PhD Position in Experimental Tribology with a Focus on Bio-Based Lubrication and Bearing Health Monitoring
Title
PhD Position in Experimental Tribology with a Focus on Bio-Based Lubrication and Bearing Health Monitoring
Research area and project description
The primary aim of this PhD project is to conduct performance analysis, optimization, and life cycle assessment of bio-lubricants for bearing applications to contribute the bigger aim of the ‘Forever Bearings’ project. The candidate will engage in the selection and pre-testing of various bio-lubricants, including water-based and biodegradable options. The research encompasses the characterization of tribological performance—focusing on friction, wear, and viscosity degradation—compared to traditional lithium greases. The tests will mainly be conducted on a dedicated home-made test rig for this project.
A comprehensive life cycle assessment will be performed to evaluate the environmental impacts of selected bio-lubricants, covering all phases from raw material extraction to disposal. The candidate will also develop and optimize a relubrication strategy specifically for bio-lubricants based on experimental data collected through advanced testing rigs.
The project utilizes both numerical and experimental techniques, leveraging high-performance computing resources and state-of-the-art experimental facilities available at the AU Tribology Lab.
The project has received financial support from the Innovation Fund Denmark (Innovationsfonden). You will be joining an innovative and exciting cross-disciplinary research team which has excellent infrastructure and access to state-of-the-art experimental and computational facilities for the project. You are expected to autonomously carry out research work under supervision. You may co-supervise students (MSc and BSc) in their projects. You will expand your research portfolio and share your research findings through high-impact publications and presentations at international conferences, contributing to innovative lubrication systems, data acquisition, signal analysis, and structural health monitoring.
The project lies at the intersection of tribology, materials science, and environmental sustainability. It employs experimental techniques to gather essential tribological data, while also utilizing numerical methods to analyse and interpret findings.
Project description
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Qualifications and specific competences
Applicants to the PhD position must have a relevant master’s degree (120 ECTS) or have completed at least one year of a master’s program in Mechanical Engineering/Science, Materials Engineering/Science, or a related field.
The ideal candidate will demonstrate the following:
- Strong background in experimental tribology, lubrication analysis, and data interpretation with hands-on experience with relevant analytical instruments and characterization techniques
- Ability to understand and interpret tribological data, and strong knowledge of metallic and ceramic bearings and machine elements in relative motion
- Proficient in programming languages such as Python and Matlab (advantageous).
- Self-motivated, proactive, team-oriented, and able to work independently in a research setting.
The place of employment is Aarhus University, and the place of work is Department of Mechanical and Production Engineering, Katrinebjergvej 89F, 8200 Aarhus, Denmark.
Contacts
Applicants seeking further information regarding the PhD position are invited to contact:
- Ramin Aghababaei, ra@mpe.au.dk (main supervisor)
- Narguess Nemati, nnemati@mpe.au.dk (co-supervisor)
For information about application requirements and mandatory attachments, please see our application guide. If answers cannot be found there, please contact:
How to apply:
Please follow this link to submit your application.
Application deadline is 15 June 2025 at 23:59 CEST
Preferred starting date is 15 August 2025
Please note:
- Only documents received prior to the application deadline will be evaluated. Thus, documents sent after deadline will not be taken into account.
- The programme committee may request further information or invite the applicant to attend an interview.
- Shortlisting will be used, which means that the evaluation committee only will evaluate the most relevant applications.
Aarhus University’s ambition is to be an attractive and inspiring workplace for all and to foster a culture in which each individual has opportunities to thrive, achieve and develop. We view equality and diversity as assets, and we welcome all applicants. All interested candidates are encouraged to apply, regardless of their personal background. Salary and terms of employment are in accordance with applicable collective agreement.
Please note in your application that you found the job at Jobindex
