EU MSCA doctoral (PhD) position in Materials Engineering with focus on mechanistic study of bio[...]

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

Zusammenfassung

A leading research institute in Germany is seeking a doctoral candidate for a PhD position in Materials Engineering. This role focuses on the mechanistic study of biodegradation of magnesium and zinc alloys under mechanical load and includes research stays in Sweden. Candidates should hold a Master’s degree in a relevant field and be fluent in English.

Leistungen

Gross salary of 3719.13 EUR/month

Research training in an EU-funded project

Collaboration opportunities with international institutes

Qualifikationen

• Master’s degree and documented experience in materials science, biomedical engineering, or related field.
• Good oral and written English skills required.
• Compliance with mobility rules for MSCA candidates.

Aufgaben

• Develop PhD project on mechano-corrosive properties of biodegradable alloys.
• Optimize an experimental setup for testing and monitoring localized corrosion.
• Conduct research stays at collaborating institutions in Sweden.

Kenntnisse

Corrosion characterization

Mechanical testing

Local electrochemistry

Surface characterization

Additive manufacturing of metals

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 a EU programme Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

Institute of Surface Science

Area of Research

PhD Thesis

13.10.2025

Job Description

EU MSCA doctoral (PhD) position in Materials Engineering with focus on mechanistic study of biodegradation of additively manufactured Mg and Zn alloys under mechanical load.

PhD position - Ad Print4Life DC11 - code no. 2025/MO 3. Commencement date: 1st March 2026. Work location: Geesthacht. Application deadline: 31.12.2025.

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 in additive manufacturing of biomaterials and tissues. 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 on mechano‑corrosive properties of PBF‑LB manufactured biodegradable Mg and Zn alloys. A combination of dynamic mechanical loading and corrosive environment is imposed on a metallic device upon implantation. While the influence of both factors is typically studied separately, their inevitable combination at implantation site may lead to unexpected and premature implant failure due to stress corrosion cracking, corrosion fatigue and tribo‑corrosion.

Understanding cooperative effects of mechanically assisted corrosion of the Mg and Zn alloys (additively manufactured at Uppsala University) will be the focus of this PhD project. The objectives are to optimize an experimental setup for simultaneous tension/compression testing and localized corrosion measurements, including monitoring of local pH and dissolved hydrogen and oxygen concentrations at the metal‑electrolyte interface; gain understanding of the factors influencing initiation and propagation of localized corrosion and associated mechanically assisted corrosion.

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

Supervisors: Dr. Sviatlana Lamaka, Prof. Cecilia Persson, Prof. Mikhail Zheludkevich.

Your Profile

To be eligible as a MSCA 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 mobility rules requiring you to not have resided or carried out your main activity in the host country (Germany) for more than 12 months in the 36 months prior to recruitment.

Requirements: Master’s degree and documented experience and knowledge in materials science, biomedical engineering, chemistry, chemical engineering, materials engineering, engineering physics, or a related field, or other education considered equivalent. Good oral and written English skills are required.

Additional Qualifications

• Corrosion characterization
• Mechanical testing
• Local electrochemistry (e.g. SECM)
• Surface characterization
• Additive manufacturing of metals

Personal Qualities

Great emphasis is put on personal qualities such as the ability to independently plan and carry out work, to work towards set goals, focus during periods of high workload, good communication skills, cooperation with others, and the ability to write academic texts.

Application Requirements

• A short cover letter (up to 1 page) describing 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 reference persons, with the relationship to each.

The application should be written in English.

Benefits

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 36 months. Gross salary in Germany: 3719.13 EUR/month (or 4233.93 EUR/month with family allowance if eligible). Social security contributions and income tax will be deducted to determine net salary.

Employment is temporary, 100% scope, starting 1st March 2026. Placement: Geesthacht (near Hamburg), Germany.

Contact

For further information, contact: Sviatlana Lamaka, [phone].

Equal Opportunity

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

Application Deadline

Please submit your application indicating reference number code no. 2025/MO 3 by 31st December 2025. Use the recruiting portal: jobs2.hereon.de/job/EU-MSCA-doctoral-(PhD)-position-in-Materials-Engineering-with-focus-on-mechanistic-study-of-biodegra/883-de_DE/.

This research center is part of the Helmholtz Association of German Research Centers, with over 42,000 employees and an annual budget of over €5 billion.