Doctoral student in materials engineering

Karlstad University provides broad-based, multidisciplinary programmes for students while developing strong areas of research.

Sapere Aude—dare to be wise—is our motto. Our students and employees develop knowledge and expertise that enrich both people and the world around them. Our academic environment is characterised by curiosity, courage and perseverance. Gender equality, diversity and a democratic approach form the foundation of our organisation. We are located in an active and scenic region and we promote sustainable development in close collaboration with the wider society.

The Faculty of Health, Science and Technology invites applications for a doctoral studentship in Materials Engineering at the Department of Engineering and Physics. The PhD position will be hosted at the Department of Engineering and Physics which has about 60 employees and is characterised by a friendly, inspiring and international atmosphere, with a large number of employees from all over the world. The PhD student will be included in Mechanical and Materials Engineering, which is one of four subjects at the department.

The open position hosted at Karlstad University is part of a collaborative project between Karlstad University and Uppsala University. The PhD student will have access to expertise and facilities at both universities to perform world-class research. The advertised PhD position includes work within AM4Life2.0 (2020-2029), which is a VINNOVA Competence Centre that engages experts within academia and industry with a passion for 3D-printing with the ultimate goal of developing new technologies to improve people's lives. This project focuses on metallic materials manufactured by powder bed fusion for potential use in bioprocessing and medical applications. This project is focused on 3D-printed Ti-stainless steel bimetallic structures for potential use in bioprocessing-relevant environments. Manufacturing, development of process parameters, microstructural characterization and corrosion performance tests are in the focus of this PhD study within additive manufacturing for the life sciences.

Duties

As a doctoral student, you will primarily dedicate time to your own studies. The doctoral programme, comprising 240 credits for a Degree of Doctor and 120 credits for a Degree of Licentiate, is an opportunity to study while being paid a salary in combination with work and provides a stepping stone for a career in academia. The doctoral student is expected to work independently and be prepared to contribute to the activities and development of the subject and the department. Teaching and administrative duties may also be included upon agreement, but will not constitute more than 20% of full-time. Work as a doctoral student allows for great freedom and flexibility in terms of how you structure your day. It takes commitment, discipline and a structured approach in order to successfully complete a doctoral thesis. Experienced supervisors offer guidance and support along the way. To contribute to a positive work environment and further the department's activities, we expect you to be a present and active part of the day-to-day operations and workplace community.

Qualification requirements

To be eligible for a doctoral studentship, the applicant must meet the general and specific entry requirements (Higher Education Ordinance, Chap. 7, Sect. 35).

To meet the general entry requirements, the applicant must have been awarded a second-cycle qualification, satisfied the requirements for courses comprising at least 240 credits of which at least 60 credits were awarded in the second-cycle, or acquired substantially equivalent knowledge in some other way in Sweden or abroad (Higher Education Ordinance, Chap. 7, Sect. 39).

To meet the specific entry requirements for the PhD programme in Materials Engineering, the applicant must have been awarded a Degree of Master of Science Engineering with a major in Mechanical Engineering or a Degree of Master (60 or 120 ECTS credits) in the main field of Mechanical Engineering or adjacent academic fields such as Materials Engineering/Materials Science, Physics, or Chemistry. An applicant who does not meet the specific entry requirement but has acquired equivalent knowledge in some other way may be deemed eligible following a special assessment.

Admission and assessment criteria

To be eligible for doctoral studies, the applicant must be considered to have the ability required to benefit from the programme (Higher Education Ordinance, Chap. 7, Sect. 35). Admission is based on individual assessment.

The assessment will focus on the applicant's performance in previous studies, the quality of independent projects completed during these studies, proficiency in English (language skills), and whether the applicant intends to be a present and active part of the research environment.

Special weight will be given to:

• documented knowledge and skills in scanning electron microscopy, laser powder bed fusion technology, corrosion science, and other relevant materials characterization techniques such as mechanical testing and chemical composition techniques;
• documented skills in academic writing, preparation of manuscripts and posters, and presentation skills;
• ability to plan research work, develop and perform research plans, critically assess and discuss research results;

Weight will be given to personal suitability:

• proven ability to plan and independently and successfully perform the experimental research in an international research group;
• ability to communicate inside and outside the group, show empathy, and be a team player.

The admission will be done based on the assessment of the application, quality of the work assignment(s) presented by applicants within the evaluation procedure, assessment of the comments from references, and personal/digital interview of supervisors with the applicant.

Terms

Upon admission to doctoral studies, the person will be offered the appointment of doctoral student (Higher Education Ordinance, Chap. 5, Sect. 3). The position comprises four years of full-time studies, or five years at a study rate of 80% with 20% teaching or other departmental duties. The position is fixed-term — one year initially, followed by possible extensions by a maximum of two years at a time. Start date by agreement.

The salary for the doctoral studentship corresponds to the standard level of salary for doctoral students and progresses in accordance with a local collective agreement.

Application

Submit the application via the University's web-based recruitment tool, Varbi. Applicants are responsible for submitting a complete application in accordance with the advertisement, for providing translations of any documents written in a language other than Swedish, Norwegian, Danish or English, and for ensuring that the documentation allows for objective and qualitative assessments. A complete application should be submitted by the application deadline. An incomplete application may jeopardise a fair assessment of qualifications.

The application should include:

• a cover letter where the applicant details the reasons behind their interest in the position,
• a list of qualifications (CV),
• degree certificate with a complete transcript of the courses included, or a certified list of completed courses with grades and dates,
• copy of Master's thesis or equivalent,
• where applicable, copies of publications or certificates for other qualifications,
• any letters of recommendation,
• two references, such as a teacher, supervisor, or previous or current superior.

Attach all the documents and publications you wish to be considered to the electronic application (do not just provide links). Name each uploaded document to clearly indicate its content. Documents that cannot be submitted electronically should be sent to the following address:

Karlstads universitet
HR-avdelningen
HR-administratör
651 88 KARLSTAD
Sweden

Application deadline: March 25, 2025

State the reference number: REK 2025/12

Applicants with qualifications from abroad

If you have qualifications from a university outside Sweden or if they have not been recognised by a Swedish authority before, it is important that you attach degree certificates and official transcripts to facilitate the recognition of foreign qualifications.
Provide a contact for the degree-awarding institution (phone number or email) who can verify your qualifications.

We look forward to your application

Karlstad University has chosen advertising channels for this recruitment and firmly declines any contact with advertising or recruitment agencies.

HR Excellence in Research
Karlstad University received the European Commission's HR Excellence in Research award September 2020. The award is issued to employers with a stimulating work environment and good conditions for researchers and its continuous improvement. The award also conveys the university's commitment to fair and transparent recruitment as well as favorable professional development for researchers. Read more: kau.se/hrs4r

Type of employment: Temporary position
Contract type: Full time
Number of positions: 1
Full-time equivalent: 100%
City: Karlstad
County: Värmlands län
Country: Sweden
Reference number: REK2025/12
Contact:Pavel Krakhmalev, Professor , +46701811264Mikael Grehk, Head of department, +46547002280Union representative:Thomas Bragefors, SACO, +46547001714Denita Gustavsson, OFR, +46547001434Published: 2025-02-19
Last application date: 2025-03-25
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