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VAC-2026-40 – PhD Candidate in Numerical Modelling of Tool Wear and Failure Mechanisms in Friction Stir Welding


  • Department: R4. Solid and fluid simulation for Industrial Processes
  • Category: Students (R o I)
  • Location: Barcelona (Spain)
  • Working day: Full time
  • Sector: Services
  • Vacancies: 1
  • Discipline: Other
  • Work modality: On site

CIMNE

The International Centre for Numerical Methods in Engineering (CIMNE) is a R&D&I centre established in 1987, focused on research, technology transfer, and the dissemination of computational engineering and numerical methods in engineering.

CIMNE is a publicly owned institution, structured as a consortium between the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya – BarcelonaTech (UPC), the Government of Catalonia, and UNESCO. Headquartered in Barcelona and part of the CERCA network of research centres in Catalonia, CIMNE has become a leading research institution in computational mechanics and engineering. Throughout its history, it has driven advances in civil, mechanical, environmental, biomedical, and interdisciplinary engineering, as well as computational physics.

The centre boasts a large international team of researchers and promotes academic exchange through a network of CIMNE Classrooms across Spain and Latin America. It has participated in thousands of research and technology projects in collaboration with companies, universities, and institutions worldwide.

Combining education and innovation, CIMNE offers master’s programmes, seminars, and doctoral training in partnership with academic institutions from around the globe. Its Publications Department disseminates research results through academic papers, while its active organisation of international conferences helps build bridges between academia and industry. As a pioneer in technology transfer, CIMNE has also launched several spin-off companies to commercialise its innovative developments.

Job description

Number of places: 1

Category: PHD1

Workplace: Barcelona (Spain)

Salary (gross): 25.079,88 €

Weekly working hours: 40 hours

Contract type: Permanent contract linked to scientific and/or technical activities

 

CIMNE is looking for a PhD candidate to join the Research and Technical Development (RTD) Group on Solid and Fluid Simulation for Industrial Processes.

 

The position is framed within the MCIU national project DT-FSW (Digital Twin for High-Performance Components Production via Friction Stir Welding Process) and the European RFCS project ORBISTIR (Cost-effective and sustainable girth welding of steel pipelines for operation in extreme conditions). The doctoral research will focus on the development of advanced computational methodologies for the prediction of wear, damage evolution, crack initiation and crack propagation in tools used in Friction Stir Welding (FSW) of advanced steel pipelines.

 

Functions to be developed:

  • Development of thermo-mechanical finite element models for Friction Stir Welding tools.
  • Investigation of tool wear and damage mechanisms under severe thermo-mechanical loading conditions.
  • Numerical modelling of crack initiation and crack propagation in tools using advanced fracture mechanics approaches.
  • Calibration and validation of computational models using experimental data.
  • Development of predictive methodologies for tool lifetime assessment and failure prediction.
  • Application of machine learning techniques for tool health monitoring and prognosis.
  • Dissemination of research results through scientific publications, conference presentations, and completion of a PhD thesis.

 

Qualification system:

The requisites and merits will be evaluated with a maximum note of 100 points. Such maximal note will be obtained summing up the following points:

  • Academic qualifications: 20%
  • Training and development: 25%
  • Professional experience: 10%
  • Knowledge of the Catalan language: 5%
  • Knowledge of the English language: 10%
  • Selective tests and interview: 30% 

 

The deadline for registration to the offer ends on September 15, 2026 at 12 noon.

 

The preselected candidates may be requested to send the documentation required in the "Requirements" and "Merits" sections, duly scanned, and may be called to go through selection tests (which might be of eliminatory nature) and / or personal interviews.

 

However, priority will be given to applications from personnel affiliated with the CIMNE consortium entities, the Polytechnic University of Catalonia (UPC), and the Government of Catalonia, provided they meet the requirements established in this call.

 

This contract is carried out within the framework of project PID2023-147968OB-I00, funded by MICIU/AEI (10.13039/501100011033) and by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), European Union.

 

Commitment to inclusitvity:

At CIMNE, we champion workplace equity, diversity, and inclusion. We're committed to fostering a culture where everyone can thrive, leveraging diverse talents and backgrounds. We welcome all applicants regardless of color, religion, gender, origin, abilities, gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy or any other characteristic. Join us in building a community that values, celebrates, and respects every individual.

 

Quota Reservation:
In line with our commitment to inclusion, we reserve a percentage of our workforce for people with disabilities. We especially encourage these individuals to apply.

 

HR Excellence in Research:

CIMNE supports the principles of the European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers of the European Commission, which promote a transparent, attractive, and open research labor market. In recognition of its commitment to these values, CIMNE has obtained the HRS4R (Human Resources Strategy for Researchers) seal of excellence, awarded by the European Commission. This distinction certifies that the center applies human resources policies aligned with European quality standards.

CIMNE’s HRS4R strategy includes an action plan with concrete measures, both short- and long-term, to ensure a stimulating and high-quality work environment for all research staff. You can find more information here.

 

Requirements

Required skills:

  • Master's Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Computational Engineering, Applied Mathematics, Physics, Materials Engineering or related disciplines.
  • Eligibility for admission to a PhD programme.
  • Strong background in Computational Mechanics, Solid Mechanics and Numerical Methods.
  • Knowledge of the Finite Element Method.
  • Programming skills (Python & Fortran).
  • Good written and spoken English.

 

Other valued skills (not mandatory):

  • Research experience in fracture mechanics.
  • Research experience in damage mechanics.
  • Knowledge of crack initiation and crack propagation modelling.
  • Experience with finite element software development.
  • Experience with machine learning and data-driven modelling.
  • Experience with high-performance computing.
  • Previous scientific publications.

  • Department: R4. Solid and fluid simulation for Industrial Processes
  • Category: Students (R o I)
  • Location: Barcelona (Spain)
  • Working day: Full time
  • Sector: Services
  • Vacancies: 1
  • Discipline: Other
  • Work modality: On site