KTH in Stockholm is the largest and oldest technical university in Sweden. No less than one-third of Sweden’s technical research and engineering education capacity at university level is provided by KTH. Education and research spans from natural sciences to all branches of engineering and includes architecture, industrial management and urban planning. There are a total of just over 15,000 first and second level students and more than 1,600 doctoral students. KTH has almost 4,300 employees.

The School of Engineering Sciences carries out a wide range of research at the international front line, from fundamental disciplines such as physics and mathematics, to engineering mechanics with applications such as aeronautics and vehicle engineering. We also offer University degree programs in Engineering Physics, Vehicle Engineering, 'Engineering and Education', and 'Open Entrance', as well as a number of International Masters Programs.

For more information about the School of Engineering Sciences please visit
www.kth.se/sci?l=en_UK

School of Engineering Sciences (SCI) and the Department of Solid Mechanics at KTH offers a PhD position in Solid Mechanics with specialization in micromechanics.

Description

This is a part of a large European project which unites leading research organization across several countries and paper/board-making companies to find means of improving competitiveness in the current state of the market with increasing raw material and energy prices.

The main aspect in focus is improving runnability (decreasing amount of web breaks) and finding means of decreasing the use of raw materials during paper production. The innovativeness of the undertaken approach is a combination of newly developed measurement techniques on the fiber level, advanced pulp-processing technology and detailed multiscale simulations.

Furthermore, instead of focusing exclusively on the mean values of paper properties such as strength or strain to break, the project will consider variation of these properties and how it is affected by the process parameters.

You will be responsible for modeling paper on the fiber network scale. We will develop and use an efficient particle-level simulation tool for modeling the fracture process in large paper samples. We will utilize the finite-element technique in the numerical analysis with input data from various experimental characterization tools.

Qualifications

Applicants should have a strong background in solid mechanics with an interest in material science corresponding to a master level. Documented interest in research activities demonstrated in the form of excellent master thesis work will be accounted for.

Applicants must be strongly motivated for doctoral studies, have the ability to work both independently and in a team-based environment. Applicants should also have good level of cooperative and communicative abilities. The candidates should also possess skills in programming, computational methods and statistics, which should be documented or described per application.

To address its varied work, KTH aims to employ a diversity of talent and thus welcomes applicants who will add to the variety of the University, especially as concerns its gender structure.

Employment

This is a five-year, time-limited position and normally includes 20 % departmental duties, usually teaching. The salary follows the guidelines provided by KTH.

Employment form: Time-limited position

Scope: Full-time
Salary: Salary follows the guidelines provided by KTH.
Start date: according to the agreement.
Time-limited to: This is a five-year, time-limited position and normally includes 20 % departmental duties, usually teaching.
Number of places: 1

Application

The application should contain a letter in which the applicant describes himself/herself and his/her qualifications and interests. In addition, a curriculum vitae (CV) and copies of relevant grades should be enclosed. Students that are close to finishing a master level education are also welcome to apply.

Application deadline: March 4, 2012
Employers reference number: S-2011-0953
Applications via email to: evalb@kth.se

Write reference number in the email subject line. (CV, etc. should be sent as attachments, preferably as pdf-files.)

Alternatively applications can be sent by ordinary mail to:

KTH, Solid Mechanics
att. Eva Lundmark Berg
SE-100 44 Stockholm
Sweden

Contacts

Artem Kulachenko, Assistant Professor
Phone: +46 8 790 89 44
artem@kth.se

Sören Östlund, Professor and Head of the Department of Solid Mechanics
Phone: +46 8 790 75 42
soren@kth.se

Union representative

Lars Abrahamsson, SACO
Phone: +46 8 790 70 58
lars.abrahamsson@ee.kth.se