Postdoc in the field of Materials Science and Engineering

Work assignments 

As a postdoctoral researcher, your primary responsibility will be to conduct research. A limited amount of teaching may also be included in your duties, up to a maximum of 20% of your working hours. We are seeking a postdoctoral fellow to contribute to several of our ongoing research projects within the field of polymer composite materials.

Examples of current research activities include experimental testing and material characterization of composite materials intended for hydrogen storage tanks. This position is linked to the M-ERA.NET project “In-situ structural health monitoring of functional composite structures by truly integrated carbon nanomaterial-based sensors” (ISIMON), in which we aim to investigate various methods for structural health monitoring in composite hydrogen tanks.

Due to pressure and temperature changes during fuelling of composite hydrogen tanks, microcracks between the fibres can be created, which then causes gas leakage. This type of composite damage (microcracks) has a significant impact on the strength of the composite tank, leading to safety issues. Therefore, smart online monitoring and structural damage detection of the composite tanks is highly important. Various non-destructive techniques have been developed to detect such damage and monitor the condition of composite tanks. More recently, functional polymeric composite materials have opened new possibilities for high-performance composites with enhanced multifunctionality for structural health monitoring. Within this project, we will evaluate and validate some of these emerging methods developed by other ISIMON project partners.

The position will include both laboratory and theoretical parts. Examples of possible tasks are composite manufacturing, testing and characterization of mechanical properties, damage investigation.

Qualifications

To be qualified to take employment as postdoc, you must have been awarded a doctoral degree or have a foreign degree that is deemed to be equivalent to a doctoral degree.  This degree must have been awarded at the latest by the point at which LiU makes its decision to employ you. It is considered advantageous if your doctoral degree is no older than three years at application deadline for this job. If there are special reasons for having an older doctoral degree – such as taking statutory leave – then these may be taken into consideration.

We are seeking applicants who have a doctoral degree in composite materials, materials science and engineering or similar disciplines.

The applicant should have knowledge and experience in characterization of mechanical properties and damage in polymer composites with destructive and non-destructive test methods. It is a merit if the applicant has documented experience of composite manufacturing, Composite tanks, Multifunctional materials, Mechanical testing. Furthermore, it is a merit if the research has been published in scientific journals and at high-quality conferences. Requirements for employment are excellent ability to communicate in spoken and written English.

The workplace

You will be employed in the department of management and engineering at the Division of Engineering Materials. The Division of Engineering Materials conducts research focusing on the relationship between microstructure and mechanical properties of engineering materials. The division possesses a well-equipped mechanical testing laboratory and several instruments for microstructural investigation.

The employment

This post is a temporary contract of two years with the possibility of extension up to a total maximum of three years. The position as a postdoc is full-time.

Starting date
As soon as possible or by agreement

Salary and employment benefits

The university applies individual salaries.

More information about employee benefits is available here.

Union representatives

Information about union representatives, see Help for applicants.

Application procedure

Apply for the position by clicking the “Apply” button. Your application must be received no later than 30^th of May 2025. 
 
Applications and documents received after the date above will not be considered. 
 
Please attach your selected research publications electronically, in pdf or word format, in the application template. Research publications, e.g. monographs, which cannot be sent electronically should be sent in three sets by mail to the University Registrar at Linköping University, University Registrar, S-581 83 Linköping, Sweden. The publications must be received by Linköping University no later than the deadline for application. 

Please note that printed publications will not be returned. They will be archived at Linköping University. 
 
In the event of a discrepancy between the English translation of the job announcement and the Swedish original, the Swedish version shall take precedent.