academic staff and a mentor. The Doctoral Education Programme is aimed at developing your transferable, discipline-related and research skills.

The TU Delft offers a customisable compensation package, discounts on health insurance and sport memberships, and a monthly work costs contribution. Flexible work schedules can be arranged. For international applicants we offer the Coming to Delft Service and Partner Career Advice  to assist you with your relocation.

Delft University of Technology is built on strong foundations. As creators of the world-famous Dutch waterworks and pioneers in biotech, TU Delft is a top international university combining science, engineering and design. It delivers world class results in education, research and innovation to address challenges in the areas of energy, climate, mobility, health and digital society. For generations, our engineers have proven to be entrepreneurial problem-solvers, both in business and in a social context.

At TU Delft we embrace diversity as one of our core values  and we actively engage  to be a university where you feel at home and can flourish. We value different perspectives and qualities. We believe this makes our work more innovative, the TU Delft community more vibrant and the world more just. Together, we imagine, invent and create solutions using technology to have a positive impact on a global scale. That is why we invite you to apply. Your application will receive fair consideration.

Challenge. Change. Impact!

From chip to ship. From machine to human being. From idea to solution. Driven by a deep-rooted desire to understand our environment and discover its underlying mechanisms, research and education at the 3mE faculty focusses on fundamental understanding, design, production including application and product improvement, materials, processes and (mechanical) systems.

3mE is a dynamic and innovative faculty with high-tech lab facilities and international reach. It’s a large faculty but also versatile, so we can often make unique connections by combining different disciplines. This is reflected in 3mE’s outstanding, state-of-the-art education, which trains students to become responsible and socially engaged engineers and scientists. We translate our knowledge and insights into solutions to societal issues, contributing to a sustainable society and to the development of prosperity and well-being. That is what unites us in pioneering research, inspiring education and (inter)national cooperation.

Click here  to go to the website of the Faculty of Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering. Do you want to experience working at our faculty? These videos  will introduce you to some of our researchers and their work.

For more information about this vacancy, please contact Assistant Professors: Dr. Sid Kumar ([email protected] ) and Dr. Bianca Giovanardi ([email protected] ).

Are you interested in this vacancy? Please apply before 30 April 2023 via the application button.  

Note: The vacancy may be closed before this date if a suitable candidate is found, so please do not wait until the deadline.

Please enclose:

• Your motivation.
• A detailed curriculum vitae.
• Academic transcripts.
• Master thesis or scientific papers.

Further notes:

• A pre-employment screening can be part of the selection procedure.
• You can apply online. We will not process applications sent by email and/or post.
• Please do not contact us for unsolicited services.