Welcome as a PhD candidate Nils Kopp!
- Post by: Tobias Larsson
- 3rd September 2026
- No Comment
We are pleased to welcome Nils Kopp as a new PhD candidate in Mechanical Engineering at Blekinge Institute of Technology (BTH), starting September 1 2026.
Nils will be supervised by Professor Dr. Tobias Larsson (BTH), Associate Professor Dr. Shafiqul Islam (BTH), and Adjunct Senior Lecturer Dr. Mats Sigvant (Autoform). His PhD research will focus on nonlinear material processes and production oriented research challenges at the start, with integration of AI and data driven tools and methods, starting out in the CiSMA (Circular Steel for Mass Market Applications) project.
WHO ARE YOU AND WHAT IS YOUR BACKGROUND?
Hi everyone, my name is Nils Kopp and I recently started as a PhD candidate in Mechanical Engineering here at BTH. I actually completed my Master’s in Structural Mechanics here at BTH in 2024, so it feels a bit like coming back home.
After graduating, I moved back to Germany and worked as an R&D Engineer in battery development. The company I worked for builds the manufacturing equipment used to produce batteries for electric vehicles. My role focused on helping customers scale up their battery production, taking technologies from the lab stage to large-scale manufacturing with short production cycles.
When the opportunity came up to continue research in the field of material modelling—a topic closely related to my Master’s thesis—I decided to return to BTH and take the next step into academia.
Outside of work, I enjoy being active. I have always been into cycling and recently bought a gravel bike before moving back to Karlskrona, so I’m looking forward to exploring the area on two wheels. I also enjoy running, and there’s a good chance you’ll see me running through town in the evenings. I’m a big football fan, especially of my hometown club SC Freiburg, and used to play in a Sunday league team in Germany. Yet I haven’t decided if I’ll join a team here in Karlskrona. Another hobby of mine is scale modelling, especially building model ships. In general, I’m a curious person who enjoys learning new things, discovering new places, and taking on new challenges.
WHAT WILL BE YOUR RESEARCH?
Broadly speaking, my research is about understanding how material properties affect sheet metal forming processes and product quality. I will be working with a combination of experimental material testing, computer simulations, and machine learning to develop better ways of predicting and understanding manufacturing outcomes. The overall goal is to help make engineering processes more reliable, efficient, and sustainable while bridging the gap between research and industrial applications.
As a first application case I am part of the European CiSMA initiative, which aims to increase the use of recycled and circular steel in manufacturing. A key challenge is that recycled materials often show greater variation in their properties, which can affect production quality. Through my research, I help solve the challenges that arise in this process.
WHAT WILL YOU BRING BTH AND THE COMMUNITY?
I hope to bring a combination of academic and industrial experience, giving me a perspective on both research and its practical application. I also see myself as a curious, open-minded and approachable person who enjoys learning, sharing ideas and meeting people from different backgrounds. I’m eager to contribute to a positive and collaborative environment at BTH, while also learning from the people around me.