PhD Candidate in Natural Fibre Over-Moulding Process (On-site)

Job summary

This PhD position focuses on the development and modeling of a novel natural fibre injection moulding (NFIM) process aimed at enhancing sustainable production technologies. The role involves cutting-edge research in digital manufacturing, polymer processing, and natural fibre composites, with a strong emphasis on collaboration with industry and academia across Europe.

Qualifications

• A two-year master's degree (120 ECTS points) in mechanical engineering, materials engineering, manufacturing engineering, mechatronics, cyber-physical systems engineering, or a related field.
• Strong foundation in natural fibre materials processing, polymer/composite materials, or manufacturing technologies.
• Experience with experimental laboratory work or advanced data analysis and AI/ML techniques.
• Interest in numerical simulations, AI-driven process modeling, and digital twins.
• Excellent communication skills in English, both written and spoken.

Responsibilities

• Develop, model, and validate the NFIM process for natural fibre materials.
• Conduct laboratory-scale NFIM experiments and integrate hygro-thermal simulation models.
• Implement in situ process monitoring and analyze real-time sensor data.
• Set up a digital twin environment using open-source tools like Eclipse Ditto.
• Optimize processing parameters and develop AI-driven reduced-order models.
• Collaborate with industrial partners for process integration and demonstration.

Skills

• Proficiency in polymer processing and natural fibre composite engineering.
• Familiarity with simulation technologies and data-driven approaches.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a multidisciplinary environment.

Education

• A master's degree in a relevant field as specified in the qualifications.

Tools

• Open-source tools for digital twin development, such as Eclipse Ditto.