PhD Position in Circular Silicon and Silicon Carbide for Additive Manufacturing

This fully funded four-year PhD position at the University of Twente focuses on creating circular production methods for silicon and silicon carbide, critical materials for high-performance applications. The project combines materials science, powder technology, additive manufacturing, and data science to address waste in the semiconductor and photovoltaic industries, where up to 75% of silicon is lost. The PhD candidate will optimize mechanochemical processes to convert silicon-rich waste into high-purity powders, investigate their properties, and establish additive manufacturing process windows. A key innovation involves developing machine-learning models to link powder characteristics with final component properties, enabling predictive quality control. The interdisciplinary environment includes academic researchers and industrial partners across the value chain, offering opportunities for high-impact research and sustainability impact.

• Develop and optimize mechanochemical routes to convert silicon-rich waste streams into high-purity powders.
• Investigate phase formation, particle size distribution, morphology, and flowability of recycled powders.
• Establish additive manufacturing process windows for binder-free and binder-based approaches.
• Analyze melt behavior, densification, defect formation, and microstructure in manufactured materials.
• Collaborate on developing machine-learning models to predict powder characteristics and component properties.
• Publish high-impact research and contribute to industrially relevant technologies.
• Work in an interdisciplinary team with academic and industrial partners across the value chain.