Ph3PhD Position in Mechanical Engineering: Physics‑Informed Generative AI for Architected Materials /h3 pDeadline: December 18th 2025, 2 PM (CEST) /p pStart Date: 1 February 2026 /p pFunded by: The Italian Institute of Artificial Intelligence (AI4I), in collaboration with Politecnico di Milano /p pContact: /p pWebsite: /p h3Position Description /h3 pThe PhD scholarship is funded by the Italian Institute of Artificial Intelligence (AI4I). The research will be carried out jointly at AI4I and Politecnico di Milano. The project focuses on barchitected materials /b, also known as metamaterials. /p p• Architected materials are engineered systems whose exceptional properties originate from geometry rather than chemistry alone. /p p• By computationally designing their internal structure across scales, these materials can display unconventional mechanical, acoustic, or multifunctional behaviors. /p p• Recent advances in bartificial intelligence (AI) and generative modelling /b have created new opportunities to accelerate their design and broaden the space of feasible, manufacturable architectures. /p p• Data‑driven approaches now enable the integration of heterogeneous requirements — from geometric and manufacturing constraints to target mechanical responses and multifunctional performance. /p pWithin this context, the PhD project aims to develop bfoundation models for the design of architected materials /b. The main objective is to uncover new or unconventional physical behaviors and establish a unified framework for the design of high‑performing, manufacturable metamaterials. /p h3Research Methods and Techniques /h3 pThe research will integrate bphysics‑based simulation /b, bgenerative AI /b, and bformal representations of material architectures /b to develop a new class of models for the design of architected materials. Potential applications include vibration attenuation, impact protection, and acoustic filtering. /p h3Key Methodologies /h3 ul liGenerative deep learning models to support the creation of architected materials. /li liUnified graph and geometric encodings to incorporate design requirements. /li liPhysics‑informed pretraining on large‑scale numerical datasets. /li liMulti‑objective and multi‑physics frameworks to enable inverse design of architected metamaterials. /li liExperimental validation through fabrication and testing of prototypes or samples. /li /ul h3Educational Objectives /h3 pThe PhD candidate will develop a bstrong interdisciplinary background /b spanning artificial intelligence, computational mechanics and modelling, engineering design, materials science, and manufacturing. In addition, the candidate will enhance soft skills such as scientific writing, communication, and problem‑solving. /p pThe candidate will learn to develop and apply generative and physics‑informed machine learning methods for the design of materials and structures. Expertise will be gained in multi‑physics modelling and simulation of architected materials, as well as in dataset generation, curation, and model training. The candidate will further strengthen the ability to create, disseminate, and communicate scientific knowledge, and to work effectively within an international research environment. /p pThe scholarship offers immersion in a multidisciplinary and international research ecosystem, involving collaboration with leading AI scientists and potentially also industrial partners. /p pCareer opportunities could span across research, industry, and technology innovation, where AI and materials design converge. /p pSuccessful candidates will develop competencies that could be exploited in academic and research positions in computational materials science, mechanics, and AI for engineering design. Potential industrial fields of interest concerning this topic can be aerospace, automotive, and digital manufacturing, among others. /p pThe combination of AI expertise, physical modelling, and collaborative experience will make the candidate potentially competitive for roles in the next generation of AI‑driven materials discovery and design. /p pEmployment statistics of PhDs can be found at: /p h3Scholarships and Financial Support /h3 pMonthly bnet /b income of PhD scholarship (max 36 months): €1,500 /p p(In case of a change of the welfare rates during the three‑year period, the amount could be slightly modified) /p h3Additional Support /h3 ul liFinancial aid is available for all PhD candidates (purchase of study books and materials, funding for participation in courses, summer schools, workshops and conferences) for a total amount of €6,114.50. /li liOur candidates are strongly encouraged to spend a research period abroad, joining high‑level research groups in the specific PhD research topic, selected in agreement with the Supervisor. /li liAn increase in the scholarship will be applied for periods up to 6 months (approx. €750 euro/month - net amount). /li liTeaching assistantship: availability of funding in recognition of supporting teaching activities by the PhD candidate. There are various forms of financial aid for activities of support to the teaching practice. The PhD student is encouraged to take part in these activities, within the limits allowed by the regulations. /li /ul h3What We Offer /h3 ul liA stimulating, ambitious and collaborative research environment within AI4I’s and Politecnico di Milano’s international, interdisciplinary ecosystem. /li liThe opportunity to co‑author high‑impact publications and help define emerging paradigms in AI‑guided materials design. /li liTailored mentoring to support your long‑term academic or industry career trajectory. /li liAccess to high‑performance computing (HPC) infrastructure and state‑of‑the‑art fabrication and testing facilities. /li liOpportunities for international collaborations (e.g. UC Berkeley, Penn State, Imperial College London). /li /ul h3How to Apply /h3 pApplications for this position are managed by bPolitecnico di Milano /b. /p pPlease apply via the official PhD admissions portal. For additional information, please visit the official PhD description. /p h3About Us /h3 pbAI4I – The Italian Research Institute for Artificial Intelligence /b /p pAI4I has been founded to perform transformative, application‑oriented research in Artificial Intelligence. /p pAI4I is set to engage and empower gifted, entrepreneurial, young researchers who commit to producing an impact at the intersection of science, innovation, and industrial transformation. /p pHighly competitive pay, bonus incentives, access to dedicated high‑performance computing, state‑of‑the‑art laboratories, industrial collaborations, and an ecosystem tailored to support the initiation and growth of startups stand out as some of the distinctive features of AI4I, bringing together people in a dynamic international environment. /p pAI4I is an Institute that aims to enhance scientific research, technological transfer, and, more generally, the innovation capacity of the Country, promoting its positive impact on industry, services, and public administration. To this end, the Institute contributes to creating a research and innovation infrastructure that employs artificial intelligence methods, with particular reference to manufacturing processes, within the framework of the Industry 4.0 process and its entire value chain. The Institute establishes relationships with similar entities and organizations in Italy and abroad, including Competence Centers and European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIHs), so that the centre may become an attractive place for researchers, companies, and start‑ups. /p pWebsite: /p /p #J-18808-Ljbffr