PhD position in Aluminium Extrusion

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The Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering (MTP) at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) has a vacancy for a PhD candidate within aluminium extrusion, associated with the Centre for Research-based Innovation SFI FAST – Future Aluminium Structures.

The position is a 3-year doctoral research fellowship starting in 2026. The PhD candidate 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 (Hydro, Benteler Automotive, Raufoss Technology, Speira, Raufoss Aluminium, Renault, etc).

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 (PCS).

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. S/he will have the possibility to obtain a cotutelle (‘dual’) PhD degree between NTNU and University of Bologna, Italy.

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 center.

• 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

Be prepared for changes to your work duties after employment.

• You must have a relevant Master's degree in Mechani