Mobility GT: Surfaces and interfaces for sustainable green mobility

Website

www.mobility-gt.eu/

Project duration

2022 - 2029

Project Category

based on MSCA COFUND

Contact Information

prof. dr. Mitjan Kalin

Partners

  • University of Leeds (UK)
  • Luleå University of Technology (Sweden)
  • University of Coimbra (Portugal)

Mobility GT is a project awarded with a Seal of Excellence from European Commission based on the MSCA COFUND scheme. This international programme will offers 24 postdoctoral 2.5-year fellowships for own-idea projects on tribology for sustainable green mobility. This project is led by the Laboratory for Tribology and Interface Nanotechnology (TINT) and realized along with the University of Leeds (UK), Luleå University of Technology (Sweden), and University of Coimbra (Portugal) with the involvement of 50 associated partners, mainly from industry (e.g., Volvo, Scania, Oerlikon, SKF, Hidria, Kolektor, Mahle, Cummins, and others).

Mobility GT will hire 24 postdoctoral researchers, who shall propose their own individual research projects, addressing the major challenges in green tribology. The fellowships shall pursue one of four research challenge domains:

  • Nanoscale-based green lubrication and surface technology (Ljubljana)
  • Boundary films & tribochemical interfaces (Leeds)
  • Green lubrication for lightweight composites and lubrication modelling (Luleå)
  • Wear-resistant, low-friction, advanced surface coatings (Coimbra)

The project will be realised in two calls for two cohorts of 12 postdocs each. Half the positions in each cohort will initially focus on fundamental nanoscale research (at the University of Ljubljana), with the other half working on macroscale, application-oriented tribology research of materials, surfaces, coatings, and lubrication at the (at the University of Leeds, Luleå University of Technology, or the University of Coimbra). This will be followed by what will be an exciting, compulsory switch between the two length scales after 21 months (and includes a mandatory secondment at an intersectorial/industrial partner) as the “nanoscale” postdocs take what they have discovered to the macroscale, and the “macroscale” postdocs get the chance to look more deeply into their findings on the nanoscale. This means the postdocs will finish off with a 9-month academic secondment to complement the main period of research.

  • The first call is closed. 12 postdoctoral researchers will start working on their projects on July 1, 2024.
  • The second call will be available from December 1, 2025. The deadline for submitting a postdoctoral project proposal will be February 28, 2026. The second cohort of 12 postdoctoral researchers will start their work on January 1, 2027.