PhD Position Effect of Tramp Elements in Martensitic Stainless Steels

Job description
As the steel industry moves towards a more sustainable future, increasing the use of recycled scrap is becoming essential. However, recycled steel often contains residual alloying elements that are difficult to remove and are carried over into newly produced steels. These so-called “tramp elements” or impurities can significantly affect steel quality, causing issues ranging from surface cracking during processing to the formation of undesirable phases in the final microstructure.

This challenge is particularly relevant for martensitic stainless steels, a technologically important class of materials whose outstanding properties depend on a carefully controlled microstructure. Understanding how impurity elements influence these steels is therefore critical for enabling a circular and resource-efficient steel industry.

In this PhD project, you will investigate which impurity elements are most critical for martensitic stainless steels, where they originate from, and how they accumulate throughout recycling loops. Combining advanced characterization, materials science, and metallurgical insight, you will explore how these elements affect microstructure evolution, processing behaviour, and ultimately material performance. Where possible, strategies to mitigate their negative effects will also be examined.

The project offers an exciting opportunity to address a fundamental scientific challenge with direct industrial relevance. By improving our understanding of impurities in recycled steels, you will contribute to the development of more sustainable steel production routes while helping to unlock higher recycled content without compromising quality or performance.

We are looking for an ambitious PhD-researcher to join this project. As a PhD-researcher, you will work in a stimulating academic environment and collaborate with leading industrial partners. You will also have the opportunity to contribute to the academic community through discussions, the co-supervision of students, and guest lectures.

Job requirements
We seek an outstanding, motivated and enthusiastic researcher with experience in microstructure development in metals and physical metallurgy. Applicant must:

• hold an MSc-degree in the field of materials science or related disciplines, such as solid-state physics or materials engineering, with a solid background in metal science.
• have experience with microstructural characterization.
• have a critical, curious, and creative approach to the research, with excellent problem-solving skills and communication skills.
• have proven experience in writing scientific reports.
• have the motivation to work in an international, multidisciplinary, and academic-industrial team.
• be willing to participate in educational activities such as guest lectures.
• have proven excellent written and spoken English skills.

TU Delft (Delft University of Technology)
Working at TU Delft means contributing to solutions that really make a difference.

For over 180 years, we have been training engineers who make an impact worldwide in companies, government bodies, or as entrepreneurs. Our alumni turn knowledge into concrete solutions for the challenges of today and tomorrow.

These challenges are changing rapidly. That is why we focus on themes such as energy, climate, digitalisation, artificial intelligence (AI), and smart mobility every day. Our education and research are directly aligned with what society needs now and in the future.

At TU Delft, our people make the difference. With their knowledge and curiosity, our staff provide a high-quality education and conduct pioneering research that extends beyond the campus. You will have the opportunity to take the initiative, work with others, and grow as a professional.

Working at TU Delft means join an international community of professionals and students. Together, we create knowledge, innovations, and solutions that help move the world forward.

Faculty Mechanical Engineering
From chip to ship. From machine to human being. From idea to solution. Driven by a deep-rooted desire to understand our environment and discover its underlying mechanisms, research and education at the ME faculty focusses on fundamental understanding, design, production including application and product improvement, materials, processes and (mechanical) systems.

ME is a dynamic and innovative faculty with high-tech lab facilities and international reach. It’s a large faculty but also versatile, so we can often make unique connections by combining different disciplines. This is reflected in ME’s outstanding, state-of-the-art education, which trains students to become responsible and socially engaged engineers and scientists. We translate our knowledge and insights into solutions to societal issues, contributing to a sustainable society and to the development of prosperity and well-being. That is what unites us in pioneering research, inspiring education and (inter)national cooperation.

Click here to go to the website of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering. Do you want to experience working at our faculty? These videos will introduce you to some of our researchers and their work.

PhD Position Effect of Tramp Elements in Martensitic Stainless Steels

Job description
As the steel industry moves towards a more sustainable future, increasing the use of recycled scrap is becoming essential. However, recycled steel often contains residual alloying elements that are difficult to remove and are carried over into newly produced steels. These so-called “tramp elements” or impurities can significantly affect steel quality, causing issues ranging from surface cracking during processing to the formation of undesirable phases in the final microstructure.

This challenge is particularly relevant for martensitic stainless steels, a technologically important class of materials whose outstanding properties depend on a carefully controlled microstructure. Understanding how impurity elements influence these steels is therefore critical for enabling a circular and resource-efficient steel industry.

In this PhD project, you will investigate which impurity elements are most critical for martensitic stainless steels, where they originate from, and how they accumulate throughout recycling loops. Combining advanced characterization, materials science, and metallurgical insight, you will explore how these elements affect microstructure evolution, processing behaviour, and ultimately material performance. Where possible, strategies to mitigate their negative effects will also be examined.

The project offers an exciting opportunity to address a fundamental scientific challenge with direct industrial relevance. By improving our understanding of impurities in recycled steels, you will contribute to the development of more sustainable steel production routes while helping to unlock higher recycled content without compromising quality or performance.

We are looking for an ambitious PhD-researcher to join this project. As a PhD-researcher, you will work in a stimulating academic environment and collaborate with leading industrial partners. You will also have the opportunity to contribute to the academic community through discussions, the co-supervision of students, and guest lectures.

Job requirements
We seek an outstanding, motivated and enthusiastic researcher with experience in microstructure development in metals and physical metallurgy. Applicant must:

• hold an MSc-degree in the field of materials science or related disciplines, such as solid-state physics or materials engineering, with a solid background in metal science.
• have experience with microstructural characterization.
• have a critical, curious, and creative approach to the research, with excellent problem-solving skills and communication skills.
• have proven experience in writing scientific reports.
• have the motivation to work in an international, multidisciplinary, and academic-industrial team.
• be willing to participate in educational activities such as guest lectures.
• have proven excellent written and spoken English skills.

TU Delft (Delft University of Technology)
Working at TU Delft means contributing to solutions that really make a difference.

For over 180 years, we have been training engineers who make an impact worldwide in companies, government bodies, or as entrepreneurs. Our alumni turn knowledge into concrete solutions for the challenges of today and tomorrow.

These challenges are changing rapidly. That is why we focus on themes such as energy, climate, digitalisation, artificial intelligence (AI), and smart mobility every day. Our education and research are directly aligned with what society needs now and in the future.

At TU Delft, our people make the difference. With their knowledge and curiosity, our staff provide a high-quality education and conduct pioneering research that extends beyond the campus. You will have the opportunity to take the initiative, work with others, and grow as a professional.

Working at TU Delft means join an international community of professionals and students. Together, we create knowledge, innovations, and solutions that help move the world forward.

Faculty Mechanical Engineering
From chip to ship. From machine to human being. From idea to solution. Driven by a deep-rooted desire to understand our environment and discover its underlying mechanisms, research and education at the ME faculty focusses on fundamental understanding, design, production including application and product improvement, materials, processes and (mechanical) systems.

ME is a dynamic and innovative faculty with high-tech lab facilities and international reach. It’s a large faculty but also versatile, so we can often make unique connections by combining different disciplines. This is reflected in ME’s outstanding, state-of-the-art education, which trains students to become responsible and socially engaged engineers and scientists. We translate our knowledge and insights into solutions to societal issues, contributing to a sustainable society and to the development of prosperity and well-being. That is what unites us in pioneering research, inspiring education and (inter)national cooperation.

Click here to go to the website of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering. Do you want to experience working at our faculty? These videos will introduce you to some of our researchers and their work.

EngD - Zeolite Granules for Wastewater Treatment

Job description

Would you like to extend your knowledge, practical work experience and get an Engineering doctorate degree (EngD -> this is not a PhD position) in the water sector in only two years’ time? The faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences of Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) offers you a program where you will find a solution for a technical, integrated and complex problem in cooperation with multiple partners. You study, on average, two days per week at the TU Delft, following dedicated courses tailored for a professional project execution, and apply your learnings three days per week on the project in practice.

The scope of the 2-year project is the evaluation of newly developed zeolite granules in a pilot-scale fixed bed reactor over a period of 1 year, aiming to increase the removal of a set of OMPs to >80%. Your role is geared towards bridging the gap between pilot and full-scale application of high-silica zeolite granules.

Zeolites are crystalline, microporous materials which are potentially more selective than activated carbon for OMP removal in treated effluent. Previous research at TU Delft and elsewhere has shown fast kinetics and high adsorption capacity for OMPs on zeolites in water with competing ions and small organic compounds. Granular zeolites have been developed over the past 8 years in an integrated adsorption-oxidation process called AdOx. The AdOx process combines the adsorption of OMPs on zeolite granules with on-site regeneration via ozonation. In contrast to the better known ozone-GAC process, AdOx involves the bed of granular high-silica zeolites to be dried and oxidized with ozone gas to avoid the formation of bromate. The key to adapt AdOx for long-term, full-scale application is to develop strong, wear-resistant, but porous granules.

You will take on the challenge to improve the AdOx process to achieve the requirements of the recast urban water directive for OMPs (80% OMP removal for a set of OMPs), assess the feasibility for full-scale applications based on the pilot performance, cost estimation and market recommendations. You will become part of a team of adsorption researchers working on zeolites at TU Delft and work collaboratively with technology developers and potential end-users.

You will:

• Drive and inform the design and selection of high-silica zeolites granules together with EuroSupport.
• Accompany the development and operation of a pilot platform for testing granules in real wastewater effluent onsite.
• Evaluate the performance of the new AdOx process and granules.
• Design a full-scale AdOx treatment process including a techno-economic evaluation.

The position is offered by Dr. Kim Lompe, Dr. Sanne Smith and Prof. Dr. Luuk Rietveld at TU Delft. Evides Industry Water and Colubris CleanTech are the direct industry partners. All supervisors will provide their specific expertise in adsorption and/or water treatment.

Job requirements
Need-to-haves:

• MSc in water treatment, Environmental Engineering or a related field.
• Laboratory skills for basic water analysis and willingness to learn more advanced sample preparation and data analysis.
• Data analysis skills for statistical analysis and data visualization and willingness to improve these skills.
• Initiative and engineering spirit to solve problems hands-on.
• Good communication skills to communicate with supervisor and colleagues.
• English Proficiency Test IELTS of 7.0 (scores of at least 6.5 in all sections) or TOEFL of 100 (scores of at least 2.1 for all sections). For more details please check the Graduate Schools Admission Requirements.

Nice-to-haves

• Experience working with adsorption materials.
• R and Python skills.
• If your native language is not English and you do not hold a degree from an institution in which English is the language of instruction, you must submit proof of English proficiency from either TOEFL (minimum total score of 100) or IELTS (minimum total score of 7.0). Proof of English language proficiency certificates older than two years are not accepted.

TU Delft (Delft University of Technology)
Working at TU Delft means contributing to solutions that really make a difference.

For over 180 years, we have been training engineers who make an impact worldwide in companies, government bodies, or as entrepreneurs. Our alumni turn knowledge into concrete solutions for the challenges of today and tomorrow. These challenges are changing rapidly. That is why we focus on themes such as energy, climate, digitalisation, artificial intelligence (AI), and smart mobility every day. Our education and research are directly aligned with what society needs now and in the future.

At TU Delft, our people make the difference. With their knowledge and curiosity, our staff provide a high-quality education and conduct pioneering research that extends beyond the campus. You will have the opportunity to take the initiative, work with others, and grow as a professional. Working at TU Delft means join an international community of professionals and students. Together, we create knowledge, innovations, and solutions that help move the world forward.

Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences
The Faculty of Civil Engineering & Geosciences (CEG) is committed to outstanding international research and education in the field of civil engineering, applied earth sciences, traffic and transport, water technology, and delta technology. Our research feeds into our educational programmes and covers societal challenges such as climate change, energy transition, resource availability, urbanisation and clean water. Our research projects are conducted in close cooperation with a wide range of research institutions. CEG is convinced of the importance of open science and supports its scientists in integrating open science in their research practice. The Faculty of CEG comprises 28 research groups in the following seven departments: Materials Mechanics Management & Design, Engineering Structures, Geoscience and Engineering, Geoscience and Remote Sensing, Transport & Planning, Hydraulic Engineering and Water Management.

Click here to go to the website of the Faculty of Civil Engineering & Geosciences.

EngD - Zeolite Granules for Wastewater Treatment

Job description

Would you like to extend your knowledge, practical work experience and get an Engineering doctorate degree (EngD -> this is not a PhD position) in the water sector in only two years’ time? The faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences of Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) offers you a program where you will find a solution for a technical, integrated and complex problem in cooperation with multiple partners. You study, on average, two days per week at the TU Delft, following dedicated courses tailored for a professional project execution, and apply your learnings three days per week on the project in practice.

The scope of the 2-year project is the evaluation of newly developed zeolite granules in a pilot-scale fixed bed reactor over a period of 1 year, aiming to increase the removal of a set of OMPs to >80%. Your role is geared towards bridging the gap between pilot and full-scale application of high-silica zeolite granules.

Zeolites are crystalline, microporous materials which are potentially more selective than activated carbon for OMP removal in treated effluent. Previous research at TU Delft and elsewhere has shown fast kinetics and high adsorption capacity for OMPs on zeolites in water with competing ions and small organic compounds. Granular zeolites have been developed over the past 8 years in an integrated adsorption-oxidation process called AdOx. The AdOx process combines the adsorption of OMPs on zeolite granules with on-site regeneration via ozonation. In contrast to the better known ozone-GAC process, AdOx involves the bed of granular high-silica zeolites to be dried and oxidized with ozone gas to avoid the formation of bromate. The key to adapt AdOx for long-term, full-scale application is to develop strong, wear-resistant, but porous granules.

You will take on the challenge to improve the AdOx process to achieve the requirements of the recast urban water directive for OMPs (80% OMP removal for a set of OMPs), assess the feasibility for full-scale applications based on the pilot performance, cost estimation and market recommendations. You will become part of a team of adsorption researchers working on zeolites at TU Delft and work collaboratively with technology developers and potential end-users.

You will:

• Drive and inform the design and selection of high-silica zeolites granules together with EuroSupport.
• Accompany the development and operation of a pilot platform for testing granules in real wastewater effluent onsite.
• Evaluate the performance of the new AdOx process and granules.
• Design a full-scale AdOx treatment process including a techno-economic evaluation.

The position is offered by Dr. Kim Lompe, Dr. Sanne Smith and Prof. Dr. Luuk Rietveld at TU Delft. Evides Industry Water and Colubris CleanTech are the direct industry partners. All supervisors will provide their specific expertise in adsorption and/or water treatment.

Job requirements
Need-to-haves:

• MSc in water treatment, Environmental Engineering or a related field.
• Laboratory skills for basic water analysis and willingness to learn more advanced sample preparation and data analysis.
• Data analysis skills for statistical analysis and data visualization and willingness to improve these skills.
• Initiative and engineering spirit to solve problems hands-on.
• Good communication skills to communicate with supervisor and colleagues.
• English Proficiency Test IELTS of 7.0 (scores of at least 6.5 in all sections) or TOEFL of 100 (scores of at least 2.1 for all sections). For more details please check the Graduate Schools Admission Requirements.

Nice-to-haves

• Experience working with adsorption materials.
• R and Python skills.
• If your native language is not English and you do not hold a degree from an institution in which English is the language of instruction, you must submit proof of English proficiency from either TOEFL (minimum total score of 100) or IELTS (minimum total score of 7.0). Proof of English language proficiency certificates older than two years are not accepted.

TU Delft (Delft University of Technology)
Working at TU Delft means contributing to solutions that really make a difference.

For over 180 years, we have been training engineers who make an impact worldwide in companies, government bodies, or as entrepreneurs. Our alumni turn knowledge into concrete solutions for the challenges of today and tomorrow. These challenges are changing rapidly. That is why we focus on themes such as energy, climate, digitalisation, artificial intelligence (AI), and smart mobility every day. Our education and research are directly aligned with what society needs now and in the future.

At TU Delft, our people make the difference. With their knowledge and curiosity, our staff provide a high-quality education and conduct pioneering research that extends beyond the campus. You will have the opportunity to take the initiative, work with others, and grow as a professional. Working at TU Delft means join an international community of professionals and students. Together, we create knowledge, innovations, and solutions that help move the world forward.

Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences
The Faculty of Civil Engineering & Geosciences (CEG) is committed to outstanding international research and education in the field of civil engineering, applied earth sciences, traffic and transport, water technology, and delta technology. Our research feeds into our educational programmes and covers societal challenges such as climate change, energy transition, resource availability, urbanisation and clean water. Our research projects are conducted in close cooperation with a wide range of research institutions. CEG is convinced of the importance of open science and supports its scientists in integrating open science in their research practice. The Faculty of CEG comprises 28 research groups in the following seven departments: Materials Mechanics Management & Design, Engineering Structures, Geoscience and Engineering, Geoscience and Remote Sensing, Transport & Planning, Hydraulic Engineering and Water Management.

Click here to go to the website of the Faculty of Civil Engineering & Geosciences.

PhD Position in Decoding the Microbial Nitrogen Cycle for Climate Resilience

Job description

Nitrogen-cycling microorganisms play pivotal ecological roles across ecosystems and scales, yet anthropogenic activities are perturbing global nitrogen fluxes beyond sustainable limits. Excess nitrogen accumulates in the environment, triggering a microbially mediated cascade of impacts ranging from eutrophication to emissions of the potent greenhouse gas N2O. This PhD project aims to advance our mechanistic understanding of how nitrogen-cycling microbial communities assemble and function, laying the foundation for effective strategies to mitigate anthropogenic impacts and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Specifically, you will systematically study how the co-occurrence of nitrogenous substrates shapes the genomic and functional signatures of nitrogen-cycling microbial communities and their emergent phenotypes, including the ecophysiological roles of overlooked intermediates. You will combine experimental and theoretical systems microbiology approaches, including high-throughput bioreactor cultivations, multi-meta-omics (metagenomics and metaproteomics), and mathematical modelling. You will work in a highly interdisciplinary environment at the interface of environmental biotechnology and engineering, systems microbiology, and computational biology, with ample opportunities to develop your own scientific ideas.

Job requirements
The ideal candidate will have the following 'Need-to-haves':

• MSc in Chemical or Environmental Engineering, Systems Microbiology, Computational Biology or Bioinformatics, or a closely related field.
• Demonstrable laboratory experience and a strong interest in the design and operation of laboratory-scale bioreactors.
• An independent, self-motivated, and curiosity-driven mindset.
• Strong analytical skills combined with a scientific mindset and a hands-on mentality.
• Excellent spoken and written English.

Nice-to-haves:

• Experience with metagenomics and/or metaproteomics, including wet-lab procedures and bioinformatic analyses.
• Experience with Linux and scientific programming in R and/or Python.

If your native language is not English and you do not hold a degree from an institution in which English is the language of instruction, you must submit proof of English proficiency from either TOEFL (minimum total score of 100) or IELTS (minimum total score of 7.0). Proof of English language proficiency certificates older than two years are not accepted.

TU Delft (Delft University of Technology)
Working at TU Delft means contributing to solutions that really make a difference.

For over 180 years, we have been training engineers who make an impact worldwide in companies, government bodies, or as entrepreneurs. Our alumni turn knowledge into concrete solutions for the challenges of today and tomorrow. These challenges are changing rapidly. That is why we focus on themes such as energy, climate, digitalisation, artificial intelligence (AI), and smart mobility every day. Our education and research are directly aligned with what society needs now and in the future.

At TU Delft, our people make the difference. With their knowledge and curiosity, our staff provide a high-quality education and conduct pioneering research that extends beyond the campus. You will have the opportunity to take the initiative, work with others, and grow as a professional. Working at TU Delft means join an international community of professionals and students. Together, we create knowledge, innovations, and solutions that help move the world forward.

The Faculty of Civil Engineering & Geosciences
The Faculty of Civil Engineering & Geosciences (CEG) is committed to outstanding international research and education in the field of civil engineering, applied earth sciences, traffic and transport, water technology, and delta technology. Our research feeds into our educational programmes and covers societal challenges such as climate change, energy transition, resource availability, urbanisation and clean water. Our research projects are conducted in close cooperation with a wide range of research institutions. CEG is convinced of the importance of open science and supports its scientists in integrating open science in their research practice. The Faculty of CEG comprises 28 research groups in the following seven departments: Materials Mechanics Management & Design, Engineering Structures, Geoscience and Engineering, Geoscience and Remote Sensing, Transport & Planning, Hydraulic Engineering and Water Management.

Click here to go to the website of the Faculty of Civil Engineering & Geosciences.