Experimental PhD Position Understanding Hydrogen Effects in Sustainable Steel Bearings Delft • TU Delft

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Can steel bearings be reborn stronger, greener, and safer? At TU Delft, we believe they can! 

Join the Extreme Materials & Mechanics (X2M) Group at the Department of Materials Science and Engineering (MSE), TU Delft, in a cutting-edge PhD project in collaboration with SKF, a global leader in bearing technology. This research is part of the national Groeien met Groen Staal (GGS) programme, which aims to transform the Dutch steel industry into a circular, CO₂-neutral sector by 2050.

Bearings are essential to modern infrastructure, powering everything from trains to turbines. Remanufacturing them can reduce CO₂ emissions by up to 90%—but there's a hidden challenge: hydrogen degradation.

During service in corrosive environments, hydrogen atoms generated by corrosion can penetrate the steel, becoming trapped at microstructural defects. These trapped atoms silently weaken the material, reducing fatigue life and increasing the risk of failure—even when the surface appears clean.

We are seeking a motivated PhD researcher to investigate how hydrogen affects remanufactured bearing steels and to develop strategies for safer, more sustainable reuse. This project will focus on:

• Quantifying hydrogen absorption and desorption in bearing steels.
• Studying hydrogen’s impact on static strength and fatigue performance.
• Developing microstructure-based guidelines for safe reuse.
• Supporting the design of hydrogen-resistant remanufacturing processes.

You’ll work with advanced experimental techniques such as Thermal Desorption Spectroscopy (TDS), SEM, XPS, and in-situ mechanical testing, while collaborating closely with Localized Corrosion and Electrochemistry team at MSE deparment and SKF’s R&D and remanufacturing centers.

The expected start date is September 2025 (but can be later, depending on the candidate's availability and immigration procedures); the contract duration is 4 years.

It is highly recommended that the candidate is familiar with (or has a strong interest in):

• Hydrogen-material interactions, mechanics, and sustainability.

• Experience with experimental microstructural and mechanical characterization is a plus.

Other job requirements:

• MSc degree in Materials Science, Metallurgy, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field.

• excellent analytical skills, initiative, inventiveness, curiosity, diligence, and critical thinking.

• ability to work with scientific and industrial partners.

• strong communication skills (high English proficiency), team player, and good social behaviour.     

Delft University of Technology is built on strong foundations. As creators of the world-famous Dutch waterworks and pioneers in biotech, TU Delft is a top international university combining science, engineering and design. It delivers world class results in education, research and innovation to address challenges in the areas of energy, climate, mobility, health and digital society. For generations, our engineers have proven to be entrepreneurial problem-solvers, both in business and in a social context.

At TU Delft we embrace diversity as one of our core values and we actively engage to be a university where you feel at home and can flourish. We value different perspectives and qualities. We believe this makes our work more innovative, the TU Delft community more vibrant and the world more just. Together, we imagine, invent and create solutions using technology to have a positive impact on a global scale. That is why we invite you to apply. Your application will receive fair consideration.

Challenge. Change. Impact!

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.

Doctoral candidates will be offered a 4-year period of employment in principle, but in the form of 2 employment contracts. An initial 1,5 year contract with an official go/no go progress assessment within 15 months. Followed by an additional contract for the remaining 2,5 years assuming everything goes well and performance requirements are met. 

Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, increasing from € 2872 per month in the first year to € 3670 in the fourth year. As a PhD candidate you will be enrolled in the TU Delft Graduate School. The TU Delft Graduate School provides an inspiring research environment with an excellent team of supervisors, academic staff and a mentor. The Doctoral Education Programme is aimed at developing your transferable, discipline-related and research skills. 

The TU Delft offers a customisable compensation package, discounts on health insurance, and a monthly work costs contribution. Flexible work schedules can be arranged.  

Will you need to relocate to the Netherlands for this job? TU Delft is committed to make your move as smooth as possible! The HR unit, Coming to Delft Service, offers information on their website to help you prepare your relocation. In addition, Coming to Delft Service organises events to help you settle in the Netherlands, and expand your (social) network in Delft. A Dual Career Programme is available, to support your accompanying partner with their job search in the Netherlands.  

Specific technical questions regarding the vacancy can be sent to Vera Popovich (via de button "Solliciteer nu" op deze pagina.).  

Are you interested in this vacancy? Please apply no later than 6 July 2025 via the application button and upload the following documents:

• Your detailed CV.
• Cover (motivation) letter.
• Two references.
• The abstract of your MSc thesis in English. 

You can address your application to Vera Popovich.

Doing a PhD at TU Delft requires English proficiency at a certain level to ensure that the candidate is able to communicate and interact well, participate in English-taught Doctoral Education courses, and write scientific articles and a final thesis. For more details please check the Graduate Schools Admission Requirements. 

Please note:

• You can apply online. We will not process applications sent by email and/or post. 
• A pre-employment screening can be part of the selection procedure.
• For the final candidates, a knowledge security check will be part of the application procedure. For more information on this check, please consult Chapter 8 of the National Knowledge Security Guidelines. We carry out this check on the basis of legitimate interest.
• Please do not contact us for unsolicited services.