PhD Position Developing Magnetic Nanomaterials in the Project "Welding Made Easy"

Do you want to work on cutting-edge nanotechnology research? Are you interested in designing magnetic nanoparticles that switch off their own heating for smart composite welding?

Job description

We are seeking a highly motivated PhD candidate with a background in physical chemistry, materials science, or nanomagnetism to join the project "Welding Made Easy," funded through the NWO-KIC programme.

Welding Made Easy addresses one of the key bottlenecks in lightweight composite manufacturing: how to join fibre-reinforced polymer structures reliably, without the weight penalty of bolts and rivets or the strict process control demanded by adhesive bonding. The project shifts control of the welding process from complex machinery to the material itself, by embedding magnetic nanoparticles with a tailored Curie (or compensation) temperature into a thermoplastic interlayer. When exposed to a high-frequency magnetic field, these particles heat the interface until the target processing temperature is reached — at which point their magnetic losses collapse, acting as a built-in thermal switch that prevents overheating. The same particles double as sensors, enabling real-time monitoring of the weld through their AC field absorption. This self-regulating approach removes the need for dedicated welding infrastructure, opening the door to decentralised manufacturing and ad-hoc repair of composite structures for aerospace, mobility, and defence applications.

As a PhD candidate, you will work in the NCFun group of Prof. Arjan Houtepen (TU Delft, Applied Sciences), in close collaboration prof. Clemens Dransfeld (TU Delft, Aerospace Engineering) with Dr. Reinoud Lavrijsen (TU/e), Prof. Sofia Kantorovich/Dr Andrei Kuznetsov (TU Vienna), and industrial partner SCIL. You will be embedded in a larger interdisciplinary consortium spanning polymer and composite science, nanoscience, physics, and process engineering, including partners such as Airbus, GKN, and DLR.

Your research will focus on:

• Colloidal chemical synthesis of magnetic nanoparticles (e.g. Mn-Fe ferrite alloys) with tunable switch temperatures
• Post-synthetic and in-situ surface functionalisation to achieve stable dispersion in polymer matrices
• Structural and compositional characterisation (XRD, XPS, TEM, NMR)
• Magnetic characterisation and switch-temperature determination (magneto-thermogravimetric analysis, SQUID, VSM)
• Linking nanoparticle composition and structure to magnetic heating performance (SAR) for use in polymer welding

Your profile:

You have a completed Master's degree in physical chemistry, materials science, chemical engineering, or a closely related field. You combine a strong interest in the synthesis and characterisation of nanomaterials with an affinity for magnetism and solid-state physics.

The ideal candidate has experience with one or more of the following:

• Colloidal synthesis of inorganic nanoparticles (e.g. metal oxides, ferrites)
• Nanoparticle surface chemistry and functionalisation
• Structural characterisation techniques (XRD, TEM, XPS)
• Magnetic characterisation (VSM, SQUID) or an interest in learning these methods

You enjoy working in a collaborative, interdisciplinary environment and are motivated to bridge fundamental nanomaterials science with a technology of direct industrial relevance.

What we offer:

• A full-time PhD position at TU Delft in a leading European research environment
• Access to state-of-the-art synthesis and characterisation facilities at TU Delft and TU/e
• Close collaboration with academic and industrial partners across the Netherlands, Austria, Germany, and beyond
• The opportunity to contribute to a programmable materials technology with direct applications in aerospace and defence

Job requirements

For this position we are looking for a physical chemist, materials physicist, or chemical engineer with a completed master's degree. You should combine a keen interest in the synthesis and properties of nanomaterials with an understanding of magnetism and solid-state physics.

The ideal candidate has prior experience with colloidal materials, synthesis of inorganic nanoparticles, and structural or magnetic characterisation techniques.