Applicants are invited for a PhD fellowship/scholarship at Graduate School of Technical Sciences, Aarhus University, Denmark, within the Mechanical and Production Engineering programme. The position is available from 1 October 2025 or later. You can submit your application via the link under 'how to apply'.
 

Title:
Manufacture of Fibre-Reinforced Polymer Composite Tubes via Convoluted Roll Wrapping

Research area and project description:
Applicants are invited for a joint 3-year Industrial PhD position between Elektro-Isola A/S, Vejle, and Aarhus University, Department of Mechanical & Production Engineering. The position is available from 1 September 2025 or upon agreement.

About Elektro-Isola A/S:
Elektro-Isola is a leading Danish SME with 150 employees and over a century of expertise in composite manufacturing. Specialising in high-performance electrotechnical and mechanical composite components, Elektro-Isola supplies global industries including wind energy, power transmission, e-mobility, aerospace, medical technology, and other advanced sectors. Elektro-Isola has committed to sustainability with ambitious CO₂ emission reduction targets (50% by 2030).

Research Area and Project Description:
The project focuses on advancing the manufacture of fibre-reinforced thermoset polymer composite tubes through the convoluted roll-wrapping method. The candidate is expected to exhibit a proactive, hands-on, and collaborative mindset and must be comfortable working closely with technicians in an industrial environment.

The successful candidate will contribute to developing robust, predictive process models, reducing production defects, and exploring more sustainable, low-waste manufacturing options. By combining numerical simulations with detailed material and process characterisation, the project aims to transition Elektro-Isola’s current manufacturing approach from primarily experiential knowledge to a data-driven, science-based methodology. The primary research tools will include numerical simulations (Finite Element Methods using, e.g., COMSOL Multiphysics) and experimental characterisation. The candidate will collaborate closely with technicians and industry partners, contributing actively in both academic and industrial settings.

Candidate’s Responsibilities:

• Conduct comprehensive literature and market reviews.
• Perform experimental characterisation of composite materials.
• Develop and validate numerical models.
• Translate findings into practical process improvements at Elektro-Isola.
• Disseminate research through publications, conferences, and company workshops.
• Co-supervise relevant BSc and MSc student projects.

Project description
For technical reasons, you must upload a project description. Please simply copy the project description above and upload it as a PDF in the application.

Qualifications and specific competences:
Applicants must have a relevant MSc degree (120 ECTS) in Mechanical, Materials, Manufacturing Engineering, or related fields by the starting date.

The successful candidate must fulfil at least three of the following five criteria:

• Fundamental knowledge and understanding of heat transfer phenomena and principles.
• Basic understanding of solid mechanics, including stress analysis and structural integrity.
• Familiarity with composite materials, their properties, and processing techniques used in industry.
• Basic knowledge of thermoset materials and experience with common characterisation tools (e.g., DSC).
• Introductory-level proficiency or experience with experimental characterisation and numerical simulation tools, e.g., COMSOL Multiphysics or similar.

Candidates will have the opportunity to further develop and enhance these skills throughout the PhD programme.

Additionally, candidates must be fluent in English, both orally and in writing.

The position is open to recent MSc graduates as well as experienced engineers seeking to enhance their expertise by returning to academia. Motivations for returning to academia might include the desire to engage in new research methodologies, broaden career opportunities, or lead technology development through rigorous scientific inquiry.

Place of employment and place of work:
The place of employment is Elektro Isola A/S, and the workplace at the company is Grønlandsvej 197, DK-7100 Vejle, Denmark. The place of work at Aarhus University is Department of Mechanical & Production Engineering, Katrinebjergvej 89F, Building 5132, 8200 Aarhus N, Denmark.

Since it is an Industrial PhD project, the Industrial PhD candidate will be employed in the company and enrolled at Graduate School of Technical Sciences (Aarhus). The Industrial PhD candidate is expected to split the time equally between the company and the university, i.e. work equally in both places – the actual scheduling will be decided within the framework of the project.

Both locations offer inclusive, supportive, collaborative, and technically advanced environments.

Contacts:
Applicants seeking further information regarding the PhD position are invited to contact:

• Jørgen Dybro (jdy@elektro-isola.dk) for questions about the company, work environment, facilities, employment conditions, and practical aspects of working at Elektro-Isola.
• Michael Sandberg (ms@mpe.au.dk) for academic inquiries, details about the PhD programme at Aarhus University, research methodologies, and academic supervision.

Please note that Jørgen Dybro will be on vacation from 11 July to 4 August, and Michael Sandberg from 4 July to 4 August. During this time, they will be unable to respond to inquiries. We therefore recommend reaching out before or after these dates if you have any questions.

For information about application requirements and mandatory attachments, please see our application guide. If answers cannot be found there, please contact:

• admission.gradschool.tech@au.dk

Please note that the PhD Administration is closed 12 July to 27 July and short of staff 28 July to 3 August. During this time, they will be unable to respond/have longer response time to inquiries. We therefore recommend reaching out before or after these dates if you have any questions.

Supervision Team:

• Jørgen Dybro, Technical Manager, Elektro-Isola A/S (main company supervisor)
• Jakob Bach Knudsen, Manager - Materials, Elektro-Isola A/S (company supervisor)
• Michael Sandberg, Assistant Professor, Aarhus University (main academic supervisor)
• Michal K. Budzik, Associate Professor, Aarhus University (co-supervisor)

How to apply:
Please follow this link to submit your application.

Application deadline is 17 August 2025 at 23:59 CEST.

Preferred starting date is 1 October 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.
• Admission is contingent upon full external funding from Innovation Fund Denmark, thus, if approved by GSTS, it will be a conditional approval until full external funding is secured.

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