PhD In Materials and Mechanics for Advanced Ceramic-based Protection Systems | Cera-Shield

Introduction

Are you inspired to push the limits of materials for safer and lighter protection systems? Join us to develop innovative ceramic-based systems that redefine lightweight protection performance.

Job Description

We are offering 3 PhD positions within the Cera‑Shield project, an ambitious, interdisciplinary collaboration between academia, industry, and government partners. The project aims to develop the next generation of lightweight, high-performance ceramic-based protection systems, addressing urgent safety challenges.

Ceramic-based layered systems provide unmatched protection-to-weight ratios, but current solutions still suffer from limited performance. Cera‑Shield tackles this challenge by combining new microstructured ceramics, advanced modeling, and innovative manufacturing routes into a fully integrated design strategy.

Cera‑Shield will kick off with a team of 3 PhDs, supervised by PIs Diletta Giuntini, Tommaso Magrini and Ron Peerlings. You will be embedded in the Mechanics of Materials section at the Department of Mechanical Engineering. The experimental work will rely on the state-of-the-art facilities of TU/e’s A3M Lab (Advanced, Additive and Adaptive Manufacturing Lab) and Multiscale Lab. The simulation work will have access to specialized software and high performance computing resources.

Three PhD candidates will each work on a core work package:

• PhD 1: Development of advanced ceramic microstructures – mostly experimental
• PhD 2: Modeling and optimization of ceramic–composite systems – mostly numerical
• PhD 3: Design and manufacturing of ceramic–metal systems – mostly experimental

As a PhD researcher, you will:

• Conduct cutting-edge research combining experiments, simulations, and/or manufacturing,
• Collaborate closely with industrial and governmental partners,
• Contribute to system-level design of next-generation protection solutions,
• Translate scientific insights into practical design guidelines and demonstrators,
• Disseminate results through publications, conferences, and stakeholder interactions.

Each position offers a distinct but interconnected focus, spanning materials design, multi-scale modeling, and system integration.

Your work will directly contribute to improving safety and performance of protection systems. Beyond security applications, the developed materials and methods have strong potential in areas such as aerospace, energy, and infrastructure protection.

By joining Cera‑Shield, you will become part of a dynamic, international ecosystem, gaining expertise at the interface of materials science, mechanics, and advanced manufacturing, and helping shape the future of high-performance materials in Europe.

Job Requirements

You hold (or are close to completing) a Master's degree in Materials Science and Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a closely related field, and hold excellent academic track record and analytical skills. You are curious, hands-on, enthusiastic about creative and in-depth engineering work, and you are motivated by the idea that better materials can have a positive impact on our society.
Experience with numerical modeling, materials processing and/or characterization are a plus.
We are looking for someone who enjoys tackling open scientific questions and working both independently and collaboratively. You are motivated to develop your teaching and student supervision skills, and you are fluent in spoken and written English.

Conditions of Employment

A meaningful job in a dynamic and ambitious university, in an interdisciplinary setting and within an international network. You will work on a beautiful, green campus within walking distance of the central train station. In addition, we offer you: 

• Full-time employment for four years, with an intermediate assessment after nine months. You will spend a 10-15% of your four-year employment on teaching tasks. 
• Salary and benefits (such as a pension scheme, paid pregnancy and maternity leave, partially paid parental leave) in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, scale P (min. € 3,059 - max. € 3,881 gross per month).  
• A year-end bonus of 8.3% and annual vacation pay of 8%. 
• High-quality training programs and other support to grow into a self-aware, autonomous scientific researcher. At TU/e we challenge you to take charge of your own learning process. 
• An excellent technical infrastructure, on-campus children's day care and sports facilities.  
• Unlimited access to the modern on‑campus TU/e Student Sports Center at an exceptionally affordable rate.
• An allowance for commuting, working from home and internet costs. 
• A Staff Immigration Team and a tax compensation scheme (the 30% facility) for international candidates. 

On our website you can discover even more information about our conditions of employment. Build on your career at TU/e!

About us

We are a leading international university where scientific curiosity meets a hands-on mindset. We work in an open and collaborative way with high-tech industries to tackle complex societal challenges. Our responsible and respectful approach ensures impact — today and in the future. TU/e is home to over 13,000 students and more than 7,000 staff, forming a diverse and vibrant academic community.

Our university is located in Brainport Eindhoven — a world‑leading tech region with more than 7,000 high‑tech companies and strong R&D activity. Known for breakthroughs in AI, photonics, semiconductors and advanced manufacturing, Brainport is a place where technology serves people and society. Learn more about the Brainport region here.

The Department of Mechanical Engineering department conducts world-class research aligned with the technological interests of the high-tech industry in the Netherlands, with a focus on the Brainport region. Our goal is to produce engineers who are both scientifically educated and application-driven by providing a balanced education and research program that combines fundamental and application aspects. We equip our graduates with practical and theoretical expertise, preparing them optimally for future challenges.

Information

Do you recognize yourself in this profile and would you like to know more? Please contact the hiring manager [email protected], [email protected], or [email protected].

Visit our website for more information about the application process. You can also contact HR Services, [email protected].

Curious to hear more about what it’s like as a PhD candidate at TU/e? Please view the video.

Are you inspired and would like to know more about working at TU/e? Please visit our career page.

Application

We invite you to submit a complete application by using the apply button. The application should include a:

• Cover letter in which you describe your motivation and qualifications for the position.
• Curriculum vitae, including a list of your publications and the contact information of three reference contacts. Kindly note that we may reach out to the reference contacts at any stage of the recruitment process: We recommend notifying them upon submitting your application.
• Full transcript of grades from both BSc and MSc Programs.
• A short description of your Master Thesis (maximum 1500 words), including a statement of novelty (maximum 500 words). Total length: 2000 words (maximum).

We look forward to receiving your application and will screen it as soon as possible. The vacancy will remain open until the position is filled.

Please note

• You can apply online. We will not process applications sent by email and/or post. 
• A pre-employment screening (e.g. knowledge security check) can be part of the selection procedure. For more information on the knowledge security check, please consult the National Knowledge Security Guidelines.
• Please do not contact us for unsolicited services.