PhD Position – Inverse Design of Microstructures for Novel Sustainable Structural Metals Full-time

Your Job

Digital methods for inverse materials design are essential to efficiently create new, sustainable and recycling-adapted structural metals. Alloys with a reduced number of elements, so-called lean alloys, and material systems with a high tolerance to impurities from the use of secondary raw materials are of particular relevance for improving recyclability and sustainability. Al-Ca is a promising lean alloy system for additive manufacturing, as the mechanical properties can be tailored through phase composition, distribution and morphology by tuning process parameters. The work is carried out within the DFG Priority Programme “DaMic – Data-driven Alloy and Microstructure Design of Sustainable Structural Metals” (SPP 2489), in close collaboration with a research partner responsible for the manufacturing and characterization of material samples. As such, the position offers the opportunity to be involved in fruitful national collaborations. In this exciting job you can expect:

1. to develop automated workflows for descriptor based microstructure reconstruction
2. to identify material parameters for crystal plasticity simulations from experimental data through inverse analysis
3. to establish structure–property linkages based on numerical simulations and to transform them into AI- and ML-ready information
4. to develop and implement an indirect inverse optimization framework to identify microstructures that exhibit desired macroscopic properties
5. to publish and present research results in relevant journals and at international conferences

Your Profile

• A completed university degree (Master or equivalent) with excellent grades in the field of mechanical engineering, material science, physics, computational science or similar, preferably with a specialization in the field of theory and/or simulation
• Strong understanding of the (computational) mechanics of solids and the finite element method and/or spectral solvers
• Practical experience in at least one programming language (preferably Python) and experience with the use of Unix/Linux operating systems
• Structured and analytical thinking as well as a systematic, careful, independent, and reliable working method
• Interest in working closely with experimentalists
• Strong cooperation and communication skills and the ability to work as part of a team
• Excellent written and spoken English skills

Our Offer

We work on the very latest issues that impact our society and are offering you the chance to actively help in shaping the change! We support you in your work with:

ENVIRONMENT & INFRASTRUCTURE: The opportunity to conduct exciting research in an international and multidisciplinary environment with outstanding infrastructure

ENVIRONMENT: A creative work environment at a leading research facility, located on an attractive research campus at the TZA Aachen and the Forschungszentrum Jülich

OPPORTUNITY: To gain your reputation in a dynamic and highly active research field

KNOWLEDGE & DEVELOPMENT: Your professional development is important to us – we support you specifically and individually e.g., through training and networking opportunities specifically for doctoral candidates (JuDocS):

SUPPORT FOR INTERNATIONAL EMPLOYEES: Our International Advisory Service makes it easier for international employees to get started

FAIR REMUNERATION: Depending on your qualifications and assigned responsibilities, you will be classified according to pay group 13 (80%) of the TVöD-Bund. Additionally, you will receive a special payment (“Christmas bonus”) amounting to 60% of one month's salary. All information about the TVöD-Bund collective agreement can be found on the BMI website (pay scale table on page 69 and following of the PDF download):

FIXED-TERM: The position is limited to 3 years In addition to exciting tasks and a collegial working environment, we offer you much more: