The mission of the Max Planck Institute for Sustainable Materials (MPI-SusMat) is to understand and design materials down to atomic and electronic scales. In this spirit, we conduct basic research on structural and functional materials, mostly metallic alloys, embracing synthesis and processing, characterization and properties, as well as their response in engineering components exposed to real environmental conditions. We work interdisciplinary, with intense mutual stimulation among experimentalists and theoreticians as well as among different groups and departments.
The Department Structure and Nano-/Micromechanics of Materials offers a
PhD student position on the topic “Influence of grain boundaries on thermal transport for functional applications: Investigation using atomistic modeling and machine learning” f/m/div
Grain boundaries are common defects in many materials, which strongly affect the material properties. We aim to understand how the atomic structure of the grain boundaries on the nanoscale can influence even the macroscopic material behavior. In this project, we are especially interested in heat transport, which is for example important for thermoelectric applications: In order to maintain a heat gradient for the material’s function, heat transport should be minimized while not compromising other properties. Grain boundary engineering is one avenue to achieve these goals, but the underlying phenomena are not sufficiently well understood.
Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. Applications are only accepted via the link at the end.

Please refer the Job description for details