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Doctoral student in experimental fluid mechanics and complex films


Job Location:

Stockholm - Sweden

Monthly Salary: Not provided by the employer
Posted: 4 September 2026 (28 days ago)
Application Deadline: 2 December 2026
Vacancies: 1 Vacancy

Job Summary

KTH Royal Institute of Technology School of Engineering Sciences
Project description

Third-cycle subject: Engineering Mechanics

FLOW is a strong community of researchers engaged in fundamental and applied research in fluid mechanics within the department of Engineering Mechanics.

We are currently seeking an experimental PhD student in fluid mechanics to join the Fluids and Surfaces Group within FLOW. This position offers an exciting opportunity for a highly motivated candidate to contribute to a cutting-edge research program funded by the Swedish Research Council (VR).

The project aims to uncover how complex films including biological and living films interact with surrounding fluid flows. Such films are ubiquitous in nature and technological applications ranging from mucus in the lungs to biofilms on medical devices and ship hulls. When exposed to shear and potentially unsteady flows these films can deform into complex shapes exhibit unusual material properties and evolve over time thereby creating a dynamic and continuously changing boundary for the flow. At the same time the films modify the overlying flow potentially altering frictional resistance as well as the transport and exchange of species.

Despite their importance the coupled interaction between complex films and fluid flows remains poorly understood. This limits our ability to predict and control these systems and poses major challenges across medical industrial and geophysical applications.

In this project the PhD student will work with and further develop a unique experimental platform for studying complex films under controlled yet complex flow conditions. The experimental work will be complemented by continuum modeling of complex materials data-driven methods and computational fluid dynamics.

Supervision: Shervin Bagheri is proposed to supervise the doctoral student. Decisions are made on admission

Admission requirements

To be admitted to postgraduate education (Chapter 7 39 Swedish Higher Education Ordinance) the applicant must have basic eligibility in accordance with either of the following:

  • passed a second cycle degree (for example a masters degree) or
  • completed course requirements of at least 240 higher education credits of which at least 60 second-cycle higher education credits or
  • acquired in some other way within or outside the country substantially equivalent knowledge

In addition to the above there is also a mandatory requirement for English equivalent to English B/6.

Selection

In order to succeed as a doctoral student at KTH you need to be goal oriented and persevering in your work. During the selection process candidates will be assessed upon their ability to:

  • independently pursue his or her work
  • collaborate with others
  • have a professional approach
  • analyze and work with complex issues and
  • experience of experimental fluid mechanics.

After the qualification requirements great emphasis will be placed on personal skills.

Target degree: Doctoral degree
Information regarding admission and employment

Only those admitted to postgraduate education may be employed as a doctoral student. The total length of employment may not be longer than what corresponds to full-time doctoral education in four years time. An employed doctoral student can to a limited extent (maximum 20%) perform certain tasks within their role e.g. training and administration. A new position as a doctoral student is for a maximum of one year and then the employment may be renewed for a maximum of two years at a the case of studies that are to be completed with a licentiate degree the total period of employment may not be longer than what corresponds to full-time doctoral education for two years.

As a doctoral student you are entitled to a workplace with many employee benefits and monthly salary according to KTHs Doctoral student salary agreement. Read more about Doctoral studies (PhD) KTH Sweden.

Union representatives

Contact information forunion representatives.

Doctoral Students network (Students union on KTH Royal Institute of Technology)

Contact information forPhD chapter.

To apply for the position

Apply for the position and admission through KTHs recruitment system. It is the applicants responsibility to ensure that the application is complete in accordance with the instructions in the advertisement.

Applications must include the following elements:

Applications must be received at the last closing date at midnight CET/CEST (Central European Time/Central European Summer Time).

Other information

For information about processing of personal data in the recruitment process.

It may be the case that a position at KTH is classified as a security-sensitive role in accordance with the Protective Security Act (2018:585). If this applies to the specific position a security clearance will be conducted for the applicant in accordance with the same law with the applicants such cases a prerequisite for employment is that the applicant is approved following the security clearance.

We firmly decline all contact with staffing and recruitment agencies and job ad salespersons.

Disclaimer: In case of discrepancy between the Swedish original and the English translation of the job announcement the Swedish version takes precedence.

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