PhD Positions, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden (2019)

Organisms have developed efficient ways of minimizing energy. The skin of sharks has microscopic surface structures allowing water to flow over them with low resistance. The rough surface of the lotus leaf provides a self-cleaning property, because water drops easily (almost frictionless) roll off removing small particles from the leaf.

In the Fluids and Surfaces research group (www.bagherigroup.com), we want to understand how these complex surfaces interact with fluids. Our goal is to develop new methods for tailoring the micro- and nanscopic features of surfaces in order to manipulate the dynamics of liquids and gases. Our methods are an important contribution to the sustainable development of a range of high-tech areas. How should the surfaces of vehicles, pipes, batteries, microfluidic systems, etc be designed in order to control friction, heat transfer, mixing and evaporation?

We want to expand our research team with two PhD students with a background in physics, mechanical engineering or materials science. We seek one PhD student with a keen interest for mathematical modelling and scientific computing. The student will develop physical models of porous, viscous and elastic materials and incorporate these models into computational fluid mechanics codes. We seek one PhD student to design and manufacture complex surfaces and characterize their interaction with liquids using a range of experimental tools.

The projects will be carried out in collaboration with supervisors, other members of the research group as well as with international collaborators. It is expected that you can network both within and outside the group; it is therefore important that you are able to communicate and interact with others. The projects are part of a larger multidisciplinary effort at KTH, financed by the Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research and Knut and Alice Wallenberg foundation. A doctoral degree in this area will open up oppurtunies both within academia and industry.

Eligibility

To be admitted to postgraduate education (Chapter 7, 39 § Swedish Higher Education Ordinance), the applicant must have basic eligibility in accordance with either of the following:
- passed a degree at advanced level,
- completed course requirements of at least 240 higher education credits, of which at least 60 higher education credits at advanced level, or
- in any other way acquired within or outside the country acquired essentially equivalent knowledge.

Background in physics, applied mathematics, engineering mechanics, materials science. Specialization in scientific computing and/or experience of experimental work is of great merit.

For more information, please visit the following link:
PhD Positions, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden (2019)