PhD position in multi-material additive manufacturing for advanced chip cooling

AcademicTransfer; Netherlands; On-site; EUR 34,000 - 43,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Fully funded 4-year PhD

Excellent facilities and international

Dutch CAO salary alignment and solidp

Pension scheme

Job summary

University of Twente offers a fully funded 4-year PhD position focusing on ultra-efficient cooling technologies for advanced semiconductor packaging. The project integrates materials science, additive manufacturing, thermal engineering and semiconductor integration to enable direct bonding between silicon and high-conductivity metals.

The research includes design of interlayer alloys, LPBF process optimization, and thermal transport studies, with access to SEM, EBSD, XRD, and thermo‑mechanical

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or Materials Science and Engineering or another relevant field.
• Strong interest in additive manufacturing, materials development, and thermal management.
• Experience with materials characterization techniques (SEM/EBSD/XRD) and mechanical testing is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Design interlayer alloy feedstocks for thermal management applications.
• Develop multi-material LPBF processes for semiconductor packaging.
• Investigate interfacial physics, residual stress, and thermal transport across Cu–Si interfaces.
• Fabricate and validate package-level cooling demonstrators for chip cooling applications.
• Collaborate with international researchers and industrial partners in semiconductor packaging.

Skills

Additive manufacturing

Thermal management

Materials development

Analytical skills

English proficiency

Education

Master’s in Mechanical Engineering

Master’s in Materials Science & Eng

Tools

SEM

EBSD

XRD

Laser Powder Bed Fusion

Job description

Organisation/Company University of Twente (UT) Research Field Engineering ’Materials engineering’ Engineering ’Mechanical engineering’ Engineering ’Thermal engineering’ Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Application Deadline 31 Oct 2026 - 22:59 (UTC) Country Netherlands Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Not Applicable Hours Per Week 40.0 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

We offer a fully funded 4-year PhD position within the University of Twente on the development of ultra-efficient cooling technologies for advanced semiconductor packaging. The project, UltraCool, combines materials science, additive manufacturing, thermal engineering, and semiconductor integration to enable direct bonding between silicon and high-conductivity metals such as copper.

The rapid growth of AI and high-performance computing is driving heat fluxes in advanced chip packages beyond 1,000 W/cm², making thermal management one of the key bottlenecks for future electronics. This PhD project aims to address this challenge through the design of novel interlayer alloys, development of multi-material Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF) processes, and integration of cooling functionality directly into package-level demonstrators.

The research will focus on the thermodynamic design of interlayer alloy feedstocks, powder production and characterization, multi-material LPBF process optimization, and the investigation of interfacial physics governing residual stress, defect formation, and thermal transport across copper–silicon interfaces. You will work with characterization methods including SEM, EBSD, XRD, thermal conductivity analysis, and thermo‑mechanical testing. The project also includes the fabrication and validation of package‑level cooling demonstrators for direct and indirect chip cooling applications.

You will work in a highly interdisciplinary and international environment together with academic researchers and industrial partners active in semiconductor packaging, powder production, sensing technologies, and thermal management. The project offers excellent opportunities to contribute to high-impact scientific research while developing technologies with strong industrial relevance.

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

• A Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or Materials Science and Engineering or another relevant engineering/science discipline.
• Strong interest in additive manufacturing, materials development, thermal management, and semiconductor packaging.
• Experience with materials characterization techniques such as SEM, EBSD, XRD, thermal characterization methods, and mechanical testing is highly desirable.
• Familiarity with additive manufacturing processes, particularly Laser Powder Bed Fusion, is an advantage.
• Knowledge of metallurgy or computational materials engineering 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.

Additional Information

• 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)
• Gross monthly salary of € 3.059,- in the first year, which increases to € 3.881,- in the fourth year
• 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.

For more information about this position, you are welcome to contact Dr. Davoud Jafari at [e-mail]. The first (online) job interviews will take place on July 10. Screening is part of the selection procedure.