Vacant job

Admission to doctoral studies in Technical Physics with a specialization in Materials Science

at the Department of Applied Materials Science, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Uppsala University.

Join us!

The Faculty of Science and Engineering aims to be a hub for successful and valuable research and education focused on materials science solutions for major societal challenges.

About the Department

The Department of Applied Materials Science is part of the Faculty of Science and Engineering at the Ångström Laboratory. Researchers at the department have extensive experience in materials science, materials analysis, materials synthesis, and nanostructuring of materials. We develop materials and tailor their properties for a wide range of applications, and our research activities are primarily experimental. The research groups specialize in materials for medicine, tribology, electron microscopy, nanotechnology, and diamond optics.

The doctoral education is conducted within the Tribo-materials group, which has extensive experience in tribological testing and advanced materials analysis. As part of the group, you will work together with supervisors and other researchers to develop and adapt testing methodologies for your specific research question, as well as identify and perform suitable analyses.

Project Description

Transformers and tap-changers are facing a technological transition where new, alternative transformer oils – such as ester-based and bio-based oils – are replacing traditional mineral oils. These new oils offer many advantages but have also been shown to cause unexpected and severe wear issues in sliding electrical contacts. Despite previous studies, the mechanisms behind this wear remain unclear.

This PhD project aims to understand how temperature, oil chemistry, mechanical contact, and electric fields interact to create (or prevent) wear in sliding contacts in transformers. The project combines experimental tribology, advanced surface chemistry, electrical testing, and data-driven analysis.

The project will be carried out in close collaboration with Hitachi Energy, and parts of the work may be performed on-site in Ludvika to take advantage of the expertise and equipment available there. Hitachi Energy offers a unique research environment with access to high-voltage laboratories, where sliding contacts can be studied under controlled current and voltage in transformer oil – something few academic environments in the world can offer.

Job Responsibilities

The main task for a PhD student is to pursue their doctoral education, which includes participation in research projects and doctoral courses. The responsibilities may also include involvement in teaching and other faculty work, however, this is limited to a maximum of 20% of working time.

You will work on all aspects of the research project to generate a holistic understanding of how new, more sustainable transformer oils can be used together with current and future contact materials. You will design and perform tribological tests and analyze surfaces to understand and explain the mechanisms governing performance, driving the development of a central subsystem for electrification in today's society. You will have the opportunity to work with and develop the equipment available for tribological testing at Uppsala University, as well as the high-voltage laboratory at Hitachi Energy. You will also receive training and access to advanced analysis equipment available both at Uppsala University and through our other academic contacts.

The responsibilities include:

• Designing and conducting tribological tests of contact materials in different transformer oils
• Investigating how fluid viscosity and additive composition interact with microstructure, alloy composition, and surface finish of materials
• Investigating how conditions such as sliding speed, contact pressure, applied current, voltage, and temperature affect component performance
• Performing and evaluating results from several surface imaging and analysis techniques, such as LOM, SEM, EDS, AES, EBSD, FIB.
• Building a structured database of test results
• Developing predictive models (statistics/ML)

Qualifications

Master's degree or Civil Engineer degree in Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, Electrical Engineering, or a related field, or other education assessed to correspond to these qualifications.

Documented experience and knowledge in materials science is required.

We require good oral and written proficiency in English.

Regulations for doctoral students can be found in the Higher Education Ordinance (1993:100) Chapter 5, Sections 1-7, as well as in the university's rules and guidelines.

Desirable/Additional Merits

Since the project covers many aspects and has a multidisciplinary character, experience from work across disciplinary boundaries is desirable. We are looking for a candidate who has a good foundation in relevant subjects and is not afraid to broaden their scope further.

Documented experience in one or more of the following areas is considered a merit:

• Tribology, surface chemistry, or lubricants
• Materials analysis

To a lesser extent, documented experience in the following areas will also be considered meritorious:

• High-voltage systems
• COMSOL or multiphysics simulation
• Data analysis or machine learning
• Experimental work

About the Employment

Apply for the position and read the full advertisement on uu.se

Open to all
We focus on your competence, not your other prerequisites. We are open to adapting the role or workplace to your needs.