At the Faculty of Engineering and Science, Department of Materials and Production, a PhD stipend is available within the doctoral programme "Mechanical Engineering ". The stipend is open for appointment from 01.10.2026 or soon hereafter. The duration of the position is three years.

Your work tasks

ABHSSYS (Acoustic Black Holes for Silent SYStems, Grant agreement ID: 101227712) is a European Doctoral Network funded by the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA), dedicated to advancing innovative solutions for vibration and noise control in lightweight structures (https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101227712). The project focuses on the development of Acoustic Black Hole (ABH) technologies, an emerging concept that enables efficient damping of vibrations and sound while reducing mass and material use. Bringing together leading academic laboratories and industrial partners across Europe, ABHSSYS will train a new generation of researchers at the interface of wave physics, acoustics and engineering. Through interdisciplinary research, international mobility and close collaboration with industry, the program aims to accelerate the transfer of ABH technologies towards real-world applications in sectors such as aerospace and energy.

In various industrial applications (i.e., pipelines carrying water), fluid/structure interaction falls into the category of heavy fluid loading conditions, making the modelling required to control vibration propagation and radiated noise extremely complex.

The Acoustic Black Hole (ABH) concept [1] appears as a promising approach in this context. It has been investigated in laboratory settings by various research groups over the past decade. Through specific geometric design, the ABH aims to slow down wave propagation and concentrate energy in a specific zone where it can be dissipated or, possibly, harvested.

It has been shown that the ABH strategy can be integrated into tubular systems in the form of cylinders of variable thickness [2-3] or at the level of the flexible joints used for vibration absorption [4]. These proposed tubular ABH architectures have proven their effectiveness for light fluid loading conditions (i.e., when the fluid’s feedback on wave propagation is weak).

The aim of this project is to explore the use of a structure-embedded ABH to mitigate wave propagation in cases of strong fluid/structure coupling, which is completely new. In this new class of systems, the combined effects of local resonances of the ABH, periodicity, and, possibly, Herschel-Quincke filtering are expected to facilitate significant localized attenuation of propagating waves. 

References:

[1] A. Pelat, F. Gautier, S.C. Conlon, F. Semperlotti, The acoustic black hole: A review of theory and applications, Journal of Sound and Vibration, 476 (2020) 115316.

[2] J.Deng et al., Vibration of cylindrical shells with embedded annular ABH using the Rayleigh-Ritz method, Mech. Syst. Sig. Proc., 2021, 222022526

[3] Hansen K., Sorokin S.V. 2024 Asymptotic analysis of acoustic black hole effect in cylindrical shells Journal of Acoustical Society of America 155 3426-3435

[4] Sorokin S.V. et al., A hierarchy of models of wave propagation in a fluid-filled periodic cylindrical shell, Mech. Syst. and Sig. Proc., 2020, 136 106487

Your competencies 

If you recognize yourself in the story below, then you have the profile that fits the project and the research group:

• I have a master’s degree in mechanical engineering, physics or mathematics and performed above average in comparison to my peers and I am not in possession of a doctoral degree at the date of recruitment (mandatory requirement)
• I haven’t had residence or main activities (studies or working position, even remote) in Denmark for more than 12 months in the last 3 years at the date of recruitment (mandatory requirement).
• During my courses or prior professional activities, I have gathered some basic experience with the physical principles of structural dynamics and (vibro-)acoustics and the related numerical modeling techniques, such as the Finite Element Method (FEM), as well as numerical optimization, manufacturing methods, and/or I have a profound interest in these topics. Experience with knowledge of meta-materials and passive control of sound and vibration is considered as a bonus. 
• I am proficient in written and spoken English.
• I feel comfortable working as a team member, and I am eager to share my results to inspire and being inspired by my colleagues. 
• As a Doctoral Candidate I will perform research in a structured and scientifically sound manner. I will read technical papers, understand the nuances between different theories and implement and improve methodologies myself.
• In the framework of the DN-ABHSSYS project, I will participate in the network training schools and I will present my work progress in front of the supervisory board every 6 months.
• During my PhD, I will be hosted by the industrial partner, Grundfos A/S, Denmark, involved in the thesis for a 6-month secondment
  
  

Qualification requirements

PhD stipends are allocated to individuals who hold a Master's degree. PhD stipends are normally for a period of 3 years. It is a prerequisite for allocation of the stipend that the candidate will be enrolled as a PhD student at the Doctoral School of Engineering and Science in accordance with the regulations of Ministerial Order No. 1124 of September 19, 2025 on the PhD Programme at the Universities and Certain Higher Artistic Educational Institutions. According to the Ministerial Order, the progress of the PhD student shall be assessed at regular points in time. As part of the PhD study, you are among other things required to complete PhD courses corresponding to 30 ECTS, gain experience with teaching or other forms of knowledge dissemination and complete an external research stay outside of Aalborg University, preferably 3-6 months at a foreign research institution.

Who we are

Department of Materials and Production (MP) has a wide-ranging research and educational environment at Aalborg University. The Department's mission is to meet the future's demands for new materials and production systems by directing the whole value chain from basic material understanding materials' applications in mechanical constructions, industrial production and management. The department has several strong, international and innovative research groups which comprise everything from basic science to strategic and applicable research. The activities encompass research as well as education within materials, mechanics, physics, production technique, and industrial management and innovation.
Benefitting the industry and additional collaborators several innovative and unconventional collaborations have been and are developed through interdisciplinary co-operations.
Thereby, as an employee at the Department you will become a part of an international research environment, where focus is on innovation, knowledge sharing/building and interdisciplinary collaborations. 

How to apply

Your application must include the following:

• Application, stating reasons for applying and qualifications in relation to the position
• Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• Diplomas (bachelor's and master's degree diploma, including grades) 
• Other relevant documents

The application must be submitted via Aalborg University’s recruitment system, which can be accessed under the job advertisement on Aalborg University's website. 

Aalborg University wants to reflect the surrounding society and has diversity as a core value. Therefore, everyone, regardless of personal background and orientation, is encouraged to apply for the position.

Do you have any questions?    

If you have any questions about the position, you are more than welcome to contact us. You will find contact persons at the bottom of the jobpost.

Further information  

Read more about our recruitment process here.

The assessment of candidates for the position will be carried out by qualified experts.
Shortlisting will be applied. This means that after the application deadline, the head of the department, with the assistance of the hiring committee, will select the applicants to be assessed. All applicants will be informed whether they have been shortlisted for assessment or not.

The hiring process at Aalborg University may include a risk assessment as a tool to identify potential risks associated with new hires, ensuring the safety, compliance, and integrity of the workplace.

Read more about The Doctoral School of Engineering and Science

Salary and terms of employment

The employment is in accordance with the Ministerial Order on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Universities (the Appointment Order) and the Ministerial Order on Job Structure for Academic Staff at Universities (in Danish).

Salary and terms of employment are in accordance with the collective agreement between the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations and the state (AC collective agreement) (in Danish) 

There is a mutual probationary period of 3 months for the position.

Aalborg University - Knowledge for the world
Aalborg University is an international workplace with more than 3,700 employees. We offer real-world-oriented education and create world-class research results through collaboration between researchers, students, and public and private companies. This is how we achieve insights, new solutions to societal problems, and knowledge that changes the world. Our main campus is in Aalborg, but we also have campuses in Esbjerg and Copenhagen.

Contacts

• Sergey Sorokin: +4599409332, svs@mp.aau.dk
• HR Support : +4599403031, hr@adm.aau.dk

Employment type

Full time

Ref number

2026/727

Deadline

20.06.2026