Two Doctoral Researchers in Materials and Mechanical Engineering for Hydrogen-Resistant Steels (PhD) University of Oulu in Finland

University of Oulu is recruiting two Doctoral Researchers for the Materials and Mechanical Engineering Research Unit in the Faculty of Technology. The project, NewGenH2Steel, focuses on developing new-generation hydrogen-resistant steels and sustainable ultrahigh-strength steels for green hydrogen infrastructure and a carbon-neutral society.

The doctoral researchers will join the Steel Fatigue Research Group and work on original research in materials science, mechanical engineering, and metallurgy. Research topics include designing multiphase metastable structures through swift processing, analyzing hydrogen embrittlement resistance, modeling microstructural evolution, and predicting how processing parameters affect material properties. The role also includes experimental validation, dissemination through papers and conferences, and collaboration with interdisciplinary and industry partners.

Selected candidates will receive training in advanced steel characterization, micromechanical property evaluation under static and cyclic loading, physical simulation using state-of-the-art facilities, and CALPHAD-based thermodynamic and numerical modelling. Experience with COMSOL Multiphysics, Abaqus, synchrotron data analysis, and phase-field or diffusion models is considered an advantage.

Eligibility: a master's degree in a relevant field such as Materials Science, Materials Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Metallurgy, or Physics; strong English communication skills; analytical ability; teamwork; and motivation for research. The position is fixed-term for 3.5 years and starts on 2026-09-01 or as soon as possible thereafter.

Funding: salaried doctoral researcher position with a starting gross salary of approximately 2800-3200 EUR/month before taxes, plus a performance-based salary component.

Application deadline: 2026-07-31 at 23:59 Finnish local time. Apply via the University of Oulu recruitment system with a cover letter, CV, initial research plan, and publication list.