Empa is the research institute for materials science and technology of the ETH Domain and conducts cutting-edge research for the benefit of industry and the well-being of society.
In our Laboratory for Advanced Materials Processing, we are currently looking for candidates for
in the fields of
- Experimental and numerical study of defect formation during metal additive manufacturing
- Multi-material laser powder-bed fusion
The first PhD project focuses on the fundamental study and numerical simulation of process-related defects in metals during laser powder bed fusion. The second focuses on the theoretical and experimental study of the interface formation (thermodynamics, kinetics) during multi-material laser powder bed fusion using a multi-powder deposition system.
We will address these tasks in a collaborative effort with partner research groups at EPF Lausanne, ETH Zurich, Paul-Scherrer-Institute (PSI) and several companies. Funding for the projects is received from the Strategic Focus Area Advanced Manufacturing of the ETH Board (the strategic management body of the Swiss Federal Institutes of Technology and four research institutes) and is granted for a period of four years. The prospective students will carry out the research in the laboratory’s facilities in Dübendorf near Zürich and Thun and will be enrolled at the doctoral school of EPF Lausanne (http://phd.epfl.ch/) under the co-supervision of Prof. Patrik Hoffmann and Dr. Christian Leinenbach.
The candidates should have a Master degree in Materials Science, Metallurgy, Mechanical Engineering or Applied Physics. A strong background in the science and technology of metallic materials, an interest in laser-based materials processing technologies as well as materials modeling and simulation (computational fluid dynamics, finite elements, computational thermodynamics) are important. Additional skills in materials characterization (OM, SEM, XRD, mechanical testing) would be a benefit.
A strong desire to work at the leading edge of materials technology and a high level of motivation to work in an international, multidisciplinary research team in the field of materials science are essential. The candidates should have a clear interest to work in an application-oriented research environment in close collaboration with our industrial and academic partners. Good knowledge of English (oral and written) is mandatory. Knowledge of German would be an advantage. The full-time positions are available immediately or upon agreement. Please note in the motivation letter which topic you would prefer.