PhD position: ML based implementation of constitutive behaviour of Stainless steel (1.0 FTE) (V25.0405)

PhD position: ML based implementation of constitutive behavior of stainless steel
Metal forming is a widely used method to form steel products efficiently in mass manufacturing. As steel is highly recyclable its usage helps in creating a more sustainable world. For simulations of industrial processes concerning such complex materials one must typically rely on continuum models combined with the finite element method. Constitutive relations are required to describe material behavior. Advanced stainless steel typically possess complex microstructures across various length scales and different phases which leads to nonlinear time and history dependent material behavior.
Additionally, innovative changes are happening in the steel production process, especially in the drive toward green steel. To ensure that the steel produced by new processes is viable for industrial applications, it is crucial that these properties can be predicted with high precision.

Position description:
This PhD project will develop model- and data-driven hybrid machine learning material models that capture the complex, nonlinear, path- and history-dependent behaviour of materials. The goal is to create material models based on advanced ML methods, and to seamlessly integrate these models into Finite Element Modelling (FEM) to replace expensive and time-consuming experimental procedures, thereby enhancing both time and cost efficiency in production pipelines.

Organization
Since its foundation in 1614, the University of Groningen has enjoyed an international reputation as a dynamic and innovative center of higher education offering high-quality teaching and research. Balanced study and career paths in a wide variety of disciplines encourage currently more than 34,000 students and researchers alike to develop their own individual talents. Belonging to the best research universities in Europe and the top 100 universities in the world (see our ranking:
http://www.rug.nl/about-us/where-do-we-stand/rankings), the University of Groningen is truly an international place of knowledge.

Within the Faculty of Science and Engineering (FSE), the Engineering and Technology institute Groningen (ENTEG) is an engineering science and technology institute that has the capability to analyze, explore and design new technologies that are based on the integration of fundamental and engineering sciences. A PhD position is available in the Advanced Production Engineering (APE) research group that deals with the development, optimization and implementation of advanced production technologies and manufacture processes with emphasis on mechanical and materials engineering. For more information about the APE group please use the following link: www.rug.nl/research/ape. The project cooperates with the Bernoulli Institute of Mathematics, Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence. The environment fosters truly interdisciplinary research with a great track record of national and international collaboration transferring knowledge across domains. The research unit Intelligent Systems (IS) in Computer Science is focused on the development of Data Science, Pattern Recognition and Machine Learning algorithms for interdisciplinary data analysis. For more information about the Intelligent Systems group please use the following link: http://www.cs.rug.nl/is

We welcome applicants who have:

• a master’s degree in mechanical engineering, materials science, computer science, applied mathematics or a related field
• a strong background in machine learning, material modeling, and metals processing, modeling and simulation (This will be a clear advantage for this position)
• Experience with programming languages (e.g., Python, MATLAB) and simulation software
• Excellent academic
• a dynamic, creative and pioneering professional attitude with a willingness to work in a strongly interdisciplinary team and learn the cross-disciplinary foundations
• and strong communication skills (fluent in English, both oral and written)

The detailed qualification of English skills is referred as the following:

• An overall score of 6.5 or higher in the International English Language Testing System (IELTS, academic version); or
• A score of at least 237 on the computer-based form of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL); or
• A score of at least 92 on the internet-based test of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).

We offer, following the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities:

• A full-time position (1.0 FTE) of four years.
• A salary of € 2,901 gross per month in the first year, up to a maximum of € 3,707 gross per month in the fourth year for a full-time working week.
• A holiday allowance of 8% gross annual income and an 8.3% year-end bonus.

The successful candidate will first be offered a temporary position of one year with the option of renewal for another three years. Prolongation of the contract is contingent on sufficient progress in the first year to indicate that a successful completion of the PhD thesis within the next three years is to be expected. A PhD training programme is part of the agreement and the successful candidate will be enrolled in the Graduate School of Science and Engineering.

The preferred starting date is 1 Jan 2026.

Applications, including a letter of motivation, a curriculum vitae including the contact information of at least two academic references, transcripts from your Bachelor’s and Master’s degree, and a list of publications, must be submitted by means of the application form (click on "Apply" below on the advertisement on the university's website).

You may apply for this position until 14 September 11:59pm / before 15 September 2025 Dutch local time (CEST) by means of the application form (click on "Apply" below on the advertisement on the university website).

The University of Groningen strives to be a university in which students and staff are respected and feel at home, regardless of differences in background, experiences, perspectives, and identities. We believe that working on our core values of inclusion and equality are a joint responsibility and we are constructively working on creating a socially safe environment. Diversity among students and staff members enriches academic debate and contributes to the quality of our teaching and research. We therefore invite applicants from underrepresented groups in particular to apply. For more information, see also our diversity policy webpage: https://www.rug.nl/about-ug/policy-and-strategy/diversity-and-inclusion/

Our selection procedure follows the guidelines of the Recruitment code (NVP): https://www.nvp-hrnetwerk.nl/nl/sollicitatiecode and European Commission's European Code of Conduct for recruitment of researchers: https://euraxess.ec.europa.eu/jobs/charter/code

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