Doctoral student in Production Technology – Specialising in Liquid Feedstock Derived Thermal Spray Coatings - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

Doctoral student in Production Technology – Specialising in Liquid Feedstock Derived Thermal Spray Coatings

University West, Department of Engineering Science
Thermal Spraying (TS) has been one of the important pillars of production technologies’ research at Department of Engineering Science, University West for the past two decades. The Thermal Spray Group at the university has rapidly progressed to be acknowledged as a global leader in TS research. A high-power axial-feed capable plasma spray system and a High Velocity Air-Fuel facility lend a rare uniqueness and versatility to the group’s processing capabilities, which are further complemented by a range of allied equipment for process monitoring, coating characterisation and performance assessment of diverse functional coatings that constitute the group’s current portfolio. Apart from closely collaborating with premier international universities and institutes that pursue thermal spray research, the group has a long history of undertaking cutting-edge research that not only addresses extant technological needs of the Swedish industry but also demonstrates possibilities for the future.

This doctoral student position is in the field of liquid feedstock derived thermal spray coatings. The focus areas consist of emerging applications such as environmental barrier coatings (EBCs) for gas turbines and coating solutions for fabrication of battery components, and hybrid spraying for novel applications as well as well-known applications such as wear resistance. The research is conducted in close collaboration with industry where several industrial partners as well as members from Thermal Spray Group are involved.

The scientific work in the project
The activities will mainly involve thermal spray processing using (a) liquid feedstock thermal spraying of suspensions and solution precursors (as exemplified by Suspension Plasma Spraying - SPS and Solution Precursor Plasma Spraying – SPPS) and (b) High Velocity Air-Fuel (HVAF) spraying. The candidate will participate in research and development of liquid feedstocks, production of coatings and investigation of coating properties and performance relevant to the projects. In addition, atmospheric plasma spraying (APS) using powder feedstock with the high-power axial-feed system will be explored when suitable. As multifunctionality is anticipated to be a key requirement for coatings in the future, hybrid spraying will be also of interest. Hybrid spraying comprises of combining two feedstocks in-situ, one in powder form with tens of micrometres size range, and other in suspension form with nano-/submicrometric particles, thus resulting in a dual phase composite coating. In hybrid coatings, composite/layered/functionally graded coatings can be achieved providing enormous potential to tailor the coating microstructure and properties as per desire.

Doctoral degree program: Production Technology

Research center:
Doctoral students in Production Technology become members of the research group PTW (Production Technology West). The group collaborates with the engineering industry in the region at the Production Technology Centre, which houses an advanced research laboratory. For more information about our research center, go to https://www.hv.se/en/research/production-technology/  

Job description:
The research program includes, in addition to participation in third-cycle courses and other activities, implementation of an independent thesis work. Doctoral students shall primarily devote themselves to their own education. A doctoral student may, however, be engaged to a limited extent in education, research and administration, mainly within Production Technology. Such duties, before a doctorate has been conferred, may not occupy more than 20 per cent of full-time working hours. (Higher Education Ordinance (SFS 1993:100) Chapter 5 section 2).

Qualification requirements:
The basic eligibility requirements for doctoral programs as set out in the Higher Education Ordinance are as follows:

• A degree at master’s level,
• completed courses totalling at least 240 university credits of which a minimum of 60 at master’s level or,
• substantially equivalent knowledge gained in some other way whether in Sweden or abroad.

To fulfil the special eligibility requirements for a doctoral degree in Production Technology, a student must hold a degree at master’s level in a subject relevant to the doctoral degree subject. This degree may be in Production Technology or some related discipline. The eligibility requirements may be fulfilled by studies in Sweden or abroad.

For more information please read 3.1 and 3.2 in General syllabus for the third-cycle programme in Production Technology, Ref. No 2015/1343 B 25: https://www.hv.se/en/research/research-education/production-technology/    

Selection:
The basic factor for selection from among qualified applicants is the ability to profit from such a program. For more information, please read 3.3 in General syllabus for the third-cycle programme in Technology in Production Technology, Ref. No 2015/1343 B 25.

To be successful in this project the applicant should be highly motivated, independent, and have good communicative and collaborative skills. The applicant should have a strong aptitude for analysis and problem solving of physical problems that relate to the industry.

Additional Qualifications

Mandatory Qualifications:

• Master of Science (or equivalent) in Material Science, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering or equivalent.
• Ability to communicate orally and in writing in English (documented).
• Experience of research work and scientific writing.

The following will be considered meritorious:

• Experience in material- and property characterization techniques (such as SEM, XRD, porosity analysis and thermal conductivity measurements)
• Experience in performance testing (such as lifetime testing and wear resistance testing) of thermal spray coatings.
• Hands-on experience of thermal spraying processes (specifically SPS and HVAF).
• Experience of working in an international team.

Duration and terms of employment:
Employment as a doctoral student shall be on an open-ended basis but not for longer than to a specific point in time and never for a period extending more than one year after receiving the doctoral degree. The initial appointment must not be for more than one year. The appointment may be renewed for no more than two years at a time. A person may be employed as a research student for a total of not more than eight years. The total period of employment, however, may not exceed the equivalent of four years of full-time study at the third level of higher education. (Higher Education Ordinance (SFS 1993:100) Chapter 5 section 7).

Applications are to be submitted electronically through the University West web-based recruitment tool, MyNetwork. Go to https://www.hv.se/en/meet-university-west/job-opportunities/.

The application must include:

• CV/Personal qualifications
• Personal letter containing:
  • Interest in the research topic
  • Previous experience regarding the proposed research topic and its research methods and scientific theories
  • Motive to pursue doctoral studies
• Degree project of second level of higher education
• Degree certificate of first and second level of higher education
• Other documents which the applicant wishes to invoke

Approved written languages regarding papers, diplomas, grades and other relevant documents are the Scandinavian languages and English, or translations into those languages. Attach the original when submitting translated documents.

Documents that cannot be sent digitally, should be sent to:

University West
HR
461 86 Trollhättan
Sweden

Mark the application with ref.no: R 2022/228.

The application should reach University West no later than 2022-11-28.

If you would like to submit documents that cannot be sent digitally, please contact HR-representative for further instructions.

Welcome with your application!