The Department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering of the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) has an open PhD position on the topic of “Automated machine polishing of complex mould geometries”.
The position is funded in the context of the project MADE React co-funded by the Innovation Fund Denmark. The PhD student will be working in the framework of the ongoing collaboration between DTU Construct, and Danish companies with interest in implementing solutions for polishing of complex geometries, with particular focus on injection moulding moulds (ok). This position offers unique opportunities with respect to high level research, training and innovation within manufacturing engineering, in an exciting combination of academic and industrial environments. The selected candidate will receive strong guidance from academic supervisors as well as from industrial experts.
Responsibilities and qualifications
Polishing is one of the last steps of the manufacturing process chain for industrial tools and components with high surface quality requirements. Despite the trends towards increasing automation and higher productivity, the polishing of complex geometries is still normally performed manually, leading to reduced repeatability of the results. Existing machine polishing solutions are either limited to simple part geometries or are characterized by lengthy identification of suitable process parameters by trial-and-error, leading to a time consuming sub-optimal selection.
In the domain of high precision machining, tools are prematurely discarded to avoid the risk of costly non-conformities. This creates a large loss of value of strategically valuable raw materials and waste of energy related to material, cutting tools and parts production.
The PhD project will therefore focus on automating and demonstrating machine polishing processes of complex mould surfaces using compliant polishing tools by implementation of sensing solutions enabling process, tool and surface condition monitoring. The goal is to achieve automated data driven optimization (in terms of time and quality) of polishing process parameters by application of machine learning algorithms, leading to a robust, repeatable and fast polishing process. An integral part of the project will be the development of enhanced data-driven physics methods to achieve reliable prediction of material removal rate and material removal distribution.
The approach will be validated by application to industrial production at a partner company.
The position includes both theoretical and experimental work and carries project as well as academic responsibilities. The scientific work conducted must be positioned relative to current literature and published in conference and journal articles.
You are required to have an excellent academic background and must have a strong knowledge of production engineering technologies and manufacturing systems for subtractive manufacturing. Strong knowledge of process monitoring, manufacturing metrology, and programming tools such as Matlab is highly desirable. The candidate should have good analytical skills as well as good communication skills in English.
You should have completed a two-year master's degree (120 ECTS points) in Mechanical, Production, Materials, Industrial or Robotics Engineering, Computer Science, or related discipline, or a similar degree with an equivalent academic level.
Approval and Enrolment
The scholarship for the PhD degree is subject to academic approval, and the candidate will be enrolled in one of the general degree programmes at DTU. For information about our enrolment requirements and the general planning of the PhD study programme, please see DTU's rules for the PhD education
.
Assessment
The assessment of the applicants will be made by Associate Professor Giuliano Bissacco according to the qualification requirements stated above.
We offer
DTU is a leading technical university globally recognized for the excellence of its research, education, innovation and scientific advice. We offer a rewarding and challenging job in an international environment. We strive for academic excellence in an environment characterized by collegial respect and academic freedom tempered by responsibility.
Salary and appointment terms
The appointment will be based on the collective agreement with the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations. The allowance will be agreed upon with the relevant union.
The period of employment is 3 years. It is expected that you will be able to start in the position as soon as possible according to mutual agreement.
You can read more about career paths at DTU here http://www.dtu.dk/english/about/job-and-career/working-at-dtu/career-paths.
Further information
Further information may be obtained from Associate Professor Giuliano Bissacco (gibi@mek.dtu.dk
+45 45254895).
You can read more about Department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering at www.construct.dtu.dk.
If you are applying from abroad, you may find useful information on working in Denmark and at DTU at DTU – Moving to Denmark
. Furthermore, you have the option of joining our monthly free seminar “PhD relocation to Denmark and startup “Zoom” seminar
” for all questions regarding the practical matters of moving to Denmark and working as a PhD at DTU.
Application procedure
Your complete online application must be submitted no later than 16 July 2025 (23:59 Danish time)
. Applications must be submitted as one PDF file
containing all materials to be given consideration. To apply, please open the link "Apply now", fill out the online application form, and attach all your materials in English in one PDF file
. The file must include:
You may apply prior to obtaining your master's degree but cannot begin before having received it.
Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.
All interested candidates irrespective of age, gender, disability, race, religion or ethnic background are encouraged to apply. As DTU works with research in critical technology, which is subject to special rules for security and export control, open-source background checks may be conducted on qualified candidates for the position.
DTU Civil and Mechanical Engineering
develops and utilizes science and technical knowledge for the benefit of society and sustainable development. We undertake research, education, innovation, and scientific advice of the highest quality within building design and processes, building construction and safety, building energy and services, solid mechanics, fluid mechanics, materials technology, manufacturing engineering, engineering design and thermal energy systems.
Technology for people
DTU develops technology for people. With our international elite research and study programmes, we are helping to create a better world and to solve the global challenges formulated in the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Hans Christian Ørsted founded DTU in 1829 with a clear mission to develop and create value using science and engineering to benefit society. That mission lives on today. DTU has 13,500 students and 6,000 employees. We work in an international atmosphere and have an inclusive, evolving, and informal working environment. DTU has campuses in all parts of Denmark and in Greenland, and we collaborate with the best universities around the world.