PhD 4D-printed magnetic materials for fast, wireless, remote-controlled shape-morphing devices

PhD 4D-printed Magnetic Materials for Fast, Wireless, Remote-Controlled Shape-Morphing Devices

Job Description

You will design, manufacture, test, and validate two smart material systems/demonstrators: (i) a catheter for invasive surgery with shape and property morphing, and (ii) an assistive tool to navigate and guide visually impaired people. Your responsibilities will include the systematic selection of smart materials tailored to specific applications, designing, manufacturing, assembling, and architecting smart material systems resulting in two functional demonstrators, and rigorous performance evaluation under various conditions, including static and dynamic characterization.

You will select appropriate materials for the intended applications and fabricate smart material systems with magnetic shape memory materials as active components using 3D printing. You will study the effect of parameters related to both the magnetic material and the printing process on the shape-morphing behaviour to obtain the optimum combination of material and manufacturing process. The results of these tests will be used to draw up a set of design guidelines for designers.

The level of technological readiness of these smart materials is still low, making their integration in a smart material system with various segments a challenging design assignment. This requires elaborative testing and characterisation, including the development of testing procedures. The ultimate goal is to prototype demonstrators that are responsive in a magnetic field, with fast response and remote control. These prototypes will demonstrate how appropriate integration of smart components in the structure enhances operational functionality, taking into account a complex series of boundary conditions such as base functionality, reliability, processability, and user experience.

For this project, the PhD candidate will spend 6 months at Sophion (Denmark), 4 months at Technical University Denmark (Denmark), and 3 months at Excillum (Sweden).

Job Requirements

• Your profile should align with the general requirements and eligibility criteria of the X-CELERATE project.
• You have a master’s degree in industrial design engineering, material science, mechanical engineering or a related field (or will have by the time of your appointment).
• Background in materials design, experimenting, and 3D printing is appreciated.
• You are proficient in at least one programming language (or willing to acquire this skill during the PhD).

TU Delft (Delft University of Technology)

Delft University of Technology is a top international university combining science, engineering, and design. It delivers world-class results in education, research, and innovation to address challenges in the areas of energy, climate, mobility, health, and digital society. For generations, our engineers have proven to be entrepreneurial problem-solvers, both in business and in a social context. Together, we imagine, invent, and create solutions using technology to have a positive impact on a global scale.

Faculty Industrial Design Engineering

Matching the evolution of people with the speed of the revolution of technology, the Faculty of Industrial Design Engineering (IDE) acts as a bridge between advances in technology and the needs of people, organisations, and society to create products, services, and systems with purpose. IDE is a leader in design research across the application areas of mobility, sustainability, and health, as well as in the development of design tools and methods. A 350-strong research team and over 2,000 students work together in our inspiring hall, labs, and studios. In close cooperation with industry, the public sector, and NGOs, we rehearse possible futures in research and education to design for a complex future.

Conditions of Employment

• Doctoral candidates will be offered a 4-year period of employment in principle, 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 performance requirements are met.
• Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, increasing from Promovendus gross per month, from the first year to the fourth year based on a fulltime contract (38 hours), plus 8% holiday allowance and an end-of-year bonus of 8.3%.
• Doctoral candidates are offered a competitive remuneration based on the MSCA allowances and the regulations of the host institution. The gross monthly amount at TUD will be 3,059€.
• Funding is available for technical and personal skills training and participation in international research events.
• As a PhD candidate you will be enrolled in the TU Delft Graduate School, which 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 a monthly work costs contribution. Flexible work schedules can be arranged.

Eligibility Rules

• At the date of the recruitment, you are not already 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 can be of any nationality, but researchers must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the host country for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before their 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.

Additional Information

For more information about this vacancy, please contact: Dr. Sepideh Ghodrat, Email: S.Ghodrat@tudelft.nl