PhD Position Metallurgical Model of Scrap Metal Streams

The PhD will develop AI methods and approaches to enable accurate characterization of metal scrap, for more efficient metal recovery and recycling.

Job Description

The volume of available metal scrap is steadily increasing, driven by rising end-of-life products, recycling opportunities, and growing industrial turnover. As this secondary resource becomes more abundant and diverse, it presents both a challenge and a strategic opportunity for circular metallurgy. Efficient and advanced recycling of scrap is critical to meet the growing demand for metals in a resource-constrained world and reduce their environmental footprint. In this context, the optimization of material recovery from end-of-life vehicle scrap is challenged not only by the heterogeneous and evolving nature of this scrap, but also by the diverse operational constraints and economic motivations across the value chain.

To address these challenges, the project will develop multi-modal artificial intelligence methods to characterize metal scrap composition with unprecedented detail, enabling dynamic, data-driven insight into the recoverable value of materials. Agentic AI systems will be designed to autonomously explore and propose optimal dismantling, sorting, and processing routes tailored to specific scrap streams. These intelligent agents will integrate scrap data and industry constraints to recommend strategies that maximize resource recovery and economic return. Together, these AI-driven tools will serve as a foundation for decision-making platforms that guide industry stakeholders toward more efficient, profitable, and sustainable recycling practices across the circular steel ecosystem.

This PhD position is part of the Groeien met Groen Staal program from the Dutch national growth fund. The Groeien met Groen Staal program is the enabler of a revolution in green steel production at national and international arenas. It will develop solutions to overcome technical, economic and societal bottlenecks towards the following overarching goals:

• Making Dutch steel sector a leader in sustainable steel
• Quadrupling of scrap sorting activities
• Tripling of steel reuse and remanufacturing activities
• Reducing dependence on foreign steel/iron ore through scrap recycling
• Reducing industry CO2 emissions by 30% and reduce other emissions (including nitrogen oxides and particulate matter) by 50%

The project contributes to reaching this overarching objective by enabling increased cost/energy efficiency in recycling/recovery of metals from scrap, scrap value, recycled scrap amounts, and amounts of recovered critical elements.

This PhD position is also part of the interdisciplinary Climate Safety & Security centre (CaSS) at TU Delft | Campus The Hague. This centre runs an ambitious and comprehensive programme that considers climate change and stability in an integrated manner, with focus on human security, security of supply of fundamental needs (water, food) and essential resources (energy, critical materials). The PhD will contribute to the flagship materials security within CaSS. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to collaborate with researchers from across TU Delft, as well as policy makers from (inter)national governments and organisations in The Hague and beyond.

Job Requirements

We are looking for a highly motivated and self-driven candidate to conduct a research project.

• MSc in materials science engineering. Backgrounds in chemistry, physics, computer science or a related area are also welcome.
• Good expertise or strong interest in numerical modeling, machine learning, scientific programming.
• Good communication skills in English, proficiency in report/paper writing and technical presentations.
• A good team player, and willing to cooperate with partners and stakeholders (including other scientists and industry partners) relevant to the project.
• Experience in metal recycling and recovery, and/or applying artificial intelligence methods for materials characterization is an added value.

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 PhD thesis.

About TU Delft

TU Delft (Delft University of Technology)

Delft University of Technology is built on strong foundations. As creators of the world-famous Dutch waterworks and pioneers in biotech, TU Delft 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.

Faculty Mechanical Engineering

From chip to ship. From machine to human being. From idea to solution. Driven by a deep-rooted desire to understand our environment and discover its underlying mechanisms, research and education at the ME faculty focuses on fundamental understanding, design, production including application and product improvement, materials, processes and (mechanical) systems.

ME is a dynamic and innovative faculty with high-tech lab facilities and international reach. It’s a large faculty but also versatile, so we can often make unique connections by combining different disciplines. This is reflected in ME’s outstanding, state-of-the-art education, which trains students to become responsible and socially engaged engineers and scientists. We translate our knowledge and insights into solutions to societal issues, contributing to a sustainable society and to the development of prosperity and well-being. That is what unites us in pioneering research, inspiring education and (inter)national cooperation.

Conditions of Employment

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 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%.

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. Teaching activities are part of your PhD trajectory and may include, for example: supervising workgroups or lab sessions, assisting in courses, or mentoring BSc and MSc students. While teaching will not be your main responsibility, it offers valuable experience that supports your development and prepares you for future academic or professional roles.

The TU Delft offers a customisable compensation package, discounts on health insurance, and a monthly work costs contribution. Flexible work schedules can be arranged.

The PhD-candidate will generally work at TU Delft main campus (with smart working options available as per TU Delft policies). The PhD-candidate will work one day a week at TU Delft | The Hague Campus (current location Bezuidenhoutseweg 63, Den Haag), together with the other CaSS researchers.

Additional Information

If you would like more information about this vacancy or the selection procedure, please contact Dr. Kevin Rossi, Assistant Professor, Department of Materials Science and Engineering.
Email: K.r.rossi@tudelft.nl.