PhD position - Ad Print4Life DC14

Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon, Geesthacht, Germany, with PhD degree awarded by Kiel University (CAU), Germany.

Uppsala Universitet, Sweden and Hydrumedical, Braga, Portugal


This PhD position is part of the EU-funded project Print4Life, a Marie Sklodowska-Curie (MSCA) doctoral network led by Prof. Cecilia Persson, Uppsala University.

This network has 8 host institutions hiring doctoral candidates: Uppsala University, Universitat Politecnica de Catalunya, Dublin City University, Universidade do Minho, Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon, Hydrumedical SA, Brinter AM Technologies Oy, ETH Zürich; and 6 additional partners: FHNW, PBC Ltd, XapHe, Quintus Technologies AB, CAU (Kiel) and Region Uppsala (Uppsala University Hospital). The network aims to provide Advanced Research Training for Additive Manufacturing of the Biomaterials and Tissues of the Future. You will be one of 17 doctoral students across the entire network, and one of 3 doctoral candidates based at Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon.

You focus on developing your PhD project Unravelling the high reactivity of PBF-LB manufactured Mg and Zn alloys. Additively manufactured (e.g. by PBF-LB) Mg alloys are often reported to possess higher degradation rates compared to extruded or cast counterparts. Similar effect albeit of lesser extent has been reported for Zn. This is against common expectation that the finer microstructures formed by PBF-LB result in slower degradation. Several explanations proposed so far do not clarify all observed nuances. This project focuses on unravelling the origin of the elevated corrosion rates of AM-built Mg- and Zn-alloys. The work will revolve around micro- and nanoscopic visualization of initial micro-galvanic activity upon metal contact with an aqueous electrolyte. For this, in situ SEM and in situ TEM will be used at HEREON. This will be accompanied by EBSD for ex situ microstructure characterization, X-ray micro- and nano-tomography at DESY (Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron / German Electron Synchrotron) and Scanning Kelvin Probe Force Microscopy (SKPFM) for visualising the distribution of cathodic phases in bulk and on plane, along with integral and localized electrochemical measurements for degradation performance. A range of Mg and Zn-alloys will be produced at Uppsala University in cooperation with doctoral candidates there, to reveal process-performance correlations and suggest the strategies for reducing corresponding degradation rates. The best performing alloys will be tested in vitro at Hydrumedical using in house developed flow-through system. The objectives of this work are: i) to unveil the driving force of the micro-galvanic corrosion onset; ii) propose several approaches to reduce the micro-galvanic corrosion; iii) experimentally validate most practical approaches.

Research stays are planned at: Uppsala Universitet, Sweden, and Hydrumedical, Braga, Portugal

Supervisors: Dr. Sviatlana Lamaka, Prof. Cecilia Persson, Prof. Mikhail Zheludkevich

To be eligible as a MSCA (Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions) doctoral candidate, you must i) not have a doctoral degree at the date of recruitment, ii) not be enrolled in a doctoral program, and iii) comply with a mobility rule requiring you to not have resided or carried out your main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the host country (Germany) for more than 12 months in the 36 months prior to recruitment (i.e. this includes online activities).

Master’s degree and documented experience and knowledge in either of the following: materials science, biomedical engineering, chemistry, chemical engineering, materials engineering, engineering physics, or a related field, or other education considered equivalent to these qualifications. We require good oral and written skills in English.

It is advantageous to have experience in one or more of the following areas:

Great emphasis is put on personal qualities such as the ability to independently plan and carry out work. You have a good ability to work towards set goals and you work focused to achieve them. In this, you have an ability to focus, even during periods of high workload. You have good communication skills, where through this quality you cooperate well with others. You also have a good ability to write academic texts.

The application should be written in English.

PhD students employed through the Marie Sklodowska Curie Doctoral Network will receive a salary in accordance with the Marie Curie regulations for doctoral candidates for the time of their fellowship (36 months). Taking into account the living allowance (with the coefficient of 101.2% for Germany), mobility and family allowances (when eligible) and subtracting the employer contributions, the gross salary in Germany is 3719,13 eur/month (or 4233,93 eur/month with family allowance if eligible). Social security contributions and income tax will be deducted from this gross salary before payment of the net salary to the doctoral candidate.
This employment is a temporary position. Scope of employment 100 %. Starting date 1st March 2026 or as agreed upon. Placement: Geesthacht (near Hamburg), Germany.

Severely disabled persons and those equaling severely disabled persons who are equally suitable for the position will be considered preferentially within the framework of legal requirements.