JOB DESCRIPTION

Natural composite materials exhibit highly specialized heterogeneous architectures, finely tuned to meet functional demands. Examples include plant cellulose structures and mineralized collagen in bone and teeth. These natural systems combine opposing properties, such as strength and low density or stiffness and wear resistance, highlighting their potential to overcome limitations in human-made fiber-reinforced composites. However, replicating this complexity remains a challenge due to current manufacturing limitations in controlling composition and fiber orientation.
To address this gap, we aim to develop fundamental insights into creating novel microstructures using discontinuous recycled carbon fibers to manufacture biologically inspired composites with unprecedented heterogeneous architectures. Recycled fibers hold significant promise in stress-critical applications during their second life cycle, provided critical hurdles are overcome.
As a Postdoc researcher, your focus will include scaling and mechanical characterization of these innovative material concepts, alongside exploring end-of-life solutions. This work will complement efforts by another PhD researcher specializing in microbiology, genetic engineering, and biomaterials.

Proposed Research Objectives:

• Fabrication and Demonstration: Develop sub-meter scaled demonstrators that can be shaped into composites, disassembled, and reused across multiple life cycles.
• Scientific Challenges:
• Optimize the use of reinforcements/tapes in structural components.
• Evaluate the impact of manufacturing processes on previously achieved functionalization.
• Study (de)consolidation behaviors and product quality under fast heating and cooling rates during additive manufacturing and automated fibre placement.
• Leverage material functionalization for easy disassembly (design for disassembly).
• Analyze property and quality variations over multiple processing cycles.

Why Join Us? Shape the Future of Sustainable Materials!

This research offers a groundbreaking pathway to advanced composite materials with intelligent, circular systems, directly supporting the 2050 sustainable aviation goals. Beyond aviation, this approach holds immense potential for wind energy systems, driving progress toward global renewable energy objectives.

• Shape the Future: Contribute to a pioneering project that combines science, creativity, and sustainability to transform industries.
• Supportive Environment: Thrive in a collaborative team where your voice matters, your ideas are valued, and diverse perspectives are celebrated.
• Sustainable Impact: Lead cutting-edge materials research addressing critical global challenges in aviation, energy, and beyond.
• Real-World Applications: Bring your work to life with scaled demonstrators, making a tangible impact on sustainable solutions.

The project will be jointly supervised by Kunal Masania and Julie Teuwen, and hosted in the faculty of Aerospace Engineering. This is a chance to help shape a greener, smarter future while growing in an inspiring and inclusive environment. If you’re passionate about innovation and purpose-driven research, we’d love to hear from you. Together, let’s create something extraordinary!

REQUIREMENTS

You hold a PhD in a materials science, engineering or a related discipline. You have an excellent scientific track record through the achievements in your research. You are proficient in meticulous lab work, chemical/mechanical characterisation and skilled in turning an idea into a prototype implementation. You enjoy pioneering new ideas, linking results with physical experiments and thrive in an interactive, collaborative research environment. Further, you have good English communication skills and a strong drive for academic excellence.

Please refer the Job description for details