Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (DIMEAS)

Organisation/Company Politecnico di Torino Department Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (DIMEAS) Research Field Engineering » Mechanical engineering Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Positions PhD Positions Application Deadline 31 Aug 2026 - 23:59 (Europe/Rome) Country Italy Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Hours Per Week 40 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?

Horizon

Europe - MSCA Marie Curie Grant Agreement Number 101312790 Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

Objectives : The Project aims to assess the effects of porosity, a recurring manufacturing defect in large structural composite components, on the resultant mechanical performance.

The following methodologies are employed: i) Manufacture, inspect, and test (Quasi Static, QS, fatigue) interlaminar fracture coupons with controlled porosity levels (using standard mode I, II, mixed mode interlaminar fracture coupons, obtain fracture toughness porosity-Knock-Down Factors, KDFs, a ratio between the defect-induced Quantity of Interest (QoI) - e.g. strength - and the pristine one); ii) Implement an existing state-of-art (SoA) fatigue cohesive zone model, including calibration on the characterised properties, into a meso-scale FE modelling approach suitable for industrial application; iii) Design, manufacture, inspect & test (QS, fatigue) representative lab-scale demonstrators (e.g. L-shape unfolding) with different porosity levels; iv) QS modelling & validation of porosity effects at the coupon and demonstrator levels; v) Fatigue modelling and validation, including sensitivity analysis to determine porosity defect criticality when acting as damage precursor to delamination-prone fatigue failure, helping redefine porosity-related Defect Acceptance Criteria (DAC) for structures with QS and fatigue-driven designs.

Expected Results : i) Data set on porosity-dependent KDFs for QS and fatigue interlaminar toughness; ii) Validated numerical method for assessing the effect of porosity on the QS strength and fatigue life of components, contributing to Certification-by-Analysis (CbA) robustness; iii) a methodology for establishing accurate and efficient DAC protocols for porosity defects.

Secondments : The project will involve collaborations and secondments (in total 10 months during the three years) at Leonardo (Italy) and Universität De Girona (Spain).

The DC will be expected to:

Carry out research as outlined in the project's objectives under the supervision of Professors A. Tridello, D.S. Paolino (PoliTo).

Develop expertise in the advanced characterisation of composite materials and generate an extensive dataset describing the mechanical response of composites containing embedded meso- and macro-scale defects;

Design and validate advanced meso-scale Finite Element models;

Attend advanced third-level courses and complete the required Hard and Soft Skills credits (at least 100 hours of hard skills and 40 hours of soft skills).

Contribute to academic publications, project reports, and other dissemination activities.

Collaborate with fellow doctoral candidates within the LEGEND project, utilising synergies between projects.





Actively participate in General Assembly meetings and doctoral training events within LEGEND, distributed across Europe.

Where to apply

E-mail [email protected]

Requirements

Research Field Engineering Education Level Master Degree or equivalent

Skills/Qualifications

Necessary Skills/Qualifications forthis position:

Good experience in experimental testing, mechanical characterization and numerical simulations;

Preferred degree in Mechanical Engineering;

Proficiency with commercial software and tools for structural analyses;

Academic writing;

The ability to work both independently and as part of a team.

The successful candidate will receive a competitive and attractive academic remuneration package following the MSCA regulations for doctoral candidates. The researcher will be recruited under an employment contract that includes social security coverage .

The position is a fixed-term contract appointment of three years.

Expected recruitment date: from November 2026 to January 2027 (Possible flexibility regarding the starting date.)

The financial agevolazioni includes the following*:

Monthly mobility allowance :710 euro/month.

Monthly family allowance , if applicable and depending on the family situation: 660 euro/month.

*The living allowance indicated above is the total EU contributio n to the salary costs of the researcher. The estimated gross salary (approximatively 54378 euro per 12 months) includes both employee and employer's contributions. The net salary is obtained after deducting these contributions (and any other nationally applicable direct taxes (e.g. income tax)) from the gross salary.

The doctoral candidate will also benefit from comprehensive training within the LEGEND network, including participation in specialized Training Events organized by the LEGEND network. Additional opportunities include secondments to partner laboratories, a range of advanced training courses (including transferable skills development), and active engagement in workshops and international conferences, providing a well-rounded and enriching research experience.

Applicants must not already be in possession of a doctoral degree. Researchers who have successfully defended their doctoral thesis but who have not yet formally been awarded the doctoral degree will not be considered eligible.

They must not have resided, worked, or studied in the country of the recruiting Beneficiary institute for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to the date of recruitment. Compulsory national service, short stays such as holidays, and time spent as part of a procedure for obtaining refugee status under the Geneva Convention are not taken into account. For international European research organisations, international organisations, or entities created under Union law, recruited researchers must not have spent more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before their date of recruitment in the same appointing organisation.





The recruitment date is the first day of the employment of the researcher for the purposes of the action (i.e. the starting date indicated in the employment contract or equivalent direct contract).

PoliTo criteria

M.Sc. degree (i.e. 2° level title, as defined by the Bologna Process), issued by an officially recognized academic institution, which grants admission in PhD programs in the country of issuance.

Minimum grade point average for exams taken as indicated in Annex 2.

Certification of English language proficiency at level B2 (as defined by the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), among those listed in Annex 4 of this call for applications, regardless of the date of issuance . Certifications other than those listed in Annex 4 will not be considered . Cases of exemption are indicated in Annex 3.

Selection process LEGEND's recruitment procedure is led by the hiring beneficiary of the specific DC and supervised by the project's Hiring Committee to ensure that all selections are open, transparent, merit-based, supportive of equal opportunities (i.e. unbiased by gender, nationality, etc.), internationally comparable, and consistent with the principles of the European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers.

Applicants may apply for up to five (5) DC positions within LEGEND. They must follow the specific application procedure of each DC position, while ensuring they pass their respective eligibility criteria.

Curriculum Vitae (Following the Europass template)

A brief introduction to yourself and your previous experience, focusing on aspects related to the activities carried out in the project.

A brief motivation as to why you are interested in this position.

Bachelor's and, if available, master's diplomas, transcripts, and thesis (if not subject to restrictions).

Contact information of 2 references .

Supporting documentation for merits listed in the CV (e.g. language certificates or others).

Declaration of Honour for Mobility Rule (see Annex 1)

A background check may be conducted as part of the application process. The original diplomas and transcripts should be available before enrollment to PoliTO.

Note : The applicant is responsible for ensuring that the application and the documentation provided is complete. Only the documents provided by email before the deadline will be considered.

Note: Candidates selected for the Interview will need to upload the missing documentation (see Eligibility Criteria) on Polito website, Apply@polito.

Additional comments The candidate will be working at the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (DIMEAS), Politecnico di Torino, Italy, within the Mechanics of Advanced Materials group. The Politecnico di Torino, founded in 1906 from the roots of the Technical School for Engineers created in 1859, has a long-standing tradition of leadership of polytechnic culture. It is one of the most important universities in Europe for engineering and architecture studies.

Currently it is among the top Engineering and Technology universities in the world, the 53rd according to the QS University Rankings 2026 by broad Subject, the 18th in Architecture and Built Environment, 38th for Civil and Structural Engineering and 30th in Mechanical, Aeronautical and Manufacturing by Subject.

📌 1 PhD position in MSCA Doctoral Network - DC 14: Assessing porosity effects on the QS strength [...] (Roma)
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