PhD Position in Ecodesign for Inspection and Functional Testing of Mechatronic Products

This PhD position at the wbk Institute of Production Science (KIT) focuses on advancing ecodesign principles for mechatronic products by integrating inspection and functional testing into the design phase. The successful candidate will work within the Quality Assurance team, led by Prof. Gisela Lanza, to create frameworks that enhance inspectability and sustainability of products. The project is part of a Horizon Europe Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Network, aiming to ensure environmentally sustainable and circular products enter the EU market. The PhD includes access to cutting-edge metrology infrastructure, participation in a structured doctoral programme, and two mandatory international secondments for industrial validation.

• Develop ecodesign frameworks that integrate inspection and functional testing principles into mechatronic product design.
• Design quantitative metrics and indicators to assess inspectability and functionality retention of products.
• Create data models and interfaces linking inspection outputs (optical, CT-based, and functional test data) to Digital Product Passport-compliant structures.
• Conduct experimental validation on representative mechatronic assemblies using state-of-the-art metrology infrastructure.
• Participate in two mandatory international secondments (2–3 months each) to validate methods in industrial settings.
• Collaborate with European industrial and academic partners to ensure real-world applicability of research outcomes.
• Contribute to the structured doctoral training programme within the Collaborative Research Centre CRC 1574 'Circular Factory'.