Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowships - in the field of “Liquid Feedstock Thermal Spraying of High Entropy Oxide Coatings”

Thermal spraying (TS) has been one of the important pillars of production technologies’ research at University West for the past two decades and the University’s Thermal Spray Group has rapidly progressed to be acknowledged as a global leader in TS research. A high-power axial-feed capable atmospheric plasma spray (APS) system and a high velocity air-fuel (HVAF) facility lend a rare uniqueness and versatility to the group’s processing capabilities, which are further complemented by a range of allied equipment for process monitoring, coating characterization and performance assessment of diverse functional coatings that constitute the group’s current portfolio. This portfolio currently includes thermal spraying for thermal barrier, wear, corrosion, biocompatible, superhydrophobic and luminescence applications as well as coatings for repair & remanufacture.

Apart from closely collaborating with premier international universities and institutes that pursue thermal spray research, the group has a long history of undertaking cutting-edge research projects. These projects not only address existing technological needs of the Swedish industry but also demonstrate possibilities for the future through development in processing strategies and/or realization of specific function-driven material combinations and coating architectures. As a consequence of its application-oriented research activities, the group has been collaborating with major national and international companies such as Pratt & Whitney, Safran, Saint Gobain, GKN Aerospace, Siemens, Höganäs, Sandvik, Andritz, ABB, Scania, Volvo, MAN Energy Solutions, Oerlikon Metco, Treibacher etc.

The advent of high-entropy alloys potentially represents a significant leap in materials science, as they promise to offer innovative solutions with vastly improved properties. The exceptional attributes of high entropy have garnered significant interest for expanding this concept to generate new classes of high entropy material systems such as high entropy oxides (HEOs), which are single-phase oxide systems typically comprising five or more different metal cations in equiatomic ratios. Compared to single-metal and bimetallic oxide materials, HEOs are acknowledged to exhibit superior properties in many respects, such as a very narrow band gap, high hardness, high-temperature corrosion resistance, exceptional catalytic performance etc. As researchers delve deeper into their potential, it has become apparent that an exciting opportunity exists to explore HEOs not just in bulk form but also as coatings, to fully unlock a wealth of possibilities. Now it is widely acknowledged that the extraordinary properties of HEOs can be translated into applications across a range of fields, such catalysts, dielectrics, magnetic materials, and notably as top coats for next-generation thermal barrier coatings (TBCs), wear coatings and battery components.

Our group, which has considerable experience in all the above target areas, is now embarking on activities specifically intended to assess the potential of HEO coatings deposited by thermal spray routes. The groups ability to work with powders, suspensions, solution precursors as well as their ‘hybrid’ forms as feedstocks lends considerable flexibility to these efforts. We would be delighted for researchers with interest in HEO coatings and a passion for thermal spray to join us on this ride.

MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship

MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship action targets researchers holding a PhD who wish to carry out their research activities abroad, acquire new skills and develop their careers. The objective of PFs is to support researchers’ careers and foster excellence in research. PFs help researchers gain experience in other countries, disciplines and non-academic sectors. Applicant researchers can be of any nationality applying to come to Sweden from any country in the world or moving within Europe. Duration of fellowship between 12 and 24 months. The fellowship can be extended by up to 6 months placement in a company.

Requirements

Education Level: PhD or equivalent

Research Field: Materials Science, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering

Skills: A technical background in and skills related to the following are required:

o   Processing of thermal spray coatings (at least one of the following: APS, SPS, SPPS, HVOF, HVAF)

o   Characterization of coatings (morphology and microstructure by optical & scanning electron microscopy, image analysis, microhardness measurement, phase constitution etc.). Hands-on skills mandatory.

o   Performance evaluation of coatings (at least one of the following: TBC, wear, corrosion, electrochemical testing etc.). Hands-on skills mandatory.

o   Good written & oral communication skills in English

Selection process

If you are interested in working around the project description, please send your application by email to Prof. Shrikant Joshi (shrikant.joshi@hv.se) latest by 15th May 2024. Please include with your email the following:

o   CV (incl. a link to your orchID or other repository),

o   Motivation letter

o   An extended abstract of a research proposal  (max 2 pages) that you would be interested in developing for submission against the MSCA call with our assistance.

The deadline for the MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship application is on 11 September 2024. The interested researcher is required to submit an application together with the host organisation as guided in MSCA PF website. We expect that early selection of a candidate who s we would like to host and support would be desirable in order for the candidate to submit a strong application.

Additional Information

Benefits

The EU provides support to the recruited researcher in the form of

• a living allowance
• a mobility allowance
• if applicable, family, long-term leave and special needs allowances
• research, training and networking activities
• management and indirect costs

University West provides support to the recruited researcher in the form of

• support in research proposal writing and application through the Grants and Innovation Office.
• state of the art research infrastructure
• an international, creative, participatory and inclusive university community

Eligibility criteria

Researchers interested in Postdoctoral Fellowships should have a PhD degree at the time of the deadline for applications. Applicants who have successfully defended their doctoral thesis but who have not yet formally been awarded the doctoral degree will also be considered eligible to apply.

• must have a maximum of eight years experience in research, from the date of the award of their PhD degree, years of experience outside research and career breaks will not count towards the above maximum, nor will years of experience in research in third countries, for nationals or long-term residents of EU Member States or Horizon Europe Associated Countries who wish to reintegrate to Europe
• must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in Sweden for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before the call deadline.
• for the European Postdoctoral Fellowships, candidates with any nationality are eligible
• must be fluent in English (both written and spoken)

Please check carefully the requirements to make sure you are eligible to apply.