Postdoctoral Fellow in Welding Process–Performance Relationships for Recycled Aluminium Alloys

Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet (NTNU); Trondheim; On-site; NOK 570,000 - 697,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Mentor programme

Free Norwegian language training

Strong international collaboration

Open and inclusive working environment

Job summary

NTNU in Trondheim invites applications for a 3-year Postdoctoral Fellow position focused on process–performance correlation for welding of recycled aluminium. You will join the SFI FAST initiative and collaborate with NTNU, SINTEF and industry partners, reporting to the department leadership.

The role emphasizes experimental welding, materials characterization, and advanced data-driven analysis to support reliable, high-value aluminium structures.

Qualifications

• PhD in Mechanical Engineering or closely related field.
• Documented track record in welding process research (fusion and solid-state).
• Publication record in Q1 journals and English proficiency.
• Experience with hands-on experimental welding and testing.
• Ability to develop proposals (national/international) with industry partners.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement welding process parameters for arc and solid-state welding.
• Create in-situ monitoring to detect and mitigate welding defects.
• Characterize microstructure and mechanical performance of aluminum parts.
• Establish process–performance correlations using real-time data.
• Develop nationally and EU proposals with industry collaboration.
• Coordinate PhD and MSc projects and disseminate results in journals.

Skills

Welding process research

Fatigue testing

Fracture behavior

Welding metallurgy

Hands-on welding

Robotic welding

Data analysis

Publications

English proficiency

Education

PhD in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

Robotic welding equipment

Testing rigs

Job description

About The Position

The Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering (MTP) at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) has a vacancy for a postdoctoral candidate within process–performance correlation for welding of recycled Aluminium, funded through the Centre for Research-based Innovation SFI FAST Future Aluminium Structures.

The position is a 3-year Postdoctoral research fellowship starting in 2027. The postdoctoral candidate will be embedded in the welding and structural integrity research activities of SFI FAST and will work closely with NTNU, SINTEF, and leading international industrial partners in the aluminium value chain.

Your immediate leader will be the Head of Department.

About SFI FAST - Future Aluminium Structures

SFI FAST (Future Aluminium Structures) is a national Centre for Research-based Innovation (SFI) funded by the Research Council of Norway and the aluminum industry.

The centre is led by NTNU in close collaboration with SINTEF and a broad consortium of 16 leading industrial partners across the aluminium value chain.

FAST runs from 2026 to 2033 and represents one of Norway’s most ambitious long‑term research initiatives within aluminium materials, manufacturing technologies, and circular economy.

The primary objective of FAST is to establish the scientific and technological knowledge base required to enable the large-scale use of postconsumer scrap (PCS) Aluminium in high-value, structural, and safety‑critical products. FAST adopts a through‑scale and through‑process research methodology, integrating materials science, manufacturing processes, product and structural design, and lifecycle performance.

A key outcome of FAST is the development of the FAST Virtual Lab, a digital framework combining experimental data, physics‑based models, and data‑driven methods to support design, manufacturing, and decision‑making across Aluminium value chains.

Education and competence building are central pillars of FAST. The centre will educate more than 18 PhD and postdoctoral researchers and over 100 MSc students, strengthening Norway’s international position in Aluminium research and innovation. The two positions posted here will be among the first ones to start in the centre.

Please see the centre’s website: Future Aluminium Structures (FAST) - NTNU

Duties of the position

• Process Parameter Development: Development and implementation of optimal arc and solid‑state welding characteristics
• Monitoring & Control: Developing an in‑situ monitoring and control system to detect, characterize, and correct/mitigate defects during welding
• Characterization: Evaluating the microstructure and mechanical performance of fabricated aluminum components
• Process–performance correlation and data‑assisted analysis: Establishing experimentally grounded relationships between real‑time process monitoring data, microstructure, and mechanical performance to support process optimization and reliability assessment.
• Proposal development: Development of nationally (NFR) and internationally (EU) funded proposals, particularly with close collaboration with industry.
• Collaboration of PhD and M.Sc. projects: You will have a central role in connecting WP4 and WP5 in SFI FAST, where two PhD students will work on Welding Process Development and Fatigue Performance and Enhancement
• Dissemination: Presentation of research outcomes in the SFI FAST Center and publishing the project outcomes in high‑quality journals
• Contribute to project meetings, workshops, seminars etc.

You will report to Prof. Hosseini and Assoc. Professor Nima Razavi.

Required Selection Criteria

• You must have completed a doctoral degree in Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science and Engineering, Production Technology, Welding Engineering or related topics.
• Documented track record in welding process research, including fusion and solid‑state welding
• If you are in the final phase of your doctorate and can document that the thesis has been submitted or that the defense date has been confirmed, your application can be considered even if you have not defended. NOTE: Documentation of the obtained doctorate must be presented before you can take up the position.
• Documented track record in material testing with particular focus on testing fatigue and fracture behavior of welded or AM structures
• Documented track record in welding metallurgy and materials characterization
• Experience with hands‑on experimental welding, robot programming, and testing work
• Excellent English language skills, oral and written
• Good track record of publications in Q1 journals

Preferred Selection Criteria

• Documented track record in processing of Aluminium alloys
• Basic knowledge of robotic welding
• Knowledge in the development of weld monitoring systems
• Background in modelling (like thermal, thermodynamic, machine learning)
• Industrial experience, particularly in the Nordic region
• Good language skills in Norwegian or one of the Nordic languages
• Experience of writing national and EU proposals

Personal characteristics

• Work independently
• Work structured, set goals and make plans to achieve them
• Engage and contribute constructively with feedback
• Work constructively under pressure or in the face of adversity
• Show curiosity and a strong motivation for the subject
• Analyze data, assess different perspectives and draw well‑founded conclusions
• Be flexible and open to adjusting the plan for the project as needed.
• Enjoy interdisciplinary research and take keen interest in working in project teams

Emphasis will be placed on personal qualities.

We offer

• An exciting job with an important social mission
• Developing tasks in a strong and international professional environment
• Career guidance throughout the postdoctoral program and together with you we will prepare a career plan, which contains the skills and knowledge you will acquire
• Open and inclusive working environment with committed colleagues
• Mentor programme as a new employee at NTNU
• Favorable terms in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund
• Free Norwegian language training at a basic level (A2)

As a Postdoctoral Fellow at NTNU, you will have access to employee benefits.

Diversity

Diversity is a strength, and at NTNU we aim to be an employer that reflects the diversity in society and that makes use of the potential of the population's collective skills. Our vision is Knowledge for a better world and our values are creative, critical, constructive and respectful. We believe that an organization that is equal, diverse and gender‑balanced is essential for us to achieve our goals.

We strive to attract employees with different skills, life experiences and perspectives to contribute to even better problem solving of our societal mission in research and education.

If you think this position is relevant and interesting, we encourage you to apply, regardless of gender, functional ability and cultural background, or whether you have been out of work for a period of time.

At NTNU we want to increase the proportion of women in scientific positions. We have a number of measures to promote equality.

Salary and conditions

As a Postdoctoral Fellow (code 1352) you are normally paid from gross NOK 633 400,- per annum before tax, depending on qualifications and seniority. From the salary, 2% is deducted as a contribution to the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund.

The period of employment is 3 years.

The position is conditional on external funding.

As an employee at NTNU, it is important to keep yourself up to date with academic and organizational changes and to adapt to them.

For the necessary professional and social interaction, it is a prerequisite that you are physically present and available to the institution on a daily basis.

The appointment is carried out in accordance with the principles of the State Employees Act, and Export control (legislation that regulates the export of knowledge, technology and services). Candidates who, after assessment of the application and attachments, are considered to be in conflict with the criteria in the latter act, will not be able to be employed

Application deadline: 02.11.2026

For practical information about working at NTNU, please visit this webpage.

The city of Trondheim is a modern European city with a rich cultural scene. Trondheim is the tech capital of Norway with a population of 200,000.The Norwegian welfare state, including healthcare, schools, kindergartens and overall equality, is probably the best of its kind in the world. Professional subsidized day‑care for children is easily available. Furthermore, Trondheim offers great opportunities for education (including international schools) and possibilities to enjoy nature, culture and family life and has low crime rates and clean air quality.

NTNU

The Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) creates knowledge for a better world and solutions that can change everyday life.

Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering

We educate graduates who can create new products, operate and maintain products, and manage projects. The Department has a variety of bachelor’s and master’s degree programmes. We conduct wide-ranging research in fields such as technology, energy, product quality and development, and productivity. The Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering is one of eight departments in the Faculty of Engineering.