24 Jul 2026
Job Information
- Organisation/Company: Politecnico di Torino
- Department: Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (DIMEAS)
- Research Field: Engineering » Mechanical engineering
- Researcher Profile: First Stage Researcher (R1)
- Positions: PhD Positions
- Application Deadline: 31 Aug 2026 - 23:59 (Europe/Rome)
- Country: Italy
- Type of Contract: Temporary
- Job Status: Full-time
- Hours Per Week: 40
- Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?: Horizon Europe - MSCA
Offer Description
Objectives: The Project aims to assess the effects of porosity, a recurring manufacturing defect in large structural composite components, on the resultant mechanical performance. The following methodologies are employed: i) Manufacture, inspect, and test (Quasi Static, QS, fatigue) interlaminar fracture coupons with controlled porosity levels (using standard mode I, II, mixed mode interlaminar fracture coupons, obtain fracture toughness porosity-Knock-Down Factors, KDFs, a ratio between the defect-induced Quantity of Interest (QoI) - e.g. strength - and the pristine one); ii) Implement an existing state-of-art (SoA) fatigue cohesive zone model, including calibration on the characterised properties, into a meso-scale FE modelling approach suitable for industrial application; iii) Design, manufacture, inspect & test (QS, fatigue) representative lab-scale demonstrators (e.g. L-shape unfolding) with different porosity levels; iv) QS modelling & validation of porosity effects at the coupon and demonstrator levels; v) Fatigue modelling and validation, including sensitivity analysis to determine porosity defect criticality when acting as damage precursor to delamination-prone fatigue failure, helping redefine porosity-related Defect Acceptance Criteria (DAC) for structures with QS and fatigue-driven designs.
Expected Results: i) Data set on porosity-dependent KDFs for QS and fatigue interlaminar toughness; ii) Validated numerical method for assessing the effect of porosity on the QS strength and fatigue life of components, contributing to Certification-by-Analysis (CbA) robustness; iii) a methodology for establishing accurate and efficient DAC protocols for porosity defects.
Secondments: The project will involve collaborations and secondments (in total 10 months during the three years) at Leonardo (Italy) and Universität De Girona (Spain).
The DC will be expected to:
- Carry out research as outlined in the project’s objectives under the supervision of Professors A. Tridello, D.S. Paolino (PoliTo).
- Develop expertise in the advanced characterisation of composite materials and generate an extensive dataset describing the mechanical response of composites containing embedded meso- and macro-scale defects;
- Design and validate advanced meso-scale Finite Element models;
- Attend advanced third-level courses and complete the required Hard and Soft Skills credits (at least 100 hours of hard skills and 40 hours of soft skills).
- Contribute to academic publications, project reports, and other dissemination activities.
- Collaborate with fellow doctoral candidates within the LEGEND project, utilising synergies between projects.
- Actively participate in General Assembly meetings and doctoral training events within LEGEND, distributed across Europe.
Where to apply
E-mail: andrea.tridello@polito.it
Requirements
Research Field: Engineering
Education Level: Master Degree or equivalent
Skills/Qualifications
Necessary Skills/Qualifications for this position:
- Good experience in experimental testing, mechanical characterization and numerical simulations;
- Preferred degree in Mechanical Engineering;
- Proficiency with commercial software and tools for structural analyses;
- Coding skills (even preliminary) in Matlab, Python;
- Academic writing;
- The ability to work both independently and as part of a team.
Languages: ENGLISH
Level: Excellent
Research Field: Engineering
Internal Application form(s) needed
LEGEND Guide for Applicants_DC14_1.pdf
English (709.72 KB - PDF)
Additional Information
Benefits
The successful candidate will receive a competitive and attractive academic remuneration package following the MSCA regulations for doctoral candidates. The researcher will be recruited under an employment contract that includes social security coverage.
- The position is a fixed-term contract appointment of three years.
- Expected recruitment date: from November 2026 to January 2027 (Possible flexibility regarding the starting date.)
- Expected PhD start date: March 2027.
The financial benefit includes the following*:
- Monthly living allowance: 4010 euro/month; this amount is then adjusted through the application of a country correction coefficient to the living allowance of the country in which the researcher is recruited (3821.5 €). The country correction coefficients are indicated in Table 1 of https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/horizon/wp-call/2023-2024/wp-2-msca-actions_horizon-2023-2024_en.pdf ).
- Monthly mobility allowance: 710 euro/month.
- Monthly family allowance, if applicable and depending on the family situation: 660 euro/month.
*The living allowance indicated above is the total EU contribution to the salary costs of the researcher. The estimated gross salary (approximatively 54378 euro per 12 months) includes both employee and employer’s contributions. The net salary is obtained after deducting these contributions (and any other nationally applicable direct taxes (e.g. income tax)) from the gross salary.
The doctoral candidate will also benefit from comprehensive training within the LEGEND network, including participation in specialized Training Events organized by the LEGEND network. Additional opportunities include secondments to partner laboratories, a range of advanced training courses (including transferable skills development), and active engagement in workshops and international conferences, providing a well-rounded and enriching research experience.
Eligibility criteria
Applicants will be required to meet the general eligibility criteria of MSCA Early‐Stage Researchers.
MSCA Criteria for all DCs
- Applicants must not already be in possession of a doctoral degree. Researchers who have successfully defended their doctoral thesis but who have not yet formally been awarded the doctoral degree will not be considered eligible.
- They must not have resided, worked, or studied in the country of the recruiting Beneficiary institute for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to the date of recruitment. Compulsory national service, short stays such as holidays, and time spent as part of a procedure for obtaining refugee status under the Geneva Convention are not taken into account. For international European research organisations, international organisations, or entities created under Union law, recruited researchers must not have spent more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before their date of recruitment in the same appointing organisation.
The recruitment date is the first day of the employment of the researcher for the purposes of the action (i.e. the starting date indicated in the employment contract or equivalent direct contract).
PoliTo criteria:
- M.Sc. degree (i.e. 2° level title, as defined by the Bologna Process), issued by an officially recognized academic institution, which grants admission in PhD programs in the country of issuance.
- Minimum grade point average for exams taken as indicated in Annex 2.
- Certification of English language proficiency at level B2 (as defined by the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), among those listed in Annex 4 of this call for applications, regardless of the date of issuance**. Certifications other than those listed in Annex 4 will not be considered**. Cases of exemption are indicated in Annex 3.
Selection process
LEGEND’s recruitment procedure is led by the hiring beneficiary of the specific DC and supervised by the project’s Hiring Committee to ensure that all selections are open, transparent, merit-based, supportive of equal opportunities (i.e. unbiased by gender, nationality, etc.), internationally comparable, and consistent with the principles of the European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers.
Applicants may apply for up to five (5) DC positions within LEGEND. They must follow the specific application procedure of each DC position, while ensuring they pass their respective eligibility criteria.
PoliTO DC14 Specific Procedure
The application should be written in English and attached as PDF-files in an email sent to the email addresses: andrea.tridello@polito.it, davide.paolino@polito.it. The maximum size for each file is 20 MB. Zip files are allowed.
- Curriculum Vitae (Following the Europass template)
- Motivation letter (max. 2 pages)
- A brief introduction to yourself and your previous experience, focusing on aspects related to the activities carried out in the project.
- A brief motivation as to why you are interested in this position.
- Bachelor’s and, if available, master’s diplomas, transcripts, and thesis (if not subject to restrictions).
- Contact information of 2 references.
- Supporting documentation for merits listed in the CV (e.g. language certificates or others).
- Declaration of Honour for Mobility Rule (see Annex 1)
A background check may be conducted as part of the application process. The original diplomas and transcripts should be available before enrollment to PoliTO.
Note: The applicant is responsible for ensuring that the application and the documentation provided is complete. Only the documents provided by email before the deadline will be considered.
Note: Candidates selected for the Interview will need to upload the missing documentation (see Eligibility Criteria) on Polito website, Apply@polito.
Additional comments
The candidate will be working at the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (DIMEAS), Politecnico di Torino, Italy, within the Mechanics of Advanced Materials group. The Politecnico di Torino, founded in 1906 from the roots of the Technical School for Engineers created in 1859, has a long-standing tradition of leadership of polytechnic culture. It is one of the most important universities in Europe for engineering and architecture studies. Currently it is among the top Engineering and Technology universities in the world, the 53rd according to the QS University Rankings 2026 by broad Subject, the 18th in Architecture and Built Environment, 38th for Civil and Structural Engineering and 30th in Mechanical, Aeronautical and Manufacturing by Subject.
Link to host: https://www.polito.it/
For more information about this vacancy, please contact: andrea.tridello@polito.it and davide.paolino@polito.it
Supervisors: Prof. Andrea Tridello, Prof. Davide Salvatore Paolino
Detailed information and Annexes can be found in the file "LEGEND Guide for Applicants_DC14_1.pdf" in the Section Internal Application form(s) needed
Website for additional job details: https://www.legend-msca-dn.com/home
Work Location(s)
Number of offers available: 1
Company/Institute: Politecnico di Torino
Country: Italy
City: Torino
Postal Code: 10129
Street: Corso Duca degli Abruzzi, 24
Contact
City: Torino
Website: http://www.polito.it
Street: Corso Duca degli Abruzzi 24
Postal Code: 10129
E-Mail: andrea.tridello@polito.it
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