EU MSCA doctoral (PhD) position in Materials Engineering with focus on computational optimizati[...]

Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon; Deutschland; Vor Ort; EUR 40.000 - 60.000; Vollzeit

Zusammenfassung

A leading research center in Germany is looking for a PhD candidate in Materials Engineering to focus on computational optimization of biodegradable Mg alloys. This role offers participation in an EU-funded project and collaboration with esteemed institutions across Europe. The position requires a Master's degree and skills in machine learning and materials science. Starting March 2026, the gross salary is €3719.13/month in Germany.

Qualifikationen

• Must comply with MSCA mobility rules.
• English skills required.

Aufgaben

• Develop PhD project focusing on Mg alloys optimization.
• Conduct machine learning for process optimization.

Kenntnisse

Machine Learning & Bayesian optimization

Additive manufacturing of metals

Corrosion characterization

Mechanical testing

Ausbildung

Master’s degree in materials science or related field

Jobbeschreibung

Organisation/Company Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon Research Field All Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Country Germany Application Deadline 31 Dec 2025 - 00:00 (UTC) Type of Contract To be defined Job Status Other Offer Starting Date 13 Oct 2025 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by an EU programme Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

Institute of Surface Science

PHD Thesis

13.10.2025

Job description: EU MSCA doctoral (PhD) position in Materials Engineering with focus on computational optimization of additively manufactured Mg alloys for biodegradable implant applications. PhD position - Ad Print4Life DC12 - code no. 2025/MO 4. Commencement date: 1st March 2026. Work location: Geesthacht. Application deadline: 31.12.2025.

EU MSCA doctoral (PhD) position in Materials Engineering with focus on computational optimization of additively manufactured Mg alloys for biodegradable implant applications. Host: Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon, Geesthacht, Germany, with PhD degree awarded by Kiel University (CAU), Germany. Read more about Hereon (https://www.hereon.de/index.php.en) and Institute of Surface Science (https://www.hereon.de/institutes/surface_science/index.php.en). Collaborators: Uppsala Universitet, Sweden and Quintus Technologies AB, Västerås, Sweden. This PhD position is part of the EU-funded project Print4Life, a Marie Sklodowska-Curie (MSCA) doctoral network led by Prof. Cecilia Persson, Uppsala University. Print4Life ? Advanced Research Training for Additive Manufacturing of the Biomaterials and Tissues of the Future.

The network has 8 host institutions hiring doctoral candidates: Uppsala University, Universitat Politecnica de Catalunya, Dublin City University, Universidade do Minho, Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon, Hydrumedical SA, Brinter AM Technologies Oy, ETH Zürich; and 6 additional partners: FHNW, PBC Ltd, XapHe, Quintus Technologies AB, CAU (Kiel) and Region Uppsala (Uppsala University Hospital). The network aims to provide Advanced Research Training for Additive Manufacturing of Biomaterials and Tissues of the Future. You will be one of 17 doctoral students across the entire network, and one of 3 doctoral candidates based at Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon.

Your tasks

You focus on developing your PhD project In silico optimization of PBF-LB manufactured Mg alloys. There is a plethora of studies on the processing, mechanical and corrosion properties of Mg-based alloys, mostly limited to the alloys produced via traditional casting, extrusion and forging. Reports on rationalisation of processing-structure-property relationships (PSPR) additively manufactured (PBF-LB) Mg alloys are still scarce. In the meantime, the variation of processing parameters (laser power, spot size, hatch distance, scanning speed, layer thickness, scan strategy and subsequent heat‑treatment) has a significant effect on the microstructure (grain size, alloying elements distribution, crystallographic texture), mechanical properties (hardness, yield and tensile strength) and corrosion profile (rate and localisation). This work focuses on machine learning assisted PSPR optimization of recently developed lean Mg‑0.1Ca alloy produced by PBF‑LB. After identification of the most relevant parameters adopting a design of experiments strategy, a probabilistic (e.g. Gaussian Process Regression) model to describe the relationship between process parameters and material properties will be developed and subsequently exposed to Bayesian optimization to find the optimal set of parameters that improve process performance and material quality. Secondly, different machine learning strategies based on traditional supervised learning techniques (e.g. random forest (RF), artificial neural network (ANN)) will be applied using the parameters of strongest influence on the target properties. Moreover, the obtained data will be fed into a generative pre‑trained transformer model (e.g. ChatGPT) to probe the potential of in‑context learning for process optimization. The robustness of the model is assessed by experimental validation. The objectives are i) to produce Mg‑0.1Ca alloy at varying PBF‑LB fabrication process parameters (at Uppsala University), collect experimental data on microstructure, mechanical and corrosion properties; ii) determine, using sensitivity analysis, impact of the individual process parameters on the target properties and develop predictive machine learning model; iii) based on the machine learning algorithms, develop PBF‑LB Mg alloy with defined microstructure, improved mechanical and corrosion properties.

Research stays are planned at: Uppsala Universitet, Sweden, and Quintus Technologies AB, Västerås, Sweden.

Supervisors: Dr. Christian Feiler, Dr. Sviatlana Lamaka, Prof. Mikhail Zheludkevich www.hereon.de/institutes/surface_science/index.php.en

Your profile

To be eligible as a MSCA (Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions) doctoral candidate, you must i) not have a doctoral degree at the date of recruitment, ii) not be enrolled in a doctoral program, and iii) comply with a mobility rule requiring you to not have resided or carried out your main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the host country (Germany) for more than 12 months in the 36 months prior to recruitment (i.e. this includes online activities).

Requirements

Master’s degree and documented experience and knowledge in either of the following: materials science, biomedical engineering, chemistry, chemical engineering, materials engineering, engineering physics, applied mathematics, computational materials science or a related field, or other education considered equivalent to these qualifications.

We require good oral and written skills in English.

Additional qualifications

• Machine Learning & Bayesian optimization (Python, Supervised learning, Multi‑objective optimization)
• Additive manufacturing of metals
• Corrosion characterization
• Mechanical testing

Your application must include

• A short cover letter (up to 1 page) in which you describe yourself, why you want to do a PhD and why you are suitable for this position.
• CV (max 2 pages)
• A certified copy of your master’s degree and your course grades.
• Copies (or drafts) of your master’s thesis and other documents, such as publications, that you wish to refer to.
• Names and contact details of at least two contact persons who have accepted to be references for you. It must also be stated what relationship you have had with the respective referent.

The application should be written in English.

We offer you

PhD students employed through the Marie Sklodowska Curie Doctoral Network will receive a salary in accordance with the Marie Curie regulations for doctoral candidates for the time of their fellowship (36 months). Taking into account the living allowance (with the coefficient of 101.2% for Germany), mobility and family allowances (when eligible) and subtracting the employer contributions, the gross salary in Germany is 3719,13 EUR/month (or 4233,93 EUR/month with family allowance if eligible). Social security contributions and income tax will be deducted from this gross salary before payment of the net salary to the doctoral candidate.

This employment is a temporary position. Scope of employment 100%. Starting date 1st March 2026 or as agreed upon. Placement: Geesthacht (near Hamburg), Germany.

For further information about the position, please contact:

Chistian Feiler, [phone]

Severely disabled persons and those equaling severely disabled persons who are equally suitable for the position will be considered preferentially within the framework of legal requirements.

Please submit your application indicating the reference number code no. 2025/MO 4 by 31st December 2025 as the latest.

For applications please use our recruiting portal and follow the link: jobs2.hereon.de/job/EU-MSCA-doctoral-(PhD)-position-in-Materials-Engineering-with-focus-on-computational-optimization-of/884-de_DE/

This research center is part of the Helmholtz Association of German Research Centers. With more than 42,000 employees and an annual budget of over €5 billion, the Helmholtz Association is Germany's largest scientific organisation.