Doctoral student in Mechanical Engineering with a specialisation in wire drawing

Ref no: ORU 2.1.1-06625/2026

Örebro University and the School of Science and Technology are looking for a doctoral student for the doctoral programme in Mechanical Engineering, concluding with a doctoral degree.
Start date: January – March 2027.

Project description

Steel wire is an essential component of countless products and applications, from everyday items such as ballpoint pens and car tyres to critical infrastructure such as buildings and bridges. As industry advances towards more sustainable manufacturing, there is an increasing need to produce steel wire products with greater resource efficiency, improved material performance, and reduced environmental impact.

This doctoral project aims to advance the knowledge and technologies needed to make wire drawing processes more efficient, robust, and sustainable. The research is carried out in close collaboration with the wire drawing industry, ensuring that scientific developments address real industrial challenges and contribute to more sustainable production of steel wire products. Particular emphasis will be placed on improving process understanding and developing and evaluating innovative drawing tools.

The research will combine experimental investigations of wire drawing processes, tool behaviour, and resulting wire properties with sensor-based measurements, data analysis, and modelling. A central objective is to understand how material properties, process conditions, lubrication, and tooling interact and influence process performance, tool wear, and wire quality. This knowledge will support the development of practical solutions that improve resource utilisation, extend tool life, and enhance the efficiency and sustainability of industrial wire drawing.

As a doctoral student, you will plan and conduct experiments, analyse data, develop models, and communicate your findings through scientific publications and presentations. You will work closely with academic researchers and industrial partners, contributing to research that bridges fundamental scientific understanding and practical industrial applications.

The project offers an interdisciplinary research environment at the intersection of mechanical engineering, manufacturing technology, materials engineering, measurement technology, modelling, and control engineering. By addressing challenges associated with resource efficiency, production performance, and the green transition, the research aims to contribute to the development of next-generation wire drawing processes and tools that support more sustainable steel wire production.

Supervision: The doctoral student will be supervised by Christer Korin (principal supervisor) and Joakim Larsson (assistant supervisor).

The programme and the doctoral studentship

The doctoral programme consists of courses and an independent research project that you will present in a doctoral thesis. The programme concludes with a doctoral degree and comprises 240 credits, which corresponds to four years of full-time study.

Our ambition is for your doctoral studies to be stimulating and purposeful throughout the programme until you have obtained your doctoral degree. A thorough introduction will therefore get you off to a good start and provide a solid foundation on which you can build your studies. As a doctoral student at Örebro University, you will be offered a specially tailored seminar series, covering matters ranging from doctoral programme rules and careers to support during the study period and networking.

The place on the programme is linked to a full-time doctoral studentship for the duration of the study programme, which corresponds to four years of full-time study. More information on doctoral studentships, part-time studies and part-time doctoral studentships can be found on Örebro University’s website. The initial salary for a doctoral studentship is SEK 32 300 a month (salary period 2025-2026).

Entry requirements and selection

For admission to doctoral studies, applicants are required to meet both general entry requirements and specific entry requirements. In addition, applicants must be considered in other respects to have the ability required to benefit from the programme. For a full account of the entry requirements, refer to the admissions regulations as well as to annex 2 to the general syllabus for Mechanical Engineering.

Applicants meet the specific entry requirements for doctoral studies in Mechanical Engineering if they have completed a Degree of Master of Science in Engineering or a Degree of Master (60 credits) from a programme within the main field of study or a related main field of study. A person who has acquired substantially corresponding knowledge, in Sweden or abroad, also meets the specific entry requirements.

Information

For more information about the programme and the doctoral studentship, contact Joakim Larsson, Associate Senior Lecturer, joakim.larsson@oru.se, +4619303378 or Christer Korin, Senior Lecturer, christer.korin@oru.se, +4619303082.

At Örebro University, we expect each member of staff to be open to development and change; take responsibility for their work and performance; demonstrate a keen interest in collaboration and contribute to development; as well as to show respect for others by adopting a constructive and professional approach.

Örebro University actively pursues equal opportunities and gender equality as well as a work environment characterised by openness, trust and respect. We value the qualities that diversity adds to our operations.

Application to the programme and for the doctoral studentship

The application is made online. Click the button “Apply” to begin the application procedure.

For the application to be complete, the following electronic documents must be included:

• CV
• Copies of the original certificate and official transcript for Bachelor's degree
• Copies of the original certificate and official transcript for Master's degree
• Independent project (degree project)
• Other relevant documents, course and degree certificates verifying eligibility

As a main rule, application documents and attachments are to be written in Swedish, Danish, Norwegian, or English. Certificates and documents in other languages verifying your qualifications and experience must be translated by an authorised translator to Swedish or English. A list of authorised translators can be obtained from Kammarkollegiet (the Legal, Financial and Administrative Services Agency), www.kammarkollegiet.se/engelska/start.

When you apply for admission, you automatically also apply for a doctoral studentship.
More information for applicants will be found on our career site:  https://www.oru.se/english/career/available-positions/applicants-and-external-experts/

The application deadline is 2026-12-18. We look forward to receiving your application!

As we have already made our choices in terms of external collaboration partners and marketing efforts for this recruitment process, we decline any contact with recruitment agencies and advertisers.

As directed by the National Archives of Sweden (Riksarkivet), we are required to deposit one file copy of the application documents, excluding publications, for a period of two years after the appointment decision has gained legal force.