Job description

In the frame of a large international infrastructure project, funded by FWO-Vlaanderen (Funds for Scientific Research) the UGent Department of Electromechanics, Systems and Metals Engineering in the Faculty of Engineering and Architecture is looking for a full-time (100%) postdoctoral researcher in the field of metallurgy and metal manufacturing. The postdoc will function as a member of the Einstein Telescope (ET) Collaboration project that envisages the construction and operation of a 3rd generation gravitational wave interferometer by 2035. In this capacity the postdoc will join the Beam Pipe Vacuum group under the ET project directorate and will investigate the feasibility of using various steel grades (including austenitic and ferritic stainless steels, mild steels and duplex steels) in their applicability to establish the largest ultra-high vacuum system ever built.
It is the intention to investigate the manufacturing of ET beam pipes made of those specific steel grades within the EU production landscape, including welding characterisation and surface treatment assessment. Additionally it is aimed to contribute to the technical design report of ET’s beam pipe vacuum system, and to the construction and testing of a pilot sector at CERN by 2025. To this purpose the postdoc will be stationed at CERN (Genève) after a six month introductory stage at UGent. The ET project involves various Belgian and international partners, but particularly for the materials oriented tasks a close collaboration will be foreseen with a mechanical design engineer from University of Antwerp.

Job profile

• You hold a PhD in material science/metallurgy (or you will have obtained it by the time you start work).
• You have experience on mechanical and microstructural characterization of metallic alloys and structure-properties relations
• Your research qualities are in line with the department, faculty and university research policies.
• Scientific and/or technological experience on metals for vacuum applications is recommended
• You act with attention to quality, integrity, creativity and cooperation.
• You can speak and write fluently in English and also express yourself in Dutch, German or French.

How to apply

Please write your Statement of Purpose (max 1 page A4) together with your CV to Prof. Leo Kestens (leo.kestens@ugent.be)