PhD position in circular silicon and silicon carbide for additive manufacturing

Utwentecareers; Enschede; On-site; EUR 38,000 - 49,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Holiday allowance

Year-end bonus

Pension scheme

Job summary

University of Twente offers a fully funded four-year PhD position focused on developing circular production routes for silicon and silicon carbide, blending materials science, powder technology, additive manufacturing, and data science.

You will develop mechanochemical routes to convert silicon-rich waste into high-purity powders, establish AM process windows, and contribute to machine-learning models linking powder properties to final parts. The project spans academia and industry.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in a relevant engineering/science discipline.
• Strong interest in powder technology, ceramics, and additive manufacturing.
• Experience with materials characterisation techniques and mechanical/thermal testing is desirable.
• Excellent communication skills in English, both spoken and written.

Responsibilities

• Develop and optimise routes for converting silicon-rich waste into high-purity powders.
• Establish additive manufacturing process windows for circular powders and investigate melt behaviour.
• Contribute to data-driven machine-learning models linking powder characteristics with final component properties.
• Publish research findings in high-impact venues and collaborate with international partners.

Skills

Powder technology

Ceramics

Additive manufacturing

English proficiency

Analytical skills

Independent & collaborative work

Education

Master's degree in Materials Science and Engineering

Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering

Job description

Job description

We offer a fully funded, four-year PhD position at the University of Twente focused on developing circular production routes for silicon and silicon carbide, key materials for high-temperature and high-performance applications. The project brings together materials science, powder technology, additive manufacturing, and data science.

Silicon carbide is widely used in demanding thermal, structural, and electronic applications, yet its production is energy-intensive and relies on global supply chains. At the same time, the photovoltaic and semiconductor industries generate large volumes of silicon-rich waste: up to 75% of silicon can be lost across the value chain, while recycling rates remain around 5%. Existing recycling routes largely downcycle this material into lower-value compounds and do not produce powders with the quality required for advanced manufacturing.

This PhD project aims to address that gap. You will develop and optimise routes for converting silicon-rich waste streams into high-purity powders. Using mechanochemical processing, you will investigate and control phase formation, particle size distribution, morphology, and flowability. You will then establish additive manufacturing process windows for these circular powders using both binder-free and binder-based additive manufacturing approaches, investigating melt behaviour, densification, defect formation, and microstructure in materials.

A distinctive element of the project is its data-driven approach. Together with colleagues at Saxion University of Applied Sciences, you will contribute to the development of machine-learning models that connect powder characteristics and process parameters with the properties of the final components. These models will support faster feedstock qualification and enable predictive quality control.

You will work in an interdisciplinary and international environment alongside academic researchers and industrial partners spanning the full value chain—from waste recovery and silicon processing to powder qualification, additive manufacturing, and advanced ceramics. The project offers strong opportunities to publish high-impact research while developing technologies with immediate industrial relevance and clear potential for sustainability impact.

Your profile

We are looking for a highly motivated, enthusiastic, and self-driven researcher who meets the following qualifications:

• A Master's degree in Materials Science and Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or another relevant engineering/science discipline.
• Strong interest in powder technology, ceramics, and additive manufacturing.
• Experience with materials characterisation techniques an mechanical and thermal testing is highly desirable.
• Familiarity with additive manufacturing processes is an advantage.
• Knowledge of ceramic processing, powder metallurgy, or mechanochemistry is beneficial.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively within an interdisciplinary research environment.
• Strong analytical, experimental, and problem-solving skills.
• Motivation to contribute to both fundamental research and industrially relevant technology development.
• Excellent communication skills and proficiency in English, both spoken and written.

Our offer

• A fully funded 4-year PhD position in an ambitious and internationally recognized research environment.
• Excellent working conditions, an exciting scientific environment, and a green and lively campus with lots of sports facilities and an international scientific community. The terms of employment are in accordance with the Dutch Collective Labour Agreement for Universities (CAO) and include:
• Gross salary between € 3.204,- and € 4.051,- per month depending on experience and qualifications;
• Excellent benefits include a holiday allowance of 8% of the gross annual salary, a year-end bonus of 8.3%, and a solid pension scheme.
• You can make use of excellent facilities for professional and personal development and a training program in which you and your supervisor will make up a plan for additional suitable education and supervision.
• You will receive good secondary conditions, in accordance with the collective labor agreement CAO-NU for Dutch universities.
• We encourage a high degree of responsibility and independence while collaborating with close colleagues, researchers, and other university staff.

About the department

The project at the University of Twente brings together scientists from the Faculties of Engineering Technology (ET).

ET: The Faculty of Engineering Technology engages in the education and research of Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering, and Industrial Design Engineering. We enable society and industry to innovate and create value using efficient, solid, and sustainable technology. We are part of a ‘people-first' university of technology, taking our place as an internationally leading center for smart production, processes, and devices in five domains: Health Technology, Maintenance, Smart Regions, Smart Industry, and Sustainable Resources. Our faculty is home to about 2,900 Bachelor’s and Master’s students, 550 employees, and 150 PhD candidates. Our educational and research programs are closely connected with UT research institutesMesa+ Institute, TechMed Center and Digital Society Institute.

About the organisation

At the Faculty of Engineering Technology (ET), we work on engineering for impact: developing smart, sustainable, human-centred and technological solutions for societal challenges. We connect fundamental education, research and practice across five core domains: Asset & Maintenance engineering, Intelligent Manufacturing Systems, Personalised Health Technology, Resilience Engineering, and Sustainable Production, Energy and Resources.

We work on education and research in mechanical engineering, civil engineering and industrial design engineering. Together, we learn by making, creating, and innovating, addressing challenges in a solution-oriented way. Quality, connection and inclusivity are the foundation of our culture.

In our open community, students, researchers and staff collaborate with industrial and societal partners. This enables us to develop insights, applications and solutions that add value to society.

We are looking for a highly motivated, enthusiastic, and self-driven researcher who meets the following qualifications:

• A Master's degree in Materials Science and Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or another relevant engineering/science discipline.
• Strong interest in powder technology, ceramics, and additive manufacturing.
• Experience with materials characterisation techniques an mechanical and thermal testing is highly desirable.
• Familiarity with additive manufacturing processes is an advantage.
• Knowledge of ceramic processing, powder metallurgy, or mechanochemistry is beneficial.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively within an interdisciplinary research environment.
• Strong analytical, experimental, and problem-solving skills.
• Motivation to contribute to both fundamental research and industrially relevant technology development.
• Excellent communication skills and proficiency in English, both spoken and written.

For more information about this position, you are welcome to contact Dr. Davoud Jafari at [e-mail].

screening is part of the procedure