SFI FAST: PhD positions in Aluminium Extrusion and Forming (Two positions)

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Video: https://youtu.be/Xt-yHCN5QS0About the position

The Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering (MTP) at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) has two vacancies for PhD candidates within aluminium extrusion and forming, funded through the Centre for Research-based Innovation SFI FAST – Future Aluminium Structures.

The positions are 3-year doctoral research fellowships starting in 2026. The PhD candidates will be embedded in the forming research activities of SFI FAST and will work closely with NTNU, SINTEF, and leading international industrial partners in the aluminium value chain.

About SFI FAST – Future Aluminium Structures

SFI FAST (Future Aluminium Structures) is a national Centre for Research-based Innovation (SFI) funded by the Research Council of Norway and the aluminum industry. The centre is led by NTNU in close collaboration with SINTEF and a broad consortium of 16 leading industrial partners across the aluminium value chain. FAST runs from 2026 to 2033 and represents one of Norway’s most ambitious long-term research initiatives within aluminium materials, manufacturing technologies, and circular economy.

The primary objective of FAST is to establish the scientific and technological knowledge base required to enable the large-scale use of post-consumer scrap (PCS) aluminium in high-value, structural, and safety-critical products. FAST adopts a through-scale and through-process research methodology, integrating materials science, manufacturing processes, product and structural design, and lifecycle performance.

A key outcome of FAST is the development of the FAST Virtual Lab, a digital framework combining experimental data, physics-based models, and data-driven methods to support design, manufacturing, and decision-making across aluminium value chains.

Education and competence building are central pillars of FAST. The centre will educate more than 18 PhD and postdoctoral researchers and over 100 MSc students, strengthening Norway’s international position in aluminium research and innovation. The two positions posted here will be among the first ones to start in the centre.

Please see the centre’s website: Future Aluminium Structures (FAST) - NTNU

PhD position 1: Aluminium Extrusion of Recycled Materials

This PhD position focuses on aluminium extrusion of profiles based on high recycled content. The research will address process–microstructure–property relationships, weld integrity, die design, and product quality in extrusion of complex profiles from post-consumer scrap aluminium.

The use of PCS in the production of structural components (i.e. automotive) is currently limited but is expected to grow as more stringent sustainability requirements and regulations come into effect. The candidate will establish and validate numerical forming simulations, predict PCS effects on seam- and charge weld quality, surface quality, integrate microstructure and texture evolution into the models, integrate quenching sequence in modelling, conduct industrial experiments, and demonstrate validity through use-cases in the project. The foci of the research work include practical experiments (including extrusion experiments, and mechanical/microstructure characterization tests), theoretical analysis, and numerical simulation. 

The candidate will work in collaboration with industrial partners and needs to be responsible for reporting progress and delivering outputs to the FAST centre. 

Duties of the PhD position 1

• Study, prototype and validate extrusion processes mechanisms for improved accuracy and mechanical properties.
• Investigate the impact of thermal-mechanical processing on the subsequent forming processes and end-product quality.
• Perform mechanical and microstructural testing, characterization and analysis to assess the properties of material and components.
• Investigate the process behaviours, mechanisms and models to improve and optimize the process capabilities.
• Conduct and publish high-level research at peer-reviewed journals and international conferences.
• Work closely with industry and employ the industry-as-laboratory concept for extrusion trials and studies.
• Participate and contribute to research group and FAST WP3 (Forming) activities, including mentoring and supervising MScs.

PhD position 2: Forming Processes for Recycled Aluminium

This PhD position addresses the state of the art in advanced forming of recycled aluminium, focusing on cold and hot forming technologies such as forging, bending, and profile forming of aluminium alloys with high post-consumer scrap (PCS) content. The research targets critical challenges related to formability, process robustness, surface integrity, and properties under increased material variability, and aims to develop adaptive and resilient forming strategies suitable for next-generation sustainable manufacturing.

The candidate will develop, establish, and validate advanced numerical forming models, integrating thermo-mechanical behavior, microstructure evolution, and sub-sequent process requirements. These physics-based models can/will be complemented by data-driven and hybrid modelling approaches, combining experimental data, process monitoring, and machine-learning methods to enhance predictive capability and enable adaptive process control. Experimental work will include laboratory- and industrial-scale forming trials, supported by comprehensive mechanical testing and microstructural characterization, with validation through representative industrial use cases within the project.

The research is explicitly aligned with Industry 5.0 principles, emphasizing human-centric, sustainable, and resilient manufacturing, where digital tools, advanced models, and experimental insight are combined to support circular aluminium value chains and robust industrial implementation.

Duties of the PhD position 2

• Study, prototype and validate advanced forming processes for improved formability, dimensional accuracy, and mechanical properties.
• Investigate the impact of thermal-mechanical processing on the subsequent forming processes and end-product quality.
• Perform mechanical and microstructural testing, characterization and analysis to assess the properties of material and components.
• Investigate the process behaviours, mechanisms and models to improve and optimize the process capabilities.
• Conduct and publish high-level research at peer-reviewed journals and international conferences.
• Work closely with industry and employ the industry-as-laboratory concept for extrusion trials and studies.
• Participate and contribute to research group and FAST WP3 (Forming) activities, including mentoring and supervising MScs.

Required selection criteria

• You must have a relevant Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Materials Science, or related fields. Your course of study must correspond to a five-year Norwegian course, where 120 credits have been obtained at master's level. Master students can apply, but the master's degree must be obtained and documented before starting the position and no later than.
• You must have a strong academic background from your previous studies and have an average grade from your Master's degree study, or equivalent education, which is equal to B or better compared to NTNU's grading scale. If you do not have letter grades from previous studies, you must have an equally good academic foundation. If you have a weaker grade background, you maybe considered if you can document that you are particularly suitable for a PhD education.
• You must meet the requirements for admission to the faculty's Doctoral Programme
• Strong academic background relevant to metal forming or aluminium processing
• You must have experience in continuum base modelling using FEA software
• Good written and oral English skills

PLEASE NOTE: For detailed information about what the application must contain, see paragraph “About the application”.

The appointment is to be made in accordance with NTNUs guidelines for recruitment positions and Regulations for the degrees philosophiae doctor (ph.d.) and philosophiae doctor (ph.d.) in artistic development work at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU)for general criteria for the position.

Preferred selection criteria

• Knowledge and testing skills in material characterization and microstructural analysis of aluminium alloys, using advance equipment like SEM, TEM, P-FIB, etc
• Experience in the design and development of machine tools in metal forming processes
• Experience in using alternative, relevant modelling methods for material, process, and product behaviour (like using analytical, data-driven modelling approaches, AI, etc.)

Personal characteristics

To complete a doctoral degree (PhD), it is important that you are able to: 

• Highly motivated. 
• Able to work independently.
• Curious and enthusiastic.
• Strong ability to systematically carry out goal-oriented work.
• Enjoy and contribute to interdisciplinary research.
• Keen interest in learning and working in teams.
• Good skills to deliver oral and written presentation of research results.
• Strong interest in combining theory and practice through experimental and numerical research.

Emphasis will be placed on personal qualities.

We offer

• Exciting and stimulating tasks in a strong international academic environment
• SFI FAST facilities, industrial network, and a joint PhD environment
• An exciting job with an important mission in society
• Developing tasks in a strong and international professional environment
• Career guidance and follow-up during the PhD period
• Open and inclusive working environment with committed colleagues
• Working capital that can be used to implement the project
• Mentor programme as a new employee at NTNU
• Favorable terms as a member of the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund (SPK)
• Free Norwegian language training at a basic level (A2)

As a PhD Candidate at NTNU, you will have access to employee benefits.

Diversity

Diversity is a strength, and at NTNU we aim to be an employer that reflects the diversity in society and that makes use of the potential of the population's collective skills. Our vision is Knowledge for a better world and our values are creative, critical, constructive and respectful. We believe that an organization that is equal, diverse and gender-balanced is essential for us to achieve our goals. 

We strive to attract employees with different skills, life experiences and perspectives to contribute to even better problem solving of our societal mission in research and education. 

If you think this position is relevant and interesting, we encourage you to apply, regardless of gender, functional ability and cultural background, or whether you have been out of work for a period of time.

At NTNU we want to increase the proportion of women in scientific positions. We have a number of measures to promote equality.

Salary and conditions

In the position of PhD Candidate, code 1017, your gross salary will normally be NOK 550 800,-per annum depending on qualifications and seniority. A 2% statutory contribution to the State Pension Fund is deducted from the salary. 

The employment period is 3 years.

For employment as a PhD Candidate, it is a prerequisite that you gain admission to the PhD programme in Engineering within three months of your employment contract start date, and that you participate in an organized doctoral programme through out the period of employment.

The position is conditional on external funding.

As an employee at NTNU, it is important that you keep yourself up to date with academic and organizational changes and adapt to them.

For the necessary professional and social interaction, it is a prerequisite that you are physically present and available to the institution on a daily basis.

The appointment is carried out in accordance with the principles of the State Employees Act, and Export control (legislation that regulates the export of knowledge, technology and services). Candidates who, after assessment of the application and attachments, are considered to bein conflict with the criteria in the latter act, will not be able to be employed. In addition, all candidates qualified for this position that are outside NATO-countries must be approved by partners in the SFI’s consortium.

About the application

The attachments (including a description of your scientific work) must accompany the application as these documents form the basis of the application assessment. The documents must be in Norwegian/a Scandinavian language or English.

Please note: the application will only be assessed on the basis of the information we have received by the application deadline. Therefore, make sure that your application clearly shows how your skills and experience meet the criteria described above. The application and all attachments must be sent electronically via Jobbnorge.no. If you are invited to an interview, you must bring certified copies of certificates and diplomas upon request.

The application must include:

• Which position you are applying for
• Transcripts and diplomas for Bachelor's and Master's degrees
• CV 
• Copy of Master's thesis. If you have recently submitted your Master's thesis, you can attach a draft of the thesis. Documentation of a completed Master's degree must be presented before taking up the position.
• Project outline containing proposals for an overall description of research questions, theoretical perspectives, methodological design for the project and progress plan (maximum 1500 words/4 pages) 
• Short letter of motivation (400 words/1 page)
• Possibly publications etc. other relevant research work
• Possibly certificates
• Names and contact information of three relevant referees

If all, or parts, of your education has been taken abroad, we also ask you to attach documentation of the scope and quality of your entire education, both Bachelor's and Master's education, in addition to other higher education. If your institution uses “diploma supplement” (normal for most European institutions), you must attach this. A description of the documentation required can also be found here. If you already have a statement from Norwegian Directorate for Higher Education and Skills (HK-dir), please attach this as well.

Joint work will be considered. If it is difficult to identify your contribution to joint work, you must attach a brief description of your participation.

When assessing the best qualified, we emphasize necessary qualifications such as education, experience and personal suitability. Motivation for the position, ambitions, and potential for research will also count when assessing the candidates.

NTNU recognizes a wide range of academic contributions and has committed itself to The San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment and CoARA (responsible assessment of research and recognition of a greater breadth of academic contributions in accordance with NTNU's social mission).

General information

A public list of applicants with name, age, job title and municipality of residence is prepared after the application deadline. If you wish to be exempt from entry on the public applicant list, this must be justified. Assessment will be made in accordance with current legislation. You will be notified if the exemption is not granted.

If you think this position looks interesting and in line with your qualifications, you are welcome to apply.

If you have any questions about the position, please contact Head of the Department and Professor Torgeir Welo, e-mail: Torgeir.welo@ntnu.no. 

If you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact HR Senior Consultant Hedda Winnberg, e-mail: Hedda.winnberg@ntnu.no.

Application deadline: 01.03.2026

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