• Period 1 – ULIEGE, Liège, Belgique (9 months)​
• Period 2 – RHI MAGNESITA, Leoben, Austria (18 months)
• Period 3 – ULIEGE, Liège, Belgique (9 months)​

Work location timeline:

• Period 1 and period 3 – ULIEGE, Liège, Belgium (9 months months per period)
• Period 2 – RHI MAGNESITA, Leoben, Austria (18 months)

RHI MAGNESITA
Michael JOOS – 
Dr. Thomas DRNEK – 

Applications must be made via the forms on the recruitment procedure page.

• Leitner, A., Neuhold, S., Heid, S., Gavagnin, D., Meschik, P.M., Stastny, R., Zocratto, B. and Naves Moraes, M. (2024) ‘Enhancing refractory recycling: The role of automated sensor-based sorting systems’, RHI Magnesita Bulletin, pp. 41–46. Available at: https://www.rhimagnesita.com/the-bulletin-blog/enhancing-refractory-recycling/.
• Psarommatis, F. and May, G. (2024) ‘Digital Product Passport: A pathway to circularity and sustainability in modern manufacturing’, Sustainability, 16(1), p. 396. Available at: https://doi.org/10.3390/su16010396.
• Demmler, D., Krupka, D. and Federrath, H. (2022) ‘Requirements for a Digital Product Passport to boost the circular economy’, INFORMATIK 2022, Lecture Notes in Informatics (LNI), pp. 1–10. Available at: https://doi.org/10.18420/inf2022_127.
• Badioli, S., Dargaud, M. and Léonard, A. (2025) LCA of recycling processes of refractory materials, with ecodesign recommendations. Deliverable 1.3. Available at: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17150998
• Carminati, L., Arioli, V., Sala, S., Pirola, F. and Pezzota, G. (2026) ‘Towards effective implementation of digital product passports: stakeholders involved and data requirements’, in Mizumaya, H., Morinaga, E., Nonaka, T., Kaihara, T., von Cieminski, G. and Romero, D. (eds.) Advances in Production Management Systems: Cyber-Physical-Human Production Systems: Human-AI Collaboration and Beyond. APMS 2025. IFIP Advances in Information and Communication Technology, vol. 766. Cham: Springer. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-032-03538-7_38

• Short stay (1 week) at RHIM/MIRECO to visit a refractory recycling plant and understand recycling operations, feedstock characteristics and sampling procedures.
• Short stay (1 week) at Laser Analytical Systems & Automation to gain knowledge of automated refractory sorting systems and how they can support circular recycling routes.
• Short stay (1 week) at Elkem to establish additional case studies, such as the impact of improved sorting quality on the use of secondary raw materials, through optimisation trials.

• Period 1 – ULIEGE, Liège, Belgique (9 months)​
• Period 2 – VESUVIUS, Ghlin, Belgium (18 months)
• Period 3 – ULIEGE, Liège, Belgique (9 months)​

Work location timeline:

• Period 1 and period 3 – ULIEGE, Liège, Belgique (9 months per period)​
• Period 2 – VESUVIUS, Ghlin, Belgium (18 months)

VESUVIUS, Ghlin, Belgium
Severine ROMERO BAIVIER, 
Jean-Charles LOUIN, 

Applications must be made via the forms on the recruitment procedure page.

• Badioli, S., Jubayed, Md., Dargaud, M., Siebring, R. and Léonard, A. (2025) ‘Environmental performance of refractories: A state-of-the-art review on current methodological practices and future directions’, Environmental and Sustainability Indicators, 27, 100868. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indic.2025.100868.
• Boenzi, F. (2022) ‘Possible ecological advantages from use of carbonless magnesia refractory bricks in secondary steelmaking: A framework LCA perspective’, International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology, 19, pp. 5877–5896. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-021-03553-2.
• Ferreira, G., López-Sabirón, A.M., Aranda, J., Mainar-Toledo, M.D. and Aranda-Usón, A. (2015) ‘Environmental analysis for identifying challenges to recover used reinforced refractories in industrial furnaces’, Journal of Cleaner Production, 88, pp. 242–253. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2014.04.087.
• Badioli, S., Léonard, A. and Dargaud, M. (2025) LCA of recycling processes of refractory materials, with eco-design recommendations. Deliverable D1.3, CESAREF MSCA DN ID. Available at: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17150999.
• Muñoz, I., Soto, A., Maza, D. and Bayón, F. (2020) ‘Life cycle assessment of refractory waste management in a Spanish steel works’, Waste Management, 111, pp. 1–9. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2020.05.023

• Short stay (1 week) at RHI Magnesita to visit a recycling plant and understand recycling operations, feedstock characteristics, sampling procedures and data availability.
• Short stay (1 week) at Tata Steel to evaluate on site the requirements for integrating the digital twin environment into the project database.

• Period 1 – TUL, Leoben, Austria (18 months)
• Period 2 – SIEMENS, Graz, Austria (18 months)

Work location timeline:

• Period 1 – TUL, Leoben, Austria (18 months)
• Period 2 – SIEMENS, Graz, Austria (18 months)

SIEMENS
Dr. Barbara MAYER – Dr. Daniel SCHALL –

Applications must be made via the forms on the recruitment procedure page.

• Leitner, A., Neuhold, S., Heid, S., Gavagnin, S., Meschik, P., Stastny, R., Zocratto, B. and Naves Moraes, M. (2024) ‘Enhancing refractory recycling: The role of automated sensor-based sorting systems’, RHI Magnesita Bulletin, pp. 41–46. Available at: https://www.rhimagnesita.com/the-bulletin-blog/enhancing-refractory-recycling/.
• Hoosain, M.S., Paul, B.S., Kass, S. and Ramakrishna, S. (2023) ‘Tools towards the sustainability and circularity of data centers’, Circular Economy and Sustainability, 3(1), pp. 173–197. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1007/s43615-022-00191-9.
• Neubauer, M., Özdenizci, O., Piater, J. and Rueckert, E. (2025) ‘Sparsifying instance segmentation models for efficient vision-based industrial recycling’, in Machine Learning and Knowledge Discovery in Databases. Applied Data Science Track and Demo Track. ECML PKDD 2025. Cham: Springer, pp. 21–37. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-032-06129-4_2.
• Rueckert, E., Nakatenus, M., Tosatto, S. and Peters, J. (2017) ‘Learning inverse dynamics models in O(n) time with LSTM networks’, in 2017 IEEE-RAS 17th International Conference on Humanoid Robotics (Humanoids). IEEE, pp. 811–816. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1109/HUMANOIDS.2017.8246965.
• Dave, V., Özdenizci, O. and Rueckert, E. (2025) ‘Learning robust representations for visual reinforcement learning via task-relevant mask sampling’, Transactions on Machine Learning Research, 2025-September, article 4857. Available at: https://openreview.net/forum?id=2rxNDxHwtn.

• Short stay (1 week) at Siemens, Austria to understand the database architecture developed in PhD03 and the data structures required to process the input data generated in PhD04.
• Secondment period (6 months) at Laser Analytical Systems & Automation, Germany to evaluate and implement advanced artificial-intelligence-based methods for Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy spectra cleaning, region-of-interest selection, classification and sorting decisions.
• Short stay (1 week) at Elkem, Norway to understand the requirements for the effective use of secondary raw materials in the refractory recipes studied in PhD06 and to adjust automated sorting techniques accordingly.

• Period 1 – RHI MAGNESITA, Leoben, Austria (18 months)
• Period 2 – USN, Porsgrunn, Norway (18 months)

Work location timeline:

• Period 1 – RHI MAGNESITA, Leoben, Austria (18 months)
• Period 2 – USN, Porsgrunn, Norway (18 months)

RHI MAGNESITA
Dr. Simone SEDLAZECK –

Applications must be made via the forms on the recruitment procedure page.

• A. Leitner et al (2024) Enhancing Refractory Recycling: The role of automated sensor-based sorting systems. RHI Magnesita Bulletin, 41-46.
• M. Neubauer et al (2025) Sparsifying instance segmentation models for efficient vision-based industrial recycling. European Conference on Machine Learning and Principles and Practice of Knowledge Discovery in Databases, Springer.
• D. Peukert et al (2022) A review of sensor-based sorting in mineral processing: The potential benefits of sensor fusion. Minerals 12(11), 1364.
• D. Cozzolino (2025) Conventional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy and Hyperspectral Imaging: Similarities, Differences, Advantages, and Limitations. Molecules 30(12), 2479.
• B. Svensmark (2021) Extensions to the Theory of Sampling 1. The extended Gy’s formula, the segregation paradox and the fundamental sampling uncertainty (FSU), Analytica Chimica Acta, 1187, 339127.
• R. J. Hill et al (1987) Quantitative phase analysis from neutron powder diffraction data using the Rietveld method. J. Appl. Crystallogr. 20, 467–474.

• Secondment period (2 months) at Vesuvius to perform thermochemical simulations and corrosion tests on newly developed refractory materials containing recycled inputs.

• Period 1 – ELKEM, Kristiansand, Norway (18 months)
• Period 2 – TUL, Leoben, Austria (18 months)

Work location timeline:

• Period 1 – ELKEM, Kristiansand, Norway (18 months)
• Period 2 – TUL, Leoben, Austria (18 months)

ELKEM
Dr. Izak CAMERON – 
Dr. Hong PENG – 

Applications must be made via the forms on the recruitment procedure page.

• Moritz, K., Brachhold, N., Hubálková, J., Schmidt, G. and Aneziris, C.G. (2023) ‘Utilization of recycled material for producing magnesia-carbon refractories’, Ceramics, 6(1), pp. 30–42. Available at: https://doi.org/10.3390/ceramics6010003.
• Moritz, K., Dudczig, S., Endres, H.G., Herzog, D., Schwarz, M., Schöttler, L., Veres, D. and Aneziris, C.G. (2022) ‘Magnesia-carbon refractories from recycled materials’, International Journal of Ceramic Engineering & Science, 4(1), pp. 53–58. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1002/ces2.10115.
• Ludwig, M., Śnieżek, E., Jastrzębska, I., Prorok, R., Sułkowski, M., Goławski, C., Fischer, C., Wojteczko, K. and Szczerba, J. (2021) ‘Recycled magnesia-carbon aggregate as the component of new type of MgO-C refractories’, Construction and Building Materials, 272, article 121912. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2020.121912.
• Silva, W.M., Aneziris, C.G. and Brito, M. (2011) ‘Effect of alumina and silica on the hydration behaviour of magnesia-based refractory castables’, Journal of the American Ceramic Society, 94(12), pp. 4218–4225. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1551-2916.2011.04788.x.
• Silva, W.M. (2011) Microsilica-bonded magnesia-based refractory castables: Bonding mechanism and control of damage due to magnesia hydration. PhD thesis. Technische Universität Bergakademie Freiberg. Available at: https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:bsz:105-qucosa-77492.

PhD06 is expected to deliver a validated portfolio of optimised cement-free binder concepts for refractory castables together with a much deeper scientific understanding of why these formulations perform well. Rather than proposing a single empirical recipe, the project should define robust formulation windows for the main binder families under study and clarify the trade-offs between flowability, setting behaviour, green strength, drying safety, high-temperature stability, corrosion resistance and recyclability. This is a key expected outcome because the literature already shows that no-cement systems can outperform conventional low-cement castables in selected hot properties, but only when matrix design and bond evolution are tightly controlled. One major result should be a clearer mechanistic description of the bonding and consolidation phenomena operating from room temperature to service temperature. For microsilica-gel systems, this includes the role of cation-induced coagulation, the formation of a three-dimensional silica-based network, the influence of additive packages on set control and green strength, and the development of mullite-rich bonding structures at high temperature. For MgO-containing systems, the project should clarify how MgO interacts with silica and alumina-bearing fines, how these reactions affect bond development and dimensional stability, and under which conditions the advantages of cement-free design can be maximised without generating detrimental weak liquid phases. A second key expected result is the production of complete, experimentally grounded datasets linking formulation parameters and thermal processing conditions to microstructural descriptors and performance indicators. These datasets should include information relevant to phase assemblage, porosity, interfacial bonding, green mechanical strength, dry-out response, hot mechanical behaviour and resistance to thermo-chemical attack. This deliverable is explicitly consistent with the current PhD06 description and is scientifically important because it transforms binder development from trial-and-error formulation into rational microstructural design guidance. At REFFRACTEUR network level, such datasets can also feed wider activities related to sustainability assessment, data interoperability and predictive tools across the refractory life cycle. Finally, PhD06 is expected to provide practical design rules for low-carbon, recyclable castables that are credible for industrial transfer. In the REFFRACTEUR framework, this means recommendations that will be useful not only for this individual PhD project, but also for connected activities on ecodesign, castable optimisation, dry-out modelling, digital traceability and sustainability-oriented decision support. The most valuable result will therefore be a combination of optimised materials, validated understanding and reusable knowledge, enabling the transition from isolated formulation know-how towards a more circular, digitally connected and scientifically controlled methodology for designing the next generation of refractory castables.

PhD06 is strongly connected to other REFFRACTEUR projects working across materials design, sustainability assessment and digital modelling. Its development of cement-free, low-carbon binder systems provides direct input for PhD02, where environmental indicators, circularity criteria and ecodesign strategies must rely on realistic material options and robust primary data. It also interacts closely with PhD05, as the optimisation of castable formulations and microstructures requires a sound understanding of how alternative binders affect flow, setting, phase evolution and in-service performance. In parallel, PhD06 will generate valuable knowledge for PhD11 by clarifying the early-age behaviour, drying response and thermally induced evolution of the bond phase, which are essential for predictive modelling of castable behaviour. More broadly, the datasets produced in PhD06 will contribute to the project’s digital traceability and decision-support framework by linking processing, microstructure, properties and sustainability.

PhD06 includes a series of targeted short stays designed to strengthen both the experimental and modelling dimensions of the project.

• At the Chair of Ceramics of the Technical University of Leoben, the doctoral candidate will perform advanced mechanical testing on selected cement-free castables, including fracture-energy and creep measurements, in order to relate binder design to in-service thermo-mechanical behaviour. These visits will also support exchanges with specialists in numerical modelling and help translate the experimental results into parameters relevant for predictive approaches.
• Complementary short stays at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility will provide access to large-scale instruments for high-temperature synchrotron X-ray diffraction and nano-holotomography. These experiments will make it possible to analyse phase evolution, interfacial reactions and microstructural changes in situ, thus providing unique insight into the behaviour versus temperature of the new binder systems.

Work contract timeline:

• Period 1 – ELKEM, Kristiansand, Norway (18 months)
• Period 2 – IRCER, Limoges, France (18 months)

Work location timeline:

• Period 1 – ELKEM, Kristiansand, Norway (9 months)
• Period 2 – IRCER, Limoges, France (18 months)
• Period 3 – ELKEM, Kristiansand, Norway (9 months)

The ideal candidate for this PhD position will hold a Master’s degree (or equivalent) in Materials Science, Ceramics Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Inorganic Chemistry or a closely related discipline. A strong background in inorganic materials, phase transformations and powder-based processing is expected, together with a clear interest in refractory castables, sustainable binder systems and microstructural engineering. Previous hands-on experience with laboratory formulation, sample preparation and characterisation techniques such as SEM, XRD, thermal analysis or mechanical testing will be highly appreciated. Familiarity with high-temperature materials, colloidal or sol-gel chemistry, cement-free or low-cement castables, or thermochemical ageing of ceramics will be considered a strong asset. The successful applicant should be able to work both independently and within a multidisciplinary, international and strongly intersectoral environment, in close interaction with academic and industrial supervisors. Excellent oral and written communication skills in English are essential. The candidate should be rigorous, proactive and curious, with a genuine motivation to develop lower-carbon solutions for demanding high-temperature applications. A willingness to travel for research stays, network-wide training events and conferences is required, together with an openness to learning new experimental, analytical and digital approaches. Previous experience of collaborative or international research environments will be positively valued.

IRCER Prof. Marc HUGER –  Dr. Anne AIMABLE –  Dr. Elsa THUNE –  ELKEM Dr. Hong PENG –  Dr. Izak CAMERON –  Applications must be made via the forms on the recruitment procedure page.

Some examples of recent publications:

1. Nouri-Khezrabad, M., Braulio, M.A.L., Pandolfelli, V.C., Golestani-Fard, F. and Rezaie, H.R. (2013) ‘Nano-bonded refractory castables’, Ceramics International, 39(4), pp. 3479–3497. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ceramint.2012.11.028.
2. Peng, H. (2023) ‘Recent progress in microsilica-gel bonded no-cement castables’, Ceramics International, 49(14, Part B), pp. 24566–24571. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ceramint.2022.12.187.
3. Peng, H., Liu, J., Wang, Q. and Li, Y. (2020) ‘Improvement in slag resistance of no-cement refractory castables by matrix design’, Ceramics, 3(1), pp. 31–39. Available at: https://doi.org/10.3390/ceramics3010004.
4. Luz, A.P., Lopes, S.J.S., Gomes, D.T. and Pandolfelli, V.C. (2018) ‘High-alumina refractory castables bonded with novel alumina-silica-based powdered binders’, Ceramics International, 44(8), pp. 9159–9167. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ceramint.2018.02.124.
5. Stadtmüller, T.M.J., Storti, E., Brachhold, N., Lauermannová, A.-M., Jankovský, O., Schemmel, T., Hubálková, J., Gehre, P. and Aneziris, C.G. (2023) ‘MgO–C refractories based on refractory recyclates and environmentally friendly binders’, Open Ceramics, 16, article 100469. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oceram.2023.100469.

Some examples of recent PhD manuscripts:

1. Auvray, J.M. (2003) ‘Elaboration et caractérisation a haute température de bétons réfractaires à base d’alumine spinelle’ https://cdn.unilim.fr/files/theses-doctorat/2003LIMO0003.pdf
2. Ghassemi-Kakroudi, M. (2007) ‘Comportement thermomécanique en traction de bétons réfractaires : influence de la nature des agrégats et de l’histoire thermique, https://ircertmc-my.sharepoint.com/:b:/g/personal/marc_huger_ircer-tmc_com/IQDBkwOTPtjiS5-abqUPiU03AY7aNC9E4Y216THavmoVgp0?e=bzbE3D
3. Kaczmarek, R. (2021) ‘Improvement of strain field monitoring at high temperature and thermomechanical characterization of alumina spinel refractory materials’ https://theses.hal.science/tel-03644452v1/file/2021LIMO0114.pdf
4. Mouiya, M. (2024) ‘Thermomechanical properties of refractory materials, influence of the diffuse microcracking’ https://ircertmc-my.sharepoint.com/:b:/g/personal/marc_huger_ircer-tmc_com/IQDvQ6iWIMI2TZuyTYbAyvbSAaaC-0TEIamKVO-7TwubFO4?e=klYsL5
5. Boateng, K. (2026) ‘Microstructure design of refractory castables for in use thermomechanical properties optimization’ https://ircertmc-my.sharepoint.com/:b:/g/personal/marc_huger_ircer-tmc_com/IQDlRUn2WkEYSpIth2-DvbtgARuBl_bKlCkjRIJ6JLGsX3c?e=agmRU7

Full package of relevant publications – https://ircertmc-my.sharepoint.com/:f:/g/personal/marc_huger_ircer-tmc_com/IgAGXTYnLf_XR64qN6yvXKYEAWNPMUCikqZ4p3zlEf-X90M?e=eP4TV7

A second expected result is a clearer and better quantified understanding of the microstructure-property relationships that control refractory performance. By systematically varying relevant descriptors within the numerical framework, the project should identify which features most strongly promote distributed microcracking, stress relaxation, non-linear mechanical response and enhanced resistance to thermal shock damage. Recent studies already indicate the importance of anisotropic grain behaviour, grain-boundary effects, pore/crack morphology and grain size on crack nucleation, crack density and damage dissipation. PhD07 is expected to extend these insights to refractory microstructures that are closer to industrial reality and to transform them into interpretable design guidelines. In practice, the work should help distinguish which microstructural configurations are beneficial because they dissipate energy and reduce critical thermal stress, and which are detrimental because they trigger premature localisation or unstable damage.

The final scientific output should therefore go beyond a single model or a single case study. The ambition is to provide a usable digital design tool: a robust numerical platform that can support parametric studies, material comparison and microstructure optimisation for thermal-shock-resistant refractories. Such a tool is expected to be valuable both for academic research and for industrial R&D, because it offers a way to screen hypotheses rapidly, interpret experimental observations more deeply, and prepare better targeted development strategies. In the context of REFFRACTEUR, this contributes directly to the broader objective of replacing empirical development practices with data-rich, model-supported and more transferable design approaches for next-generation refractory materials.

Lastly, PhD07 should produce methodological and scientific outputs with longer-term value for the consortium: validated workflows for microstructure digitalisation, numerical protocols for multiscale thermomechanical simulations, and reference results that can be reused in future work on digital twins, operational optimisation and materials design. The project should also generate publishable advances on DEM/iDLSM methodology itself, especially regarding the treatment of anisotropic thermal expansion, realistic crack-network evolution and the use of periodic boundary conditions in refractory modelling. In that respect, the expected results are both application-oriented and foundational, strengthening the modelling toolbox available to the European refractory community.

• Period 1 – IRCER, Limoges, France (18 months)
• Period 2 – IMERYS, Lyon, France (18 months)

Work location timeline:

• Period 1 – IMERYS, Lyon, France (9 months)
• Period 2 – IRCER, Limoges, France (18 months)
• Period 3 – IMERYS, Lyon, France (9 months)

The ideal candidate should demonstrate a genuine motivation for working at the interface between materials science and computational modelling, with a particular interest in fracture, thermal shock, heterogeneous microstructures and high-temperature materials. Prior exposure to finite element methods, discrete-element methods, continuum mechanics, fracture mechanics, thermomechanics, or microstructure-based modelling will be highly valued. Some familiarity with experimental characterisation of materials would also be an asset, as the project requires regular interaction between modelling results and experimental validation.

Strong programming and data-processing skills are expected, ideally including experience with Python, C++, MATLAB or equivalent scientific computing environments. The successful applicant should be comfortable handling complex problems in a rigorous and structured way, and should be capable of developing, testing and interpreting numerical workflows with a high level of scientific autonomy.

Because PhD07 is part of an MSCA Industrial Doctorate, the candidate must also be ready to work in both academic and industrial environments, to interact with supervisors and doctoral candidates from different disciplines, and to communicate efficiently in an international context. Excellent written and spoken English, strong teamwork abilities, scientific curiosity, and a proactive attitude towards interdisciplinary research are therefore essential.

IMERYS
Dr. Ratana SOTH – 
Dr. Christoph WÖHRMEYER – 

Applications must be made via the forms on the recruitment procedure page.

1. Andreev, K., Yin, Y., Luchini, B. and Sabirov, I. (2021) ‘Failure of refractory masonry material under monotonic and cyclic loading: Crack propagation analysis’, Construction and Building Materials, 299, article 124203. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2021.124203.
2. Grigoriev, A.S., Zabolotskiy, A.V., Shilko, E.V., Dmitriev, A.I. and Andreev, K. (2021) ‘Analysis of the quasi-static and dynamic fracture of the silica refractory using the mesoscale discrete element modelling’, Materials, 14(23), article 7376. Available at: https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14237376.
3. Ranganathan, H., André, D., Mouiya, M., Huger, M., Soth, R. and Wöhrmeyer, C. (2025) ‘A multiscale discrete element thermomechanical modeling approach of microcracking generated at high temperature by anisotropic thermal expansion in an elastic brittle polycrystalline ceramic material’, Engineering Fracture Mechanics, 320, article 111088. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.engfracmech.2025.111088.
4. Gong, Z., Guan, K., Rao, P., Zeng, Q., Liu, J. and Feng, Z. (2021) ‘Numerical study of thermal shock damage mechanism of polycrystalline ceramics’, Frontiers in Materials, 8, article 724377. Available at: https://doi.org/10.3389/fmats.2021.724377.
5. Longchamp, V., Girardot, J., André, D., Malaise, F., Quet, A., Carles, P. and Iordanoff, I. (2024) ‘Discrete 3D modeling of porous-cracked ceramic at the microstructure scale’, Journal of the European Ceramic Society, 44(4), pp. 2522–2536. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jeurceramsoc.2023.11.026.

Some examples of recent PhD manuscripts:

1. Asadi, F. (2021) ‘Micro-mechanical modelling of heterogeneous materials containing microcracks with Discrete Element Method (DEM)’ http://www.theses.fr/2021LIMO0046/document
2. Ranganathan, H. (2026) ‘Discrete element modelling to refine heterogeneous refractory microstructure for enhancing thermomechanical properties governed by CTE mismatch induced microcracking’ https://ircertmc-my.sharepoint.com/:b:/g/personal/marc_huger_ircer-tmc_com/IQD14baoXS-ZSJ52OPyfjEU0AV75Nbyp3Q33NjLeRPPj8Fg?e=SfjH5f

Full package of relevant publications – https://ircertmc-my.sharepoint.com/:f:/g/personal/marc_huger_ircer-tmc_com/IgAAbX2QY83IQrw5vrBs4DXeAV6d8S9bG3MKNTl8pAhg1tg?e=vW0LRq

• Short stay (1 week) at IRCER / CNRS to perform thermal-shock resistance measurements with the ATHORNA device and complementary microstructural investigations using high-temperature ultrasonic and acoustic-emission techniques.
• Secondment period (1 month) at the Chair of Ceramics, Technical University of Leoben to perform mechanical testing, including fracture energy and creep resistance measurements, and to support finite element modelling.

• Period 1 – FGF, Höhr-Grenzhausen, Koblenz area, Germany (18 months)
• Period 2 – IMERYS, Vaulx-Milieu, Lyon area, France (18 months)

Work location timeline:

• Period 1 – FGF, Höhr-Grenzhausen, Koblenz area, Germany (18 months)
• Period 2 – IMERYS, Vaulx-Milieu, Lyon area, France (18 months)

IMERYS
Dr. J.-M. AUVRAY – 
Dr. C. WÖHRMEYER – 

Applications must be made via the forms on the recruitment procedure page.

• Cannio, M., Boccaccini, D.N. and Romagnoli, M. (2014) ‘New methods for the assessment of thermal shock resistance in refractory materials’, in Hetnarski, R.B. (ed.) Encyclopedia of Thermal Stresses. Dordrecht: Springer, pp. 3293–3307. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-2739-7_34
• Kaczmarek, R., Teixeira, L., Mouiya, M., Dupré, J.-C., Doumalin, P., Pop, O., Tessier-Doyen, N. and Huger, M. (2025) ‘Study of thermomechanical behaviour of refractory materials under thermal gradient. Part II—Experimental and numerical analysis on the example of a shaped alumina spinel refractory’, Experimental Mechanics, 65, pp. 351–364. Available at: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11340-024-01116-1
• Loison, L., Sassi, M., Tonnesen, T., de Bilbao, E., Telle, R. and Poirier, J. (2020) ‘Differences in the corrosive spalling behavior of alumina-rich castables: Microstructural and crystallographic considerations of alumina and calcium aluminate matrices’, Ceramics, 3(2), pp. 223–234. Available at: https://doi.org/10.3390/ceramics3020020

A second expected result is the creation of an advanced and internally consistent experimental dataset combining conventional characterisation tools with in situ ATHORNA monitoring. On one side, the project should provide reference data from dilatometry, resonant frequency and damping analysis, high-temperature acoustic emission and selected mechanical tests such as wedge splitting and, where relevant, tensile testing. On the other side, ATHORNA should provide in situ temperature fields, displacement fields, strain localisation and damage evolution under severe thermal gradients. The real added value is expected to come from the combined interpretation of these datasets: PhD09 should explain not only what happens during the applied thermal loading, but why it happens in light of previously measured macroscopic properties.

A third expected result is the identification of material-dependent thermomechanical signatures across the different CERAQUITAINE series. Some materials may prove favourable because of low thermal expansion or reduced mismatch stresses; others because of more advantageous stiffness evolution with temperature; others because damping and acoustic-emission signatures reveal mechanisms of stress accommodation before major crack extension; and others because fracture-energy-related behaviour provides a better tolerance to thermally induced damage. The recent RFDA paper is especially useful here because it shows that modulus evolution and damping behaviour can serve as highly informative macroscopic indicators of underlying transformations and evolving material state. This reinforces the idea that thermal-shock behaviour must be interpreted through a combination of properties rather than through a single ranking criterion.

A fourth expected result is methodological. PhD09 should define a transferable workflow for combining macroscopic high-temperature characterisation and in situ multi-physics thermal-gradient testing. In practice, this means identifying which properties should be measured first, how they should be used to interpret ATHORNA observations, and how the whole dataset can support physically meaningful comparison between refractory formulations. Such a workflow would have value well beyond this single PhD project, because it would help connect standard laboratory characterisation to service-relevant thermal-gradient conditions on large samples.

Finally, the project is expected to deliver robust validation data for advanced modelling. Because ATHORNA provides transient thermal and kinematic fields, while the complementary measurements quantify thermal expansion behaviour, stiffness evolution, damping-sensitive microstructural changes, damage signatures and fracture-related properties, the resulting dataset should strongly improve the validation of non-linear FEM approaches and other microstructure-informed modelling strategies. The final outcome should therefore be both scientific and operational: a better understanding of the relations between microstructure, macroscopic properties and thermal-shock response, and a stronger basis for predictive tools that can assist refractory design and industrial decision-making.

• A first short stay at Forschungs-Gemeinschaft Feuerfest (FGF, Germany) will allow the Doctoral Candidate to compare ATHORNA-based investigations with complementary thermal-shock testing approaches developed in a practice-oriented refractory environment. This will broaden the experimental perspective of the PhD and provide useful benchmarking for the interpretation of severe thermal-gradient effects.
• A second short stay with an industrial client of CERAQUITAINE will expose the Doctoral Candidate to refractory components in real operating conditions, making it possible to better relate laboratory observations to industrial constraints, damage scenarios and application-driven performance requirements.

Together, these short stays will reinforce the translational dimension of the project and support a stronger connection between macroscopic characterisation, in situ monitoring and industrial relevance.

• Period 1 – CERAQUITAINE, Saint-Aulaye, France (9 months)
• Period 2 – IRCER, Limoges, France (18 months)
• Period 3 – CERAQUITAINE, Saint-Aulaye, France (9 months)

Work location timeline:

• Period 1 – CERAQUITAINE, Saint-Aulaye, France (9 months)
• Period 2 – IRCER, Limoges, France (18 months)
• Period 3 – CERAQUITAINE, Saint-Aulaye, France (9 months)

The position is especially appropriate for applicants who enjoy combining experimental work, physical interpretation and data analysis, and who are interested in linking macroscopic measurements to underlying microstructural mechanisms. An appetite for instrumentation development, careful experimental practice and scientifically rigorous interpretation will be important assets. Knowledge of numerical approaches such as FEM would be advantageous, although it is not an absolute requirement.

Because REFFRACTEUR is an Industrial Doctoral Network, the successful candidate should also be comfortable working across both academic and industrial environments, with a strong capacity for autonomy, teamwork and clear communication in English. The project will particularly suit candidates who wish to develop an interdisciplinary profile at the interface between advanced materials characterisation, refractory engineering and modelling, while contributing to more sustainable and better-performing high-temperature industrial systems.

CERAQUITAINE
Gilles POUTEAU, 

Applications must be made via the forms on the recruitment procedure page.

1. Kaczmarek, R., De Oliveira, R., Lalau, Y., Goum, G., Khlifi, I., Dupré, J.‑C., Doumalin, P., Pop, O., Tessier‑Doyen, N., Huger, M., ’Study of thermomechanical behaviour of refractory materials under thermal gradient. Part  I –Presentation of ATHORNA device and experimental protocol’, Exp Mech 65, 2025, 123-140.  https://doi.org/10.1007/s11340-024-01126-1
2. Kaczmarek, R., Teixeira, L., Mouiya, M., Dupré, J.‑C., Doumalin, P., Pop, O., Tessier‑Doyen, N., Huger, M., ’Study of thermomechanical behaviour of refractory materials under thermal gradient. Part II – Experimental and numerical analysis on the example of a shaped alumina spinel refractory’, Exp Mech 65, 2025, 351-364,. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11340-024-01142-1
3. Chotard, T., Soro, J., Lemercier, H., Huger, M., Gault, C., ‘High temperature characterisation of cordierite-mullite refractory by ultrasonic means’, Journal of the European Ceramic Society, 28 (11), 2008, 2129-2135,  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jeurceramsoc.2008.02.029
4. Mouiya, M., Tessier-Doyen, N., Tamraoui, Y., Gruber, D., Dupré, JC., Doumalin, P., Alami, J., Huger, M., ‘Engineered microcracking in alumina/aluminum titanate composites: A pathway to enhance nonlinear mechanical behavior and fracture energy’, Journal of the European Ceramic Society, 46(5), 2026, 118046, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jeurceramsoc.2025.118046
5. Salerno, A., Boateng, K., Auvray, J.M., Leplay, P., Bigeard, A., Sauer, J., Bollen, B., Huger, M., ‘Improving resonant frequency and damping analysis at high temperatures via laser Doppler vibrometer sensor’, Measurement Science and Technology, 36, (2025), 126004, https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6501/ae1d99

Some examples of recent PhD manuscripts:

1. Tessier-Doyen, N. (2003) ‘Etude expérimentale et numérique du comportement thermomécanique de matériaux réfractaires modèles’ https://cdn.unilim.fr/files/theses-doctorat/2003LIMO0030.pdf
2. Ghassemi-Kakroudi, M. (2007) ‘Comportement thermomécanique en traction de bétons réfractaires : influence de la nature des agrégats et de l’histoire thermique’ https://ircertmc-my.sharepoint.com/:b:/g/personal/marc_huger_ircer-tmc_com/IQByMOCwffAgR7AIqr-EkV0DAUbRG9a2G-LOWQbtRoyYE5Q?e=OFfdTT
3. Grasset-Bourdel, R., (2011) ‘Structure/property relations of magnesia-spinel refractories: experimental determination and simulation’ https://cdn.unilim.fr/files/theses-doctorat/2011LIMO4050.pdf
4. Mouiya, M. (2024) ‘Thermomechanical properties of refractory materials, influence of the diffuse microcracking’ https://ircertmc-my.sharepoint.com/:b:/g/personal/marc_huger_ircer-tmc_com/IQCuRuUAxEuJTbLkQRoAbTVsAbzqe8PCiNorGaianFL83uk?e=4kanFD

Full package of relevant publications – https://ircertmc-my.sharepoint.com/:f:/g/personal/marc_huger_ircer-tmc_com/IgDpsMEy44n0TLMEl1Ddlgs4AUeLD3JPewCGIzE0G3TxQYY?e=MGPb7d

A second expected result is the establishment of validated relationships between shell composition, shell architecture and functional casting performance. In practical terms, the work should provide improved understanding of how to balance the key trade-offs between thermal conductivity, heat capacity, permeability, mechanical strength, compliance and surface quality. Because recent work has shown that both shell material and shell-building conditions significantly affect thermal transport and stress development, PhD10 should generate recommendations on the most relevant combinations of material system and architectural design for turbine-blade applications. It is also expected to clarify the role of thickness heterogeneity and local structural weakness in corners and edges, where stress concentration and reduced shell thickness often combine to trigger damage.

A third major outcome will be a predictive multi-scale modelling framework linking shell material data, geometric descriptors and thermo-mechanical simulation. This framework should make it possible to compute more realistic stress fields in turbine-blade shell moulds, compare alternative shell or cluster architectures, and identify dangerous regions before industrial trials. Importantly, the project is expected to go beyond descriptive simulation by introducing a more stress-based design logic, in which the shell is assessed according to explicit criteria related to local failure risk rather than global stiffness alone. Such an approach is especially relevant in thermal structures, where excessive local stresses are often the primary failure mode. The expected result is therefore a set of modelling tools and design rules that can support both scientific interpretation and industrial decision-making.

Finally, PhD10 should deliver concrete outputs of direct value for SAFRAN and for the wider investment-casting community: improved criteria for shell design, better prediction of macrocracking and dimensional deviation, and a stronger basis for process optimisation in turbine-blade manufacturing. The project is also expected to contribute to publications, conference presentations and the broader REFFRACTEUR knowledge base. For candidates, this means that the PhD will not only address fundamental questions in ceramic thermo-mechanics and shell design, but will also contribute to practical solutions for the more reliable, precise and efficient production of advanced aerospace castings.

• A first short stay at FGF will provide access to application-oriented thermal-shock testing facilities, allowing the doctoral candidate to assess shell behaviour under severe thermal transients and to compare laboratory observations with industrially relevant loading conditions.
• A second short stay at the Chair of Ceramics, Technical University of Leoben, will focus on mechanical characterisation and modelling support, including measurements related to fracture behaviour, creep resistance and thermo-mechanical response.

Together, these stays will help the candidate connect microstructural design, high-temperature performance and predictive simulation, while also encouraging scientific exchange with other REFFRACTEUR projects working on crack development, thermal-shock resistance and refractory design.

• Period 1 – SAFRAN, Colombes, France (18 months)
• Period 2 – IRCER, Limoges, France (18 months)

Work location timeline:

• Period 1 – SAFRAN, Colombes, France (9 months)
• Period 2 – IRCER, Limoges, France (18 months)
• Period 3 – SAFRAN, Colombes, France (9 months)

Candidates should demonstrate good skills in numerical methods, especially finite element approaches applied to thermo-mechanical problems. Experience with software such as Abaqus or comparable simulation tools would be a strong advantage. At the same time, the position is not purely computational: an interest in experimental characterisation, materials processing and the interpretation of high-temperature test results is also important. Previous exposure to ceramics, refractories, casting processes, damage mechanics or multi-physics modelling would be appreciated, although an excellent candidate with a strong and transferable mechanics background may also fit very well.

Because the project is carried out jointly between IRCER and SAFRAN, the successful applicant should be comfortable working in an interdisciplinary and intersectoral environment, interacting with both academic researchers and industrial engineers. Strong oral and written communication skills in English, scientific curiosity, autonomy, rigour, and the ability to engage with complex technical questions are essential. The candidate should also be willing to contribute actively to the collaborative spirit of the REFFRACTEUR network and to benefit from its broader training in modelling, materials design and industrial innovation.

SAFRAN
Dr. A. AGNE – 
Dr. A. PINTO MORA – 
Dr. W. ZHANG – 

Applications must be made via the forms on the recruitment procedure page.

1. Tu, J.S., Foran, R.K., Hines, A.M. and Aimone, P.R. (1995) ‘An integrated procedure for modeling investment castings’, JOM, 47(10), pp. 64–68. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03221290.
2. Greco, C.S., Paolillo, G., Contino, M., Caramiello, C., Di Foggia, M. and Cardone, G. (2020) ‘3D temperature mapping of a ceramic shell mould in investment casting process via infrared thermography’, Quantitative InfraRed Thermography Journal, 17(1), pp. 40–62. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1080/17686733.2019.1608083.
3. Xu, M., Lekakh, S.N. and Von Richards, L. (2016) ‘Thermal property database for investment casting shells’, International Journal of Metalcasting, 10(3), pp. 342–347. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40962-016-0052-4.
4. Yang, S. and Leu, M.C. (1999) ‘Analysis of shell cracking in investment casting with laser stereolithography patterns’, Rapid Prototyping Journal, 5(1), pp. 12–20. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1108/13552549910251837.
5. Chen, X., Li, D., Wu, H., Tang, Y. and Zhao, L. (2011) ‘Analysis of ceramic shell cracking in stereolithography-based rapid casting of turbine blade’, The International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology, 55(5–8), pp. 447–455. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00170-010-3064-x.
6. Deaton, J.D. and Grandhi, R.V. (2016) ‘Stress-based design of thermal structures via topology optimization’, Structural and Multidisciplinary Optimization, 53(2), pp. 253–270. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00158-015-1331-z.
7. Behera, M.M., Pattnaik, S. and Sutar, M.K. (2019) ‘Thermo-mechanical analysis of investment casting ceramic shell: A case study’, Measurement, 147, article 106805. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.measurement.2019.07.033.
8. Everhart, W.A. (2011) Crack formation in investment casting ceramic shells. Master’s thesis. Missouri University of Science and Technology. Available at: https://scholarsmine.mst.edu/masters_theses/4475.

Full package of relevant publications – https://ircertmc-my.sharepoint.com/:f:/g/personal/marc_huger_ircer-tmc_com/IgCtIjEjoVeSSKducSUnRwmYAd7uYToXTcAziygsJ-Zg7xM?e=cFKQhB

• Secondment period (6 months) at Tata Steel to develop and carry out experimental campaigns on the three-dimensional pilot ladle, with a focus on the dry-out and early-age behaviour of castable linings.

• Period 1 – UMINHO, Guimarães, Portugal (18 months)
• Period 2 – RHIM, Leoben, Austria (18 months)

Work location timeline:

• Period 1 – UMINHO, Guimarães, Portugal (18 months)
• Period 2 – RHIM, Leoben, Austria (18 months)

RHIM,
Dr. Ulrich MARSCHALL – 
Dr. Aidong HOU – 

Applications must be made via the forms on the recruitment procedure page.

• Kudžma, A., Antonovič, V., Stonys, R. and Gribniak, V. (2025) ‘Refractory castables cured at low temperatures—Spalling risks and testing’, Case Studies in Construction Materials, 22, article e04701. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cscm.2025.e04701.
• Sun, L., Ding, D., Xiao, G., Chen, J., Li, Y., Kang, J., Chong, X., Lei, C., Luo, J. and Zheng, X. (2023) ‘Gas permeability of alumina-spinel refractory castables bonded with hydratable magnesium carboxylate’, Journal of the American Ceramic Society, 106(12), pp. 7618–7631. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1111/jace.19363.
• Juárez Trujillo, J., Castro, J.A., Innocentini, M.D.M. and Vernilli, F. (2023) ‘Combined transient 3D simulation and experimental methods to assess a slow heat-up curve used to dry a refractory concrete’, International Journal of Thermal Sciences, 185, article 108063. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijthermalsci.2022.108063.
• Sciumè, G., Moreira, M.H. and Dal Pont, S. (2024) ‘Thermo-hygro-chemical model of concrete: from curing to high temperature behavior’, Materials and Structures, 57, article 186. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1617/s11527-024-02454-3.
• Dal Pont, S., Sciumè, G. and Moreira, M.H. (2025) ‘From curing to fire accident: A novel, comprehensive model for concrete’s fire resistance’, in Pichler, B.L.A., Hellmich, Ch. and Preinstorfer, P. (eds.) Proceedings of the 12th International Conference on Fracture Mechanics of Concrete and Concrete Structures (FraMCoS XII), Vienna, Austria. Available at: https://doi.org/10.21012/FC12.1153.
• Sardelli, J.A.P., Borges, O.H., Pagliosa Neto, C. and Pandolfelli, V.C. (2023) ‘Is the in-situ ZnAl2O4 formation an alternative for magnesia-alumina spinel zero-carbon shaped refractories?’, Ceramics International, 49(17, Part B), pp. 28643–28650. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ceramint.2023.06.119.
• Schnabel, M., Buhr, A., Exenberger, R. and Rampitsch, C. (2010) ‘Spinel: In situ versus preformed – Clearing the myth’, refractories WORLDFORUM, 2(2), pp. 87–93. Available at: https://www.almatis.com/sites/default/files/technical_papers/media/ixvb5jn2/spinel-in-situ-versus-preformed-clearing-the-myth.pdf.

• Short stay (2 weeks) at RHI Magnesita to perform biaxial press tests.
• Secondment period (18 months) at Tata Steel to validate creep models against plant observations and measurements under realistic operating conditions.
• Secondment period (2 months) at the University of Orléans to support the development of advanced creep models.

• TUL, Leoben, Austria (36 months)

Work location timeline:

• Period 1 – TATA Steel IJmuiden, the Netherlands (18 months)
• Period 2 – TUL, Leoben, Austria (18 months)

TATA Steel
Dr. Paul VAN BEURDEN – 
Frank VAN SIKKELERUS – 

Applications must be made via the forms on the recruitment procedure page.

• Akbari, B., Gruber, D., Jin, S. and Harmuth, H. (2023) ‘Creep strain recovery of an in situ spinel-forming refractory castable under loading/unloading compressive creep conditions’, Ceramics International, 49(15), pp. 25225–25231. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ceramint.2023.05.055.
• Schachner, S., Jin, S., Gruber, D. and Harmuth, H. (2019) ‘Three stage creep behavior of MgO containing ordinary refractories in tension and compression’, Ceramics International, 45(7), pp. 9483–9490. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ceramint.2018.09.124.
• Gajjar, P.N., Put, P., Pereira, J.M., Luchini, B., Sinnema, S. and Lourenço, P.B. (2024) ‘Development and experimental characterization of the thermomechanical behavior of a scaled steel ladle’, International Journal of Applied Ceramic Technology, 21(5), pp. 3660–3677. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1111/ijac.14783.
• Samadi, S., Jin, S., Gruber, D. and Harmuth, H. (2022) ‘Thermomechanical finite element modeling of steel ladle containing alumina spinel refractory lining’, Finite Elements in Analysis and Design, 206, article 103762. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.finel.2022.103762.
• Akbari, B., Gruber, D., Jin, S. and Harmuth, H. (2022) ‘Investigation of three-stage compressive creep of a spinel forming refractory castable containing 8% MgO’, Ceramics International, 48(3), pp. 3287–3292. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ceramint.2021.10.103.

The project will deliver two validated thermo-mechanical models for brick and monolithic ladle linings, as well as a reduced model suitable for topology optimisation and digital twin workflows. It will also provide guidance linking lining design choices to value-in-use and environmental performance.

PhD13 is one of the key linking projects between materials characterisation and operational optimisation. It uses constitutive data from PhD11 and PhD12, and in turn provides simulation outputs and reduced-order models to PhD14 and PhD15 for digital twin development and decision support. It therefore plays a central role in translating material behaviour into operational modelling.

• Secondment period (18 months) at Tata Steel to validate the wear models using plant observations and measurements.
• Secondment period (1 month) at Stahl-Holding-Saar to transfer numerical results to PhD14 and support the data-driven modelling activities.

Work contract timeline:

• UORL – LaMé, Orléans, France (36 months)

Work localisation timeline:

• Period 1 – TATASTEEL, IJmuiden, The Netherlands (18 months)
• Period 2 – UORL – LaMé, Orléans, France (18 months)

Master’s level in Mechanics and/or Computational Methods in Mechanical Engineering. Candidates should be excellent in their skills for numerical method (finite element method) applied to mechanics, with some experiences. Oral and written communication skills (English) are also required. This PhD will have one contract for the full 36 months from the University of Orleans. As the PhD will be employed in France, the mobility rule applies to France not The Netherlands (even though this will be the initial location for this PhD). This means that candidates must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in France for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately before recruitment. Short stays and holidays do not count.

UORL – LaMé Pr. Alain GASSER –  Dr. Thomas SAYET –  Dr. Lukas JAKABCIN –  TATASTEEL Dr. Paul VAN BEURDEN –  Frank van SIKKELERUS –  Applications must be made via the forms on the recruitment procedure page.

Some examples of recent publications:

• Huo, Y., Gu, H., Yang, J., Huang, A. and Ma, Z. (2022) ‘Thickness monitoring and discontinuous degradation mechanism of wear lining refractories for refining ladle’, Journal of Iron and Steel Research International, 29(7), pp. 1110–1118. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1007/s42243-021-00731-x.
• Johansen, S.T., Løvfall, B.T. and Rodriguez Duran, T. (2024) ‘A pragmatical physics-based model for predicting ladle lifetime’, Journal of the Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, 124(3), pp. 93–110. Available at: https://doi.org/10.17159/2411-9717/2680/2024.
• Maj, M., Tatzgern, F., Rojacz, H., Adam, K. and Varga, M. (2025) ‘Wear progress monitoring in torpedo ladles in steel industry’, Wear, 580–581, article 206297. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wear.2025.206297.
• Liao, C., Li, G., Wei, L., Ji, W. and Yi, Z. (2024) ‘A novel temperature dynamic prediction model for erosion risk mitigation of ladle’, International Communications in Heat and Mass Transfer, 156, article 107612. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.icheatmasstransfer.2024.107612.
• Yilmaz, S. (2003) ‘Thermomechanical modelling for refractory lining of a steel ladle lifted by crane’, Steel Research International, 74(8), pp. 485–490. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1002/srin.200300221.
• Ali, M., Sayet, T., Gasser, A. and Blond, E. (2020) ‘Transient thermo-mechanical analysis of steel ladle refractory linings using mechanical homogenization approach’, Ceramics, 3(2), pp. 171–188. Available at: https://doi.org/10.3390/ceramics3020016.
• Verrelle, D., Boulanger, P. and Peruzzi, S. (2003) ‘Optimization of steel ladle refractories with a view to increasing ladle capacity’, Metallurgical Research & Technology, 100(10), pp. 961–975. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1051/metal:2003115.
• Rong, Z., Yi, J., Li, F., Liu, Y. and Eckert, J. (2022) ‘Thermal stress analysis and structural optimization of ladle nozzle based on finite element simulation’, Materials Research Express, 9, article 045601. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1088/2053-1591/ac648c.
• Klopf, M., Hou, A., Jin, S. and Gruber, D. (2024) ‘Steel ladle slag zone lining optimization considering irreversible material behavior’, Steel Research International, 95(7), article 2300557. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1002/srin.202300557.
• Ruela, V., van Beurden, P., Luchini, B., Hofmann, R. and Birkelbach, F. (2024) ‘Optimizing the steel ladle thermal management: Toward a sustainable and cost-effective ladle fleet logistics’, Steel Research International, article 2400616. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1002/srin.202400616.
• Sun, Y., Huang, P., Cao, Y., Jiang, G., Yuan, Z., Bai, D. and Liu, X. (2022) ‘Multi-objective optimization design of ladle refractory lining based on genetic algorithm’, Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, 10, article 900655. Available at: https://doi.org/10.3389/fbioe.2022.900655.

Full package of relevant publications

• Secondment period (1 month) at Tata Steel to acquire first-hand knowledge of in situ operational data and plant monitoring practices.
• Secondment period (1 month) at Tata Steel to conduct an industrial demonstration campaign on a production ladle.

• Period 1 – SHS, Völklingen, Germany (18 months)
• Period 2 – UMINHO, Guimarães, Portugal (18 months)

Work location timeline:

• Period 1 – SHS, Völklingen, Germany (18 months)
• Period 2 – UMINHO, Guimarães, Portugal (18 months)

SHS
Dr. Ulrike FALTINGS – 
Dr. Michael SCHÄFER – 

Applications must be made via the forms on the recruitment procedure page.

• Fu, T., Liu, S. and Li, P. (2025) ‘Digital twin-driven smelting process management method for converter steelmaking’, Journal of Intelligent Manufacturing, 36, pp. 2749–2765. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10845-024-02366-7.
• Ponsard, C., De Landtsheer, R. and Palm, B. (2018) ‘Accurate reasoning using imperfect digital twins: A steel industry case study’, ERCIM News, 115. Available at: https://ercim-news.ercim.eu/en115/special/accurate-reasoning-using-imperfect-digital-twins-a-steel-industry-case-study.
• Vannucci, M., Colla, V., Chini, M., Gaspardo, D. and Palm, B. (2022) ‘Artificial intelligence approaches for the ladle predictive maintenance in electric steel plant’, IFAC-PapersOnLine, 55(2), pp. 331–336. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ifacol.2022.04.215.
• Jančar, D., Machů, M., Velička, M., Tvardek, P., Kocián, L. and Vlček, J. (2022) ‘Use of neural networks for lifetime analysis of teeming ladles’, Materials, 15(22), article 8234. Available at: https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15228234.
• Kim, M., Wen, T., Lee, K. and Choi, Y. (2024) ‘Physics-informed reduced order model with conditional neural fields’, arXiv [Preprint]. Available at: https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2412.05233.
• Sun, Y., Huang, P., Cao, Y., Jiang, G., Yuan, Z., Bai, D. and Liu, X. (2022) ‘Multi-objective optimization design of ladle refractory lining based on genetic algorithm’, Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, 10, article 900655. Available at: https://doi.org/10.3389/fbioe.2022.900655.
• Sztangret, Ł., Regulski, K., Pernach, M. and Rauch, Ł. (2023) ‘Prediction of temperature of liquid steel in ladle using machine learning techniques’, Coatings, 13(9), article 1504. Available at: https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings13091504.
• Sado, S., Jastrzębska, I., Zelik, W. and Szczerba, J. (2023) ‘Current state of application of machine learning for investigation of MgO-C refractories: A review’, Materials, 16(23), article 7396. Available at: https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16237396.

PhD15 is expected to deliver both a methodological advance in the digitalisation of ladle fleet management and an industrially relevant prototype validated for the TATA STEEL IJmuiden case. A first result will be a validated Discrete-Event Simulation of the IJmuiden melt shop within the FESIOS « virtual melt shop », incorporating a formalised, analysable model of operator logic, plant layout, constraints and KPIs. Calibrated initially on historical ladle-management data with simplified wear-rate and temperature-loss assumptions, and subsequently on the reduced-order predictors from PhD13 and PhD14, this environment is expected to reduce the sim–to-real gap sufficiently to serve as a credible testbed for quantifying availability, waiting time, downtime, energy and emissions under uncertainty, without the cost and risk of live plant trials.

A second result will be a benchmarked solver stack for dispatching and fleet scheduling under uncertainty, comprising exact, heuristic and metaheuristic optimisation alongside reinforcement-learning policies. A central outcome will be a structured comparison of these approaches, with mathematical-programming formulations serving as an optimality reference where feasible and learning-based policies trained and stress-tested inside the virtual melt shop under controllable uncertainty. The intended demonstration is that the DSS can prescribe robust, discrete decisions to operators in near real-time, clarifying where data-driven policies add value over established optimisation and where they do not.

A third result will be a scenario-based assessment of decarbonisation pathways for ladle operations at the strategic horizon. Because ladle preheating and reheating are typically gas-fired and constitute a significant, often overlooked source of Scope 1 emissions, the project is expected to quantify how alternative low-carbon heating options, such as inductive heating, plasma torches and hydrogen burners, affect scheduling feasibility, ladle availability, energy demand and emissions relative to a natural-gas baseline. By coupling these technology scenarios to the scheduling and dispatching logic, the analysis is expected to show how decarbonisation measures interact with day-to-day operations, providing evidence to support strategic, plant-level decisions on decarbonisation pathways for the steel sector.

A fourth result will be the consolidation of these capabilities into a coherent, human-in-the-loop DSS whose recommendations carry explicit rationales and sensitivity to key assumptions, so that operators and domain experts review them against established KPIs and retain final authority over adoption. Taken together, these results are expected to yield a pilot-ready DSS, validated on both historical and simulated campaigns, that jointly considers ladle availability, operating cost and sustainability. The work is also expected to contribute several peer-reviewed publications and to feed into the shared REFFRACTEUR knowledge base, demonstrating how the integration of hybrid optimisation, reinforcement learning and discrete-event simulation can advance the decarbonisation of energy-intensive, refractory-dependent industries.

PhD15 sits at the operational end of the REFFRACTEUR digital chain and is therefore most closely connected to the modelling and digital-twin projects upstream of it, namely PhD13 and PhD14. PhD13 is expected to provide reduced-order thermal models and temperature functions derived from finite-element studies of ladle linings, while PhD14 supplies digital-twin predictions of condition, remaining useful life and temperature loss. These outputs feed the DES and the optimiser as physically credible, uncertainty-aware predictive inputs. The dependency is deliberately staged: PhD15 begins with simplified wear-rate and temperature-loss models based on historical and literature data, and integrates the PhD13 and PhD14 predictors as they mature, so that the interaction enriches the work without blocking its progress.

In return, PhD15 closes the loop by converting these predictions and operational constraints into optimised dispatching, thermal-management and maintenance schedules, and by feeding the resulting KPIs on energy, downtime and lining usage back towards the WP1 sustainability and life-cycle activities, where they inform eco-design and circularity accounting. The joint secondment periods at TATA STEEL Ijmuiden, together with PhD 13 and PhD 14, ensure scientific exchange and methodological coherence across the network and grounds the optimisation and simulation work in the same plant-validated data.

PhD15 includes two complementary secondments at the industrial partner TATA STEEL IJmuiden, both essential to grounding the decision-support and simulation work in real plant operations and coordinated with the secondments of PhD13 and PhD14 to enable joint scientific exchange on site.

A first secondment early in the project will allow the doctoral candidate to experience the melt shop directly, to gain first-hand understanding of plant layout, logistics and operator behaviour, and to begin drafting a realistic discrete-event model of the ladle circuit. This stay is also the principal opportunity to acquire the initial operational datasets on which the virtual melt shop and the decision support system depend.

A second secondment in the second half of the project will focus on validation and practical implementation: comparing the developed model and DSS against the real environment, identifying missing details and unmodelled constraints, discussing realistic pathways to deployment with operators and engineers, and gathering any additional data required to close the gap between simulation and practice. Conducting these stays alongside PhD13 and PhD14 further supports the integration of their thermal and digital-twin predictors into the simulation. Together, the two stays bracket the project’s modelling cycle, ensuring that the optimisation, reinforcement-learning and decarbonisation studies remain anchored to genuine industrial conditions and operator needs.

Work contract timeline:

• Period 1 – FESIOS, Gmunden, Austria (18 months)
• Period 2 – TUW, Vienna, Austria (18 months)

Work location timeline:

• Period 1 – FESIOS, Gmunden, Austria (M4–M5)
• Period 2 – TATA STEEL, IJmuiden, Netherlands – Secondment 1 (M6)
• Period 3 – FESIOS, Gmunden, Austria (M7–M21)
• Period 4 – TU Wien, Vienna, Austria (M22–M27)
• Period 5 – TATA STEEL, IJmuiden, Netherlands – Secondment 2 (~M28)
• Period 6 – TU Wien, Vienna, Austria (M29–M39)

PhD15 is intended for highly motivated candidates with a strong quantitative background in Industrial Engineering, Operations Research, Computer Science, Applied Mathematics, Mechanical or Process Engineering, or a closely related discipline, at Master’s level. The position is particularly well suited to applicants who wish to work at the interface between operations research, simulation, machine learning and industrial decarbonisation, and who are motivated by translating methodological work into tools that real operators can use.

Candidates should demonstrate a genuine interest in optimisation and simulation, and ideally some familiarity with one or more relevant areas such as mathematical programming, metaheuristics, reinforcement learning, or discrete-event simulation. Programming ability, preferably in Python, is important, since the work builds directly on a Python-based simulation environment and modern RL libraries. A specific prior specialisation is not required: a strong, transferable analytical foundation and a clear willingness to learn the steelmaking and refractory domain matter more than existing domain credentials.

Because the project is carried out jointly between TU Wien and FESIOS, with secondments to TATA STEEL IJmuiden, the successful applicant should be comfortable working in an interdisciplinary and intersectoral environment, engaging with academic researchers, software engineers and plant operators alike. An interest in sustainability and industrial decarbonisation is valued, given the project’s emphasis on energy, emissions and renewable heating options. Strong oral and written communication skills in English, scientific curiosity, autonomy, rigour and the ability to engage constructively with complex, open-ended problems are essential, as is a readiness to contribute actively to the collaborative spirit of the REFFRACTEUR network.

TUW
Prof. René HOFMANN – 
Dr. Florian MÜLLER – 

FESIOS
DI Paul UHL-HÄDICKE – 
DI Alexander KÖNIG – 

Applications must be made via the forms on the recruitment procedure page.

Some examples of recent publications:

• V. Ruela, P. van Beurden, B. Luchini, R. Hofmann, and F. Birkelbach, “Optimizing the Steel Ladle Thermal Management: Toward a Sustainable and Cost-Effective Ladle Fleet Logistics,” Steel Res Int, vol. 96, no. 2, Feb. 2025, doi: 10.1002/srin.202400616.
• V. Ruela, P. Van Beurden, S. Sinnema, R. Hofmann, and F. Birkelbach, “A Global Solution Approach to the Energy-Efficient Ladle Dispatching Problem With Refractory Temperature Control,” IEEE Access, vol. 11, pp. 137718–137733, 2023, doi: 10.1109/ACCESS.2023.3339392.
• M. Lee, K. Moon, K. Lee, J. Hong, and M. Pinedo, “A critical review of planning and scheduling in steel-making and continuous casting in the steel industry,” Journal of the Operational Research Society, vol. 75, no. 8, pp. 1421–1455, 2024, doi: 10.1080/01605682.2023.2265416.
• ​J. Yang et al., “Fine description of multi-process operation behavior in steelmaking-continuous casting process by a simulation model with crane non-collision constraint,” Metals (Basel), vol. 9, no. 10, Oct. 2019, doi: 10.3390/met9101078.
• ​M. Holmström, D. Sundberg, N. E. Perez, A. Arteaga Ayarza, H. Köchner, and B. Glaser, “Numerical Modeling of Direct Current Plasma Versus Natural Gas-Heated Steelmaking Ladles: Validation via Full-Scale Industrial Measurements,” Steel Res Int, Aug. 2024, doi: 10.1002/srin.202400510.
• V. Ruela, (2026). Enhancing the Sustainability of Steelmaking through the Optimization of Ladle Operations [Dissertation, Technische Universität Wien]. reposiTUm. https://doi.org/10.34726/hss.2026.123322

Full package of relevant publications