13 PhD positions as part of the MSC-ITN “Smart surface design for efficient ice protection and... (# of pos: 13)

OPPORTUNITY DETAILS

Total reward

0 $

State University

Universit degli Studi Milano Bicocca

Deadline

31 Mar 2021

Study level

Doctoral Degree

Opportunity type

PhD

Specialities

Creative Arts and Design

Opportunity funding

Full funding

Eligible Countries

This opportunity is destined for all countries

Eligible Region

All Regions

We are recruiting 13 PhD positions for Early Stage Researchers (ESRs) for the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Innovative Training Network “Smart surface design for efficient ice protection and control” (SURFICE).

The network will see 13 PhDs working on different topics in one of the partner institutions situated in 8 European countries (Italy, Germany, France, the UK, the Netherland, Belgium, Austria, Switzerland) and coordinated by University of Milano-Bicocca, Italy.

The consortium comprises universities, research institutions, enterprises and partner organisations in the 8 European countries, creating a novel platform for training a network of ESRs at the intersection between physics, materials and surface science and engineering, making an impact in the fields of aerospace and system engineering, energy systems, surface technology and sensor technology.

SURFICE is an experimental, theoretical and engineering project which will lead to the formulation of a rational framework for the design and the fabrication of a category of discontinuity-enhanced icephobic surfaces that will be tested for industrially relevant applications. The three major research objectives (ROs) of SURFICE, tackling the existing knowledge gaps through dedicated work packages, are:

Investigation of the physics of icing of morphologically complex microstructured surfaces, to better understand and model the mechanisms of heterogeneous nucleation and discontinuous icing. The models will enable to accurately predict ice adhesion forces, ice fracture and separation on complex surfaces and to describe the dynamics of impact and freezing of supercooled drops – all of which is beyond the current state of the art.

Rational design of new discontinuity-enhanced icephobic/anti-icing materials and coatings, based on fundamental physical principles, as derived from molecular simulations, semi-analytical and multiscale modelling, and experiments across scales.

Development of new technologies and systems for efficient ice prevention and control requiring lower energy inputs, based on novel design rules and advanced materials, promoting knowledge transfer to European industries.

List of available PhD / ESR positions