Fully Funded PhD Positions in Digitalization, Circularity, LCA, and AI for Refractory Materials (REFFRACTEUR Doctoral Network) Université de Limoges in United Kingdom

REFFRACTEUR is a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Doctoral Network recruiting 15 fully funded PhD positions across Europe. The project focuses on refractory materials and the digital and circular transition of industry, combining academic research with industrial impact.

The advertised PhD topics span digital product passports, data integration, life cycle assessment (LCA), ecodesign, semantic data models, cloud-based industrial platforms, AI-based sorting and classification, machine learning, and digital twins. The network aims to improve traceability, recycling efficiency, circularity, and low-carbon industrial processes for spent refractory materials.

Examples of research directions include developing a digital product passport for refractory raw materials, assessing environmental impacts of ladle refractory configurations, building interoperable data platforms for circular life-cycle applications, and automating quality control and classification of spent refractory fine fractions. The work is strongly interdisciplinary and intersectoral, with collaboration between universities and industrial partners.

Academic partners mentioned include the Université de Liège, Technical University of Leoben, and University of South-Eastern Norway, alongside industrial partners such as RHI Magnesita, Vesuvius, and Siemens. The post highlights training across multiple European countries and direct exposure to real industrial challenges.

Eligibility in the post explicitly mentions candidates who have completed a Master’s in engineering, materials science, or data science. No specific GPA, language test, or nationality restriction is stated in the provided text. The positions are described as fully funded, but no stipend amount is given.

To apply, candidates should visit the REFFRACTEUR website and follow the recruitment instructions on the dedicated PhD recruitment procedures page. The post directs applicants to the project website for full details and application steps.