Doctoral student in multiscale modelling of effects of defects in composites

Doctoral Student In Multiscale Modelling Of Effects Of Defects In Composites

Do you want to join an international team of experts to develop efficient multiscale modelling tools for fibre-reinforced composites? Then consider this doctoral candidate position within LEGEND – a European doctoral network developing increased understanding of, and computational tools for studying the effects of defects in composite structures.

The Doctoral student position is placed at the Division of Computational Mechanics and Materials Engineering, which belongs to the Department of Mechanical Engineering. We foster an inclusive, friendly, and helpful work environment to which we welcome you to contribute. Our activities integrate computational mechanics and advanced materials technology, combining multidisciplinary expertise to predict, understand, and elevate the performance of engineering materials and structures.

Within the project, you will also be connected to an international team of experts in the area of mechanics of composites through LEGEND – a Marie Sklodowska Curie Action doctoral network project. LEGEND, encompassing a collection of European research organisations and industries, will recruit 14 doctoral candidates, offering a lot of cross-over collaboration.

This project aims to make the design of damage-tolerant composite structures faster, smarter, and more reliable. As a team, we will develop a computational framework that links small-scale material defects to large-scale structural performance, enabling accurate prediction of how defects affect strength, stiffness, and fracture behaviour.

By combining detailed meso-scale models including defects with an adaptive shell-based macro model, the research will deliver an efficient two-scale simulation tool suitable for real industrial applications. The project outcome will include practical design guidelines and a robust analysis framework that helps engineers assess damage tolerance quickly—supporting safer, more cost-effective composite design in industry.

The project will involve collaborations and secondments (in total 6 months during the first three years) at Airbus (Portugal), University of Kore (Italy) and Leonardo S.p.A. (Italy).

The following requirements are mandatory:

• To qualify as a Doctoral student, you must have a Master's degree (masterexamen) of 120 credits or a Master's degree (magisterexamen) of 60 credits
  * in Applied Mechanics, Structural Engineering, Computational Engineering, Engineering Mathematics, Engineering Physics or similar.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills in English
• Documented experience (education/courses or thesis project with high grades) in continuum mechanics, the finite element method and the mechanics of fibre-reinforced polymers.
• Interest and high skills in programming and numerical methods

* for students with an education earned outside of Sweden, a 4-year Bachelor's degree is accepted.

We also expect that you are analytical, ambitious, independent, and a strong team player that thrives through collaboration.

The following experience will strengthen your application:

• Documented knowledge (education/courses or thesis project) in computational homogenisation and/or computational micro/mesoscale modelling.

What you will do:

• Develop your scientific concepts and communicate the results of your research through written scientific publications and oral presentations at international conferences.
• Collaborate with fellow doctoral candidates within the LEGEND project, utilising synergies between projects.
• Actively participate in General Assembly meetings and doctoral training events within LEGEND, distributed across Europe.
• Take courses at an advanced level within the Graduate school of Solid and Structural Mechanics.
• Develop and implement a computational framework that links small-scale material defects to large-scale structural performance, enabling accurate prediction of how defects affect strength, stiffness, and fracture behaviour.
• Teach on Chalmers' undergraduate level corresponding to 10 percent of working hours.

Contract terms:

• The Doctoral student positions are fully funded from start.
• The position is a fixed-term appointment of four years, with the possibility to teach up to 10%, which extends the position up to four and a half years.
• Doctoral studies require physical presence throughout the entire study period. A valid residence permit must be presented by the study start date; otherwise the admission may be withdrawn.
• Applicants must not already be in possession of a doctoral degree. Researchers who have successfully defended their doctoral thesis but who have not yet formally been awarded the doctoral degree will not be considered eligible.
• Applicants must not have resided, worked, or studied in Sweden for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to the date of recruitment. Compulsory national service, short stays such as holidays, and time spent as part of a procedure for obtaining refugee status under the Geneva…