Ph.D. Position in Smart Meta Membranes to fight against (bio)fouling at TU Delft, Netherlands 2022

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Qualification Details

To be considered for this position you need to have:

• A master's (or equivalent) degree in a relevant "engineering" or "natural sciences" field, i.e. Mechanical Engineering, Chemical engineering, Mechatronics, Materials engineering, Applied physics, or a related discipline
• Advanced knowledge in a filed that strongly relates to the project, e.g., mechanical metamaterials, smart material transducers, electractive polymer actuators, multiscale manufacturing processes, membrane based separation technologies, etc.
• Demonstrated ability in written and spoken Nederlands
• Good organisation skills and ability to work independently and in a team

Having the following is a plus: The knowledge of:

• Microfluidic chip design, fabrication and experiments
• Additive and subtractive manufacturing processes in small scale
• Custom experimental set-up design and manufacturing
• Finite element and/or analytical modelling of mechanisms

Doing a PhD at TU Delft requires English proficiency at a certain level to ensure that the candidate is able to communicate and interact well, participate in English-taught Doctoral Education courses, and write scientific articles and a final thesis. For more details please check the Graduate Schools Admission Requirements.

Responsibilities/Job Description

Currently fouling is the major obstacle that hinders the long-term operation and wide-spread utilisation of membranes in various applications. A promising solution to fouling is introduction of stimuli-responsive membranes, whose pore sizes and/or surface properties can be altered via external stimuli. While first stimuli-responsive membranes have been proposed and demonstrated in the literature, their means to control the gating state are infeasible for countering fouling in an economically and ecologically feasible way. In this PhD project you will develop a novel type of smart membrane that counteracts fouling via mechanical and electromechanical agitation. You will: (1) study the state-of-the-art of the (gating) membranes and mechanical metamaterials to understand their underlying working mechanisms; (2) design and model novel separation membranes that incorporate mechanical metamaterial structures and smart material actuators (Smart Meta Membranes) in order to attain mechanical and/or electrical control over their pore size/shape and thus permeability; and (3) manufacture prototypes of these membrane designs and experimentally validate their functioning. You will work under the supervision of dr. Hanieh Bazyar and dr. Andres Hunt in a joint project between the departments of Process and Energy (P&E) and Precision Microsystems Engineering (PME), at the faculty of Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering (3mE). This position will be embedded in the Engineering Thermodynamic section of the P&E department (ETh/3mE). This research will be enabled and supported by the facilities of both departments: the state-of-the-art membrane research facilities of the PE department and the well-equipped multi-scale manufacturing facilities of the PME department.

How to Apply?

Application Method: Online Application
Ref. No.: TUD02120

Application Procedure

Are you interested in this vacancy? Please apply by 31 May 2022 via the application button and upload your:

(1) motivation letter; (2) CV; (3) abstract of your MSc (or equivalent degree) thesis in English; (4) copy of the MSc (or equivalent degree) diploma and its academic supplement (i.e. list of grades); (5) names and contact details of 3 references. These documents must be combined into a single pdf file not exceeding 5Mb. The selection procedure starts immediately with the announcement, and the position will be filled as soon as a well-matching candidate is found. Therefore, decision on hiring can be made before the vacancy posting expires.

A pre-employment screening can be part of the selection procedure.

You can apply online. We will not process applications sent by email and/or post.

Acquisition in response to this vacancy is not appreciated.

About the Department/Section/Group

Faculty Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering

The Faculty of 3mE carries out pioneering research, leading to new fundamental insights and challenging applications in the field of mechanical engineering. From large-scale energy storage, medical instruments, control technology and robotics to smart materials, nanoscale structures and autonomous ships. The foundations and results of this research are reflected in outstanding, contemporary education, inspiring students and PhD candidates to become socially engaged and responsible engineers and scientists. The faculty of 3mE is a dynamic and innovative faculty with an international scope and high-tech lab facilities. Research and education focus on the design, manufacture, application and modification of products, materials, processes and mechanical devices, contributing to the development and growth of a sustainable society, as well as prosperity and welfare.

Click here to go to the website of the Faculty of Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering. Do you want to experience working at our faculty? This video will introduce you to some of our researchers and their work.

About the Employer:

Note or Other details

Doctoral candidates will be offered a 4-year period of employment in principle, but in the form of 2 employment contracts. An initial 1,5 year contract with an official go/no go progress assessment within 15 months. Followed by an additional contract for the remaining 2,5 years assuming everything goes well and performance requirements are met.

Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, increasing from € 2443 per month in the first year to € 3122 in the fourth year. As a PhD candidate you will be enrolled in the TU Delft Graduate School. The TU Delft Graduate School provides an inspiring research environment with an excellent team of supervisors, academic staff and a mentor. The Doctoral Education Programme is aimed at developing your transferable, discipline-related and research skills.

The TU Delft offers a customisable compensation package, discounts on health insurance and sport memberships, and a monthly work costs contribution. Flexible work schedules can be arranged. For international applicants we offer the Coming to Delft Service and Partner Career Advice to assist you with your relocation.

 

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Contact details

For more information about this vacancy and the selection procedure, please contact dr. Hanieh Bazyar ([email protected]), assistant professor at the department of P&E, or dr. Andres Hunt ([email protected]), assistant professor at the department of PME.

For information about the selection procedure, please contact Nathalie van Benthem, HR Advisor, email: [email protected].

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