Vacant job

Do you want to join an international team of experts to support industry in better understanding which defects in fibre-reinforced composite structures can be accepted without compromising quality or safety? We have an open position for a doctoral candidate within LEGEND – a European doctoral network developing increased understanding of, and computational tools for studying the effects of defects in composite structures.

About us

The Doctoral student position is placed at the Division of Computational Mechanics and Materials Engineering, which belongs to the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Chalmers University of Technology. We foster an inclusive, friendly, and helpful work environment to which we welcome you to contribute. Our activities integrate computational mechanics and advanced materials technology, combining multidisciplinary expertise to predict, understand, and elevate the performance of engineering materials and structures.

Within the project, you will also be connected to an international team of experts in the area of mechanics of composites through LEGEND – a Marie Skłodowska Curie Action doctoral network project. LEGEND, encompassing a collection of European research organisations and industries, will recruit 14 doctoral candidates, offering a lot of cross-over collaboration. For more information, please visit the LEGEND website: https://www.legend-msca-dn.com/.

About the research project

This project focuses on redefining how defects are assessed in composite aerospace structures – helping industry move beyond overly conservative repair or discard decisions. The Doctoral student will develop an advanced global–local modelling approach that captures how individual and interacting defects influence structural performance.

By combining high-fidelity simulations with experimental testing of lab-scale components, our research will generate new data, validate predictive models, and establish improved defect acceptance criteria. The outcome will be a practical, industry-ready methodology that enables safer, more cost-efficient decisions when dealing with defects in composite components.

The project will involve collaborations and secondments (in total 8 months during the first three years) at University of Kore (2 months) and Leonardo S.p.A. (6 months) in Italy.

Who we are looking for

The following requirements are mandatory:

• To qualify as a Doctoral student, you must have a Master's degree (120 ECTS credits) or a Master’s degree (60 ECTS credits)* in Applied Mechanics, Structural Engineering, Computational Engineering, Engineering Mathematics, Engineering Physics or similar.
• Documented experience (education/courses or thesis project with high grades) in the finite element method and the mechanics of fibre-reinforced polymers.
• Interest and high skills in programming and numerical methods.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills in English.

*For students with an education earned outside of Sweden, a 4-year Bachelor’s degree is accepted.

We also expect that you are analytical, ambitious, independent, and a strong team player that thrives through collaboration.

The following experience will strengthen your application:

• Documented knowledge (education/courses or thesis project) in computational homogenisation and/or computational micro/mesoscale modelling.

What you will do

• Develop your scientific concepts and communicate the results of your research through written scientific publications and oral presentations at international conferences.
• Collaborate with fellow doctoral candidates within the LEGEND project, utilising synergies between projects.
• Actively participate in General Assembly meetings and doctoral training events within LEGEND, distributed across Europe.
• Take courses at an advanced level within the Graduate School of Solid and Structural Mechanics.
• Develop and implement a computational framework that links small-scale material defects to large-scale structural performance, enabling accurate prediction of how defects affect strength, stiffness, and fracture behaviour.
• Teach on Chalmers' undergraduate level corresponding to 10 percent of working hours.

Contract terms

• The Doctoral student positions are fully funded from start.
• The position is a fixed-term appointment of four years, with the possibility to teach up to 10%, which extends the position up to four and a half years.
• Doctoral studies require physical presence throughout the entire study period. A valid residence permit must be presented by the study start date; otherwise the admission may be withdrawn.
• Applicants must not already be in possession of a doctoral degree. Researchers who have successfully defended their doctoral thesis but who have not yet formally been awarded the doctoral degree will not be considered eligible.
• Applicants must not have resided, worked, or studied in Sweden for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to the date of recruitment. Compulsory national service, short stays such as holidays, and time spent as part of a procedure for obtaining refugee status under the Geneva Convention are not taken into account.
• To sign the contract, the chosen candidate must fulfil the requirements at http://ec.europa.eu/research/mariecurieactions.
• The MSCA DN programme offers a highly competitive and attractive salary and working conditions. The chosen candidate will receive a salary in accordance with the MSCA regulations. The MSCA DN grant offers a monthly Living Allowance (€5,012 per month, as adapted to Sweden), Mobility Allowance (€710 per month), and Family Allowance (€495 per month, if applicable). The salary is subject to taxation and social contributions. Chalmers guarantees the starting salary of the position is minimum 35,725 SEK.

What we offer

• As a Doctoral student at Chalmers, you are an employee and enjoy all employee benefits.
• A dynamic and inspiring working environment in the coastal city of Gothenburg.
• Read more about Sweden’s generous parental leave, subsidized day care, free schools, healthcare etc at https://www.movetogothenburg.com/

Application procedure

For information about the application procedure, please refer to the advert on Chalmers' website: https://www.chalmers.se/en/about-chalmers/work-with-us/vacancies/?rmpage=job&rmjob=15011&rmlang=UK

We welcome your application no later than 31 August.

For questions, please contact:

Professor Martin Fagerström

Email: mailto:[email protected]