PhD student at ILL: In-situ cryogenic mechanical testing for ultra-low-temperature application

Organisation/Company: ILL Research Field: Physics » Other

Researcher Profile: First Stage Researcher (R1)

Positions: PhD Positions

Country: France

Application Deadline: 30 Apr 2025 - 23:59 (Europe/Paris)

Type of Contract: Temporary

Job Status: Full-time

Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Other EU programme

Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

The Institut Laue-Langevin (ILL), situated in Grenoble, France, is Europe's leading research facility for fundamental research using neutrons. The ILL operates the brightest neutron source in the world and hosts over 2000 visits by scientists per year, who come to carry out world-class research.

Thesis subject: In-situ cryogenic mechanical testing by neutron diffraction for ultra-low-temperature applications.

You will be supervised by Dr. Sandra Cabeza within the SALSA’s strain diffractometer team at the ILL, Grenoble, France. SALSA is a diffractometer which enables the measurement of internal strain (residual and applied) in engineering materials, specialised for spatial- and temporal-resolved investigations and optimized for in-situ and operando characterization.

You will be co-supervised by Prof. Dr.-Ing. Wolfram Volk at the chair of metal forming and casting at Technical University of Munich (TUM). The Chair is specialized in the areas of material characterisation for metals, forming processes (such as deep drawing and shear-cutting) and metal casting. The chair offers access to industry grade forming and shear-cutting presses, as well as to a well-equipped workshop for classical material characterisation, such as tensile tests and other sheet metal testing equipment. The institute is located directly next to the FRMII neutron source, fostering collaboration with neutron science.

The aim of the PhD project is to understand the mechanical behaviour of steel and aluminium alloys at cryogenic temperatures. This project enhances the bridging of fundamental material science to a field of high technological and societal relevance concerning the green transition (Liquid Hydrogen) and European sovereignty regarding Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG). Specimen preparation and traditional laboratory material characterisation will be conducted at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) at the Chair of Metal Forming and Casting (utg). Neutron in-situ tensile characterisations at cryogenic temperatures will be conducted at ILL-SALSA in collaboration with STFC-ENGINX and FRMII. Data analysis will allow for a correlation of the mechanical properties at different scales to determine the responsible mechanics at the atomic level of the cryogenic change in mechanical properties.

Minimum Requirements

1. Degree allowing enrolment for a PhD (such as MSc, Master 2 de Recherche, Laurea or equivalent) in materials science, physics, mechanical engineering, or a related discipline, with a strong focus on metallurgy and mechanical characterization. Knowledge of diffraction methods will be an advantage.
2. Certain level of autonomy in experimental work considering design, data analysis and interpretation.
3. Programming skills for data processing and simulation (e.g., Python, Matlab, Finite Element Modelling Software).
4. As an international research centre, we are particularly keen to ensure that we also attract applicants from outside France. You must have a professional knowledge of English and be willing to learn French (a language course will be paid for by the ILL). Knowledge of German would also be considered an advantage.
5. Proficiency in English (A proof of upper-intermediate level must be included in the application. Applicants originating from native-English-speaking countries can apply without the need for proof of level. An official degree conducted in English will also be accepted as proof). If the applicant is unable to provide proof, an English test (free of charge) will be requested.
6. Compliance with the Marie Sklodowska-Curie mobility rule: candidates may not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the host institute’s country for more than twelve months in the three years immediately before the application deadline.
7. All researchers recruited must be doctoral candidates, i.e. not already working towards or in possession of a doctoral degree at the date of the recruitment.
8. Candidates must satisfy the conditions for enrolment in a doctoral programme.

Additional Information

The successful candidate will be enrolled in the Graduate School of the School for Engineering and Design at Technical University Munich (Germany) and based with a full-time contract at the ILL (Grenoble, France). For a period of 2-3 months per year a stay at TUM will be foreseen for sample preparation and lab characterization. Additional visits may be arranged when needed. Furthermore, a varied pedagogical training programme will be offered to the successful candidate throughout the 3-year PhD project. The candidate will receive full access to the programmes offered by the TUM Graduate School.

NEXTSTEP will train 36 enthusiastic researchers to exploit the unique and transversal capabilities of analytical research infrastructures in tackling the challenges associated with sustainable development and industrial competitiveness in the areas of “Health”, “Digital, Industry & Space”, “Climate, Energy and Mobility” and “Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment”, which are at the heart of Horizon Europe. Host laboratories: ESRF and ILL (France), FZJ (Germany), AREA (Italy), NTNU (Norway).

More details about the Nextstep Doctoral Programme on www.nextstep-programme.eu.