🚀 PhD Position - Engineer Adaptive Rotor Blade Structural Analysis and Lifetime Prediction

PhD Position ‒ Engineer Adaptive Rotor Blade Structural Analysis and Lifetime Prediction

The Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft operates 76 institutes and research units throughout Germany and is a leading applied research organization. Around 32 000 employees work with an annual research budget of 3.4 billion euros.

Who we are

At the Fraunhofer Institute for Wind Energy Systems IWES, the energy transition becomes a reality every day. Our focus topics are offshore wind energy, hydrogen, test infrastructure and digitization. More than 400 employees – including around 100 students – from over 50 countries work at nine locations in scientific and non‑scientific teams on the development of innovative methods to accelerate the expansion of the wind energy and hydrogen economy, minimise risks and increase cost efficiency.

What you will do

Your PhD research focuses on several topics such as developing a novel prognostics model based on the evaluation of sensor data and specialised methods. The purpose is to update digital twins and determine the structural properties of rotor blades to improve the estimation of remaining useful lifetime (RUL) along with other requirements and simulations. Your work will advance the transition to renewable energy by providing a deeper understanding of the structural behaviour of blades, which will lead to improvements in the design, lifetime, and energy production of wind turbines.

A diverse working day is guaranteed. During the project you will develop and implement self‑learning control algorithms that balance computational demand and modelling precision. You will evaluate, interpret and combine the results from experimental modal analyses and other tests. You will run structural simulations to replicate these experiments and compare the results to improve the quality of structural models. In addition, you will identify pathways for industrialisation, publish your findings in international journals and present them at conferences.

You will be part of a network! "IntelliWind" is a European Industrial Doctoral Network that focuses on technology transfer between academia and industry. As part of this programme you will spend 6 months at the Universidad de Castilla‑La Mancha in Spain and 6 months at Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands. The programme includes several training schools with a variety of specialised courses, as well as enrollment in a doctoral programme at Delft University of Technology. You will meet regularly with the entire student and supervisory network at sites around Europe to share your progress, discuss challenges and learn from the "IntelliWind" community.

What you bring to the table

Your background should include a completed diploma or master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or a similar field. You should have a good understanding of mechanics, dynamics and composites; be familiar with numerical simulation and optimisation; possess experience with data evaluation and analytics; and ideally have knowledge of the wind industry and rotor blades. Experience with modal analysis and scientific work is an advantage. Familiarity with programming languages such as Python and a strong command of English are also required.

What you can expect

We support you on your professional journey. While participating in the "IntelliWind" programme you will develop transferable skills, contribute to overcoming major barriers in the green energy transition and build a broad professional network in the wind energy industry.

We provide a supportive environment, shared expertise and close collaboration across backgrounds. Our experts will gladly support you in achieving your PhD.

Learn more about IWES, our research aspects and your future colleagues on our career website:

Program details

The position is limited to 3 years. The weekly working time is 39 hours. Terms of contract are according to the European Commission’s Marie Curie fellowship scheme.

Equal opportunity

We value and promote the diversity of our employees’ skills and therefore welcome all applications – regardless of age, gender, nationality, ethnic and social origin, religion, ideology, disability, sexual orientation and identity. Severely disabled persons are given preference in the event of equal suitability.

Recruitment process

The application process follows the EURAXESS Code of Conduct for Recruitment and will include diverse methods to understand candidates’ strengths and experiences. Only online applications via the portal can be considered. We observe the provisions of the GDPR when processing applications.

Contact

Ms. Laura Tessmer People and Development Phone: ‑230

Additional information

Fraunhofer Institute for Wind Energy Systems Website:

Requisition Number: 81622 Application Deadline: 10/26/2025

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