Doctoral Researcher (Railway wheel friction estimation and control) / Väitöskirjatutkija (rautatien pyörän kitkan estimointi ja hallinta)

Tiivistelmä työpaikkailmoituksesta: The Machine Dynamics Group at Tampere University is hiring one full-time Doctoral Researcher to pursue a PhD in vehicle dynamics, automatic control and mechatronics focused on onboard railway wheel friction estimation and control. The work includes developing and validating experimental methods and advanced sensor instrumentation for onboard wheel–rail friction estimation, wheel slip detection, and hardware-in-the-loop simulation, with testing in a full-scale lab and on real trains. Applicants must have a Master’s degree in mechanical engineering (vehicle dynamics/mechatronics) or in automatic control, and experience with modelling, signal processing, system identification and tools like MATLAB, Simulink or Python is beneficial. The fixed-term post is up to three years starting early 2027 with a typical starting salary of approximately 3000 EUR/month, and applications close on 30 November 2026. Tämä tiivistelmä on luotu tekoälyn avulla. Tampere University and Tampere University of Applied Sciences create a unique environment for multidisciplinary, inspirational and high-impact research and education. Our universities community has its competitive edges in technology, health and society. www.tuni.fi/en Within the unit of Automation Technology and Mechanical Engineering , faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences , we are recruiting one (1) doctoral positions. The unit has about 20 professors and 100 research staff in the areas of Robotics, Automation, and Mechanical engineering. Mechanical engineering is one of the core areas of education and research of the faculty. The position is opened in the Machine Design group ( Machine Dynamics Group (Machine Design) | Tampere University ). Our group integrates machine dynamics, AI, computer vision, structural mechanics, and control for condition monitoring and asset management of railway rolling stock and infrastructure. Job description We are looking for one (1) Doctoral Researcher in the areas of vehicle dynamics, automatic control and mechatronics. Successful candidates will pursue a doctoral degree at Tampere University. Full-time doctoral studies are expected to be completed in three years. You will focus on the research of experimental methods on onboard railway wheel friction estimate and control. You will collaborate closely with one doctoral researcher at Machine Dynamic Group who develops computational methods for model-based rail friction estimation. During your PhD you will have opportunity to test your technology on full-scale wheel-rail lab ( Full-Scale Wheel-Rail Lab | Tampere University ) at Tampere University and real train operated in Finland. You will have the opportunity for the research exchange in other EU countries. You will work for the project funded by Research Council of Finland ( RAILCLIMA | Tampere Universities ). Your work will include: Develop and validate experimental methods and advanced sensor instrumentation for onboard wheel–rail friction estimation. Investigate the operational and environmental conditions under which wheel–rail friction can be estimated accurately and reliably. Develop methods for wheel slip detection using existing vehicle sensor signals and operational data. Design and implement hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) simulation platforms for wheel friction control. As a Doctoral Researcher you are expected to perform overviews of state of the art, to study the principles of vehicle dynamics, friction formulation, mechatronics, signal processing and vibration analysis and experimentation instrumentation. You are also expected to develop the computational algorithms, to generate experimental results, to analyze and validate them on use case(s) through comparison with the state of the art. The results of your research will be disseminated in scientific peer-reviewed journals, international conferences, doctoral network events and events with industry. The tasks of doctoral researchers also include teaching duties that amount to approximately 5% of their annual working hours, unless there are justified reasons to the contrary. Requirements You need to have a master’s degree in Mechanical engineering, with a focus on vehicle dynamics and mechatronics Automatic control or control Engineering Beneficial skills (not mandatory) Experience with MATLAB, Simulink, Python, or equivalent tools for modelling, simulation, data analysis, and algorithm development. Strong knowledge of system identification, sensor fusion, signal processing, and control systems, with the ability to apply these methods to real-world engineering challenges. Familiarity with vehicle dynamics, wheel–rail contact mechanics, traction control, braking systems, or related transportation applications. Successful candidates must be pursued or will be accepted to study towards a doctoral degree in the doctoral programme of the discipline. Please visit the admissions webpage https://www.tuni.fi/en/study-with-us/programmes/doctoral-p