Do you want to contribute to the development of sustainable materials and work on developing advanced measurement methods to increase knowledge about why metallic materials wear? We are looking for a PhD student to join our team working on developing a measurement method to quantify what happens inside a metal when it is exposed to wear.

With us, you will have the opportunity to develop in tribology, work interdisciplinary and research in close collaboration with industry.

You will belong to the subject Machine Elements where the research is mainly focused on tribology and its applications. The research group currently consists of 40 researchers and PhD students and is one of the leading tribology research groups in Europe. The research is both of a basic scientific nature and of an applied nature and often takes place in close collaboration with Swedish and international industry.

Topic description

Machine Elements includes analysis and optimization of machine components and component systems based on performance, service life, energy efficiency, reliability and environmental impact. Special emphasis is placed on issues in the field of tribology.

Project description

The aim of the research project is to understand what happens inside a material during a wear process through so-called in-operando measurements. A unique test equipment is being developed at the Division of Machine Elements, Luleå University of Technology, which will be used to perform in-operando measurements in a high-energy X-ray facility (synchrotron) and study what happens inside a material when it is exposed to friction and wear. By measuring local stresses and strains inside the material as they occur during sliding between two surfaces, improved wear models and knowledge of how different materials are affected during abrasion will be developed.

Tasks

As a PhD student, you will be trained in scientific work in the form of publishing scientific articles in journals and presentations at national and international conferences. You will also take compulsory and elective doctoral courses. In addition, you may have the opportunity to try out the role of teacher. As a researcher, you will work as a neutral party in many contexts, which provides a great opportunity to learn how to run challenging development projects. The work as a PhD student in machine elements is mainly experimental, which requires good practical skills and detailed knowledge of tribology, tribological tests, surface analysis and material characterization

Qualifications

You who have a master's degree in materials science, mechanical engineering or equivalent are welcome to apply. You should have very good communication skills and master English in speech and writing. Experience in tribological testing and experience in surface analysis methods and material characterization, especially XRD and synchrotron measurements, with tribological applications are meritorious for the position. In the evaluation, special emphasis is placed on:

• Knowledge relevant to the current project
• Quality of the thesis
• Personal qualities relevant to research

For further information on specific doctoral education see http://www.ltu.se/research/Utbildning-pa-forskarniva/Studieplaner/Allmanna-studieplaner-Teknisk-fakultetsnamnd

Information

Appointment as a doctoral student is limited to 4 years, teaching and other departmental duties can be added up to 20% of full time. Place of employment is Luleå. Expected to start in spring 2026.

For further information, please contact Professor Jens Hardell, 0920-49 1774, mailto:jens.hardell@ltu.se

Union representative:

SACO-S Diana Chroneer, 0920-49 2037, mailto:jens.hardell@ltu.se

OFR-S Marika Vesterberg, 0920-49 1721, mailto:jens.hardell@ltu.se

Application

We prefer that you apply for the position via the application button below where you attach a cover letter, CV/resume and copies of verified diplomas and thesis. Please mark your application with the reference number below. Both the application and the diploma must be written in Swedish or English.

Last day to apply: 2026-05-12

Reference number: 2603-2026