PhD studentship in production technology specializing in monitoring and control of additive manufacturing and welding - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

University West is offering a PhD studentship in production technology specializing in monitoring and control of additive manufacturing and welding

Within the division of production systems in the research environment production technology west (PTW) a research group is working with monitoring and control challenges related to manufacturing processes such as additive manufacturing and welding of metals. This PhD project will research how to establish a data-driven artificial intelligence-based monitoring and controlling platform and tools to support robotic discrete manufacturing processes. The research group works with implementation of sensor systems for processes such as additive manufacturing and welding. The focus is on developing monitoring and control strategies that support higher level of automation and quality of those processes. The research is conducted in close collaboration with industry.

The scientific part of the project

A key trend in the manufacturing industry in a competitive context is the need to constantly increase productivity and quality, these criteria constitute the two keys to competitiveness. The PhD project addresses the challenges of improving productivity and quality factors of the manufacturing industry. The overall objective is to achieve a higher level of automation by developing in-process monitoring and control systems based on intelligent automation. This requires flexible and intelligent control systems based on AI methods that can learn from data and compensate for the deviations that occur due to inaccuracies in tool manipulation, fixturing, varying workpiece geometries, heat distortions etc. This development is essential to reduce development time and assure that parts are produced with the right quality and is necessary to promote sustainable production.

The PhD project will focus on intelligent methods for monitoring and adaptive control of additive manufacturing (directed energy deposition with laser as heat source and wire as additive material) and arc welding. This involves integrating sensor systems in those processes and developing monitoring and control strategies that enable automated production of parts with the right quality.

The PhD student is expected to collaborate with other researchers in addition to the supervisors during the project.

Doctoral degree program: Production Technology

Workplace: Doctoral students in production technology become members of the research group PTW (Production Technology West). The group collaborates with the engineering industry in the region at the Production Technology Centre, which houses an advanced research laboratory. For more information about our research center, visit our website. 

Job description

The research program includes, in addition to participation in third-cycle courses and other activities, implementation of an independent thesis work. Doctoral students shall primarily devote themselves to their own education. A doctoral student may, however, be engaged to a limited extent in education, research and administration, mainly within Production Technology. Such duties, before a doctorate has been conferred, may not occupy more than 20 percent of full-time working hours. (Higher Education Ordinance (SFS 1993:100) Chapter 5 section 2).

Qualification requirements

The basic eligibility requirements for doctoral programs as set out in the Higher Education Ordinance are as follows:

• A degree at master’s level,
• completed courses totaling at least 240 university credits of which a minimum of 60 at master’s level or,
• substantially equivalent knowledge gained in some other way whether in Sweden or abroad,

To fulfill the special eligibility requirements for a doctoral degree in Production Technology, a student must hold a degree at master’s level in a subject relevant to the doctoral degree subject. This degree may be in Production Technology or some related discipline. The eligibility requirements may be fulfilled by studies in Sweden or abroad.

For more information, please read 3.1 and 3.2 in General syllabus for the third-cycle programme in Production Technology, Daybook nr U 2021/160

Selection

The basic factor for selection from among qualified applicants is the ability to profit from such a program. For more information please read 3.3 in General syllabus for the third-cycle programme in Production Technology, Daybook nr U 2021/160

To be successful in this project the applicant should be highly motivated, have an accurate way of working, and have good communicative and collaborative skills. The applicant should have a strong aptitude for analysis and problem solving of physical problems that relates to industry. In the selection process interviewing, referencing and proofreading may be relevant.

Additional qualifications

Mandatory qualifications:

• Master of science (or equivalent level) in mechatronics, industrial automation or equivalent.
• Documented experience in sensor technology, signal and image processing and automatic control.
• Documented knowledge in machine learning.
• Ability to communicate orally and in writing in English (documented)

The following be considered as meritorious:

• Experience in programming, e.g. C, Matlab, Labview is preferred
• Experience of research work and scientific writing (prior publications in the subject is regarded as a merit)
• Knowledge in metal additive manufacturing and/or welding
• Willingness to travel and perform experiments outside of University West if needed
• Ability to communicate in Swedish is regarded as a merit

Duration and terms of employment

Employment as a doctoral student shall be on an open-ended basis but not for longer than to a specific point in time and never for a period extending more than one year after receiving the doctoral degree. The initial appointment must not be for more than one year. The appointment may be renewed for no more than two years at a time. A person may be employed as a research student for a total of not more than eight years. The total period of employment, however, may not exceed the equivalent of four years of full-time study at the third level of higher education. (Higher Education Ordinance (SFS 1993:100) Chapter 5 section 7).

Applications are to be submitted electronically through the University West web-based recruitment tool Varbi. Visit our website for more information: https://www.hv.se/en/meet-university-west/job-opportunities/.

The application must include:

• CV/Personal qualifications
• Degree project of second level of higher education
• Degree certificate of first and second level of higher education
• Other documents which the applicant wishes to invoke
• Personal letter containing:
  • Interest in the research topic
  • Previous experience regarding the proposed research topic and its research methods and scientific theories
  • Motive to pursue doctoral studies

Approved written languages regarding papers, diplomas, grades and other relevant documents are the Scandinavian languages and English, or translations into those languages. Attach the original when submitting translated documents.

The application should reach University West no later than 2021-12-14.

If you would like to submit documents that cannot be sent digitally, please contact HR-representative for further instructions.

Welcome with your application!