PhD Studentship in Production Technology – Simulation based optimization of an ultrasonic technique used for non-destructive evaluation - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

University West is offering a PhD Studentship in Production Technology – Simulation based optimization of an ultrasonic technique used for non-destructive evaluation

In aerospace industry, there are increasing demands on cost-efficient, reliable and safe aero-engines with reduced fuel consumption and environmental impact. These requirements have stimulated the development of new advanced manufacturing technologies and light weight technology based on fabrication and additive manufacturing (AM). This raises also higher demands on product quality assurance and reliable and cost-effective non-destructive testing and material characterization methods in order to maintain the quality and safety levels. In addition, new regulations of qualification/certification of used techniques within the industry, have called for a more theoretical treatment of the subject and mathematical modelling of NDT has received attention as a cost efficient and powerful tool in several areas of applications.

The scientific part of the project
The focus of this project will be on phased array ultrasonic inspection of Powder Bed Fusion (PBF) additive manufactured material. The aim is to explore how mathematical modeling of the inspection can facilitate the detection and characterization of (new to NDT) material defects originating from the PBF manufacturing process. Therefore, both mathematical modeling of the inspection as well as experimental validation of the results will be conducted.

More specifically the plan is to modify and extend an existing ultrasonic inspection simulation software (simSUNDT) and use it to optimize available well-established techniques (NDT) and procedures (NDE) in order to adapt those to the new PBF specific challenges (e.g. orientation of defects and their NDT characteristics). We predict that the mathematical modeling will facilitate the derivation and identification of possible nonconventional parameters in the ultrasonic information (frequency or phase information), to characterize defects as pore, inclusion and e.g. orientation of LOF.

The PhD student in this project will be part of a large research project PODFAM (POwDer Bed Fusion Additive Manufacturing of Metals for Gas Turbine Applications) at University West, which is dedicated for powder bed fusion additive manufacturing research. The results from this project will be regularly presented at PODFAM meetings, which certifies that the research is in line with what industry needs.

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/research-environments/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 totaling 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 fulfill 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 Mechanical engineering, Applied Physics (material science), Engineering Mathematics, Engineering Physics or equivalent, with a thesis project corresponding to at least half a year of study. The eligibility requirements may be fulfilled by studies in Sweden or abroad.

These qualification requirements do not have to be fulfilled at the time of when the application is submitted but must be fulfilled before the applicant can be accepted for the doctoral program.

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/courses/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, have an accurate way of working, and have good communicative and collaborative skills. The applicant should have a strong ability for analysis and problem solving of industrial related problems.

The selection process comprises different stages. In addition to the evaluation of the qualification requirements, interviews, referencing, proofreading or individual tasks might be included to assess the candidates.

Qualifications of merit for this position:
The position requires a master’s level degree corresponding to at least 240 higher education credits in Mechanical engineering, Applied Physics (material science), Engineering Mathematics, Engineering Physics or equivalent, with a thesis project corresponding to at least half a year of study. The position requires full professional proficiency in English. You will also need to acquire Swedish proficiency within 2 years. Experience with numerical modelling, e.g. finite element modelling, scientific programming with MATLAB/Fortran/C/C++, signal processing and measurement systems are considered as are meritorious.

Emphasis will be on analytical ability, motivation, ability to cooperate but also to work independently.

We believe that a successful applicant should have a genuine interest in the development of experimental ultrasonic NDT and actively be part of building up a experimental set-up and perform the experimental verification of the developed software and algorithms (optimization schemes).

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, Varbi. 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/or English, or translations into any of those languages. Attach the original when submitting translated documents.

The application should reach University West no later than 2020-09-27.

Documents that cannot be sent digitally, mark the application with ref.no: 2020/144 and should be sent to:
University West
HR department
461 86 Trollhättan
Sweden 

Welcome with your application!

We decline any direct contact with the staffing and recruitment companies, as well as vendors of recruitment advertisers.