Are you holding Master’s degree and looking for fully funded PhD positions? KU Leuven, Belgium invites online application for multiple funded PhD Programs / fully funded PhD positions in various research areas.
Candidates interested in fully funded PhD positions can check the details and may apply as soon as possible. Interested and eligible applicants may submit their online application for PhD programs via the University’s Online Application Portal.
1. Fully Funded PhD Position in Zeolite synthesis
Summary of PhD Program:
In this role, the PhD researcher will delve into the synthesis and comprehensive characterization of zeolites, utilizing innovative approaches. Specifically, the focus will be on techniques like Interzeolite Conversion (DOI: 10.1039/D1RA02887A) and/or Electro-Assisted Synthesis (DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemmater.3c00552), since the Dusselier Group boasts a significant track record in this research domain. The aim is to investigate how these methods influence critical performance metrics such as Si/Me ratios, acidity, Divalent Cation Capacity, and topology. The central emphasis of the research lies in material synthesis and their meticulous characterization. Promising samples will subsequently undergo in-house or external catalytic and/or separation testing.
Application Deadline: 22/12/2023
2. Fully Funded PhD Position in Human-Building Interaction
Summary of PhD Program:
The aim of the PhD research is to make existing architectural adaptation technologies, like smart glass, smart lighting, smart acoustic ceiling, or smart furniture, more effective in supporting the health and wellbeing of office workers. While these technologies aim to minimise the negative disturbances and maximise the positive qualities in a workplace, their adaptions cannot adequately cope with unpredictable events or address individual preferences.
Application Deadline: 17/11/2023
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3. Fully Funded PhD Position in optical oxygen mapping for porous biomaterials
Summary of PhD Program:
Many biological materials have a porous structure with open spaces distributed over a (semi)solid matrix. Especially for respiring biological tissues, pores are a key element in the supply and removal of gasses such asoxygen, carbon dioxide and water vapor. Nondestructive quantification of these internal gasses is challenging. Gas in scattering media absorption spectroscopy (GASMAS) is a novel optical technique for measuring gas concentrations in porous materials. As both the gas concentration and the path length of the light through the gas in a porous medium are unknown, GASMAS results are typically reported as equivalent path lengths. So, we have developed a method to determine the unknown path length to be able to quantify absolute oxygen or water vapor concentrations inside the biomaterial together with its (optical) porosity.
Application Deadline: 20/11/2023
4. Fully Funded PhD Position in biological data visualisation
Summary of PhD Program:
The project “Diving Deep into Biological Data Complexity” seeks to address these challenges through the application of visual analytics and topological data analysis. Visual analytics offers a human-centric approach to data exploration, allowing researchers to intuitively interact with their contextualised data and draw insights that may be hidden in purely statistical analyses. In addition, topological data analysis will be used to capture high-level structure in data, facilitating the study of shape (topology) to unveil complex relationships and structures that are often not apparent. Together, these methods offer a transformative approach for harnessing complexity, enabling experts to derive nuanced hypotheses and discover previously elusive holistic patterns in their data.
Application Deadline: 23/11/2023
5. Fully Funded PhD Position in development of polymer-based membranes
Summary of PhD Program:
You will have your own dedicated research project on membrane development, partly pure scientific, partly industry-driven, and is situated in one of the following fields, depending on the match of your expertise and interest with the projects.
Application Deadline: 27/11/2023
6. Fully Funded PhD Position in high-throughput genome editing and systems genetics
Summary of PhD Program:
Our group combines development of cutting-edge genome editing technologies with applications that advance our understanding of how genotype determines phenotype. By providing a direct link between sequence and function, at unprecedented scale, these technologies allow us to gain principally new insights into how subtle genome variation impacts phenotype and enable massively scaled screens to accelerate construction of designer strains in biotechnology and synthetic biology. Our multidisciplinary research combines high-throughput genome editing, state-of-the-art genomics methods, and computational biology.
Application Deadline: 27/11/2023
7. Fully Funded PhD Position in Economics of Education on ‘Teacher Shortages’
Summary of PhD Program:
A pressing issue in many education systems is the chronic shortage of teachers, a problem exacerbated by ongoing demographic trends and the limited number of individuals enrolling in teacher training programs. Recent findings from the European Commission, EACEA, and Eurydice in 2021 reveal that no less than 35 European countries or regions are confronted with this dilemma. Furthermore, this scarcity of educators and the persistently high number of unfilled teaching positions is not confined to the field of education alone. Other industries in Flanders also confront labor shortages. As a result, the education sector faces fierce competition from other industries when it comes to recruiting and retaining qualified professionals.
Application Deadline: 14/11/2023
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8. Fully Funded PhD Position in Economics of Education
Summary of PhD Program:
High-quality education is a key driver of economic growth and social progress. Despite large investments in education over the past few decades, the quality of education in some EU countries has stagnated or even deteriorated. Marginalized populations are particularly vulnerable to the negative consequences arising from inadequate educational policies. Understanding the efficiency and (cost-)effectiveness of investment in quality education is crucial for allocating resources to where they could have the largest economic and social impacts.
Application Deadline: 10/11/2023
9. Fully Funded PhD Position in software systems
Summary of PhD Program:
The KU Leuven Faculty of Industrial Engineering organizes the academic bachelor’s and master’s degree programs in industrial sciences (industrial engineering) on six campuses spread across Flanders. On campus Diepenbeek she does this together with UHasselt. In addition to education, KU Leuven also conducts research and services in a number of domains on the campus in Diepenbeek. This vacancy is located in the research group ACRO (Automation, Computer Vision and Robotics), in collaboration with the research group DTAI (Declarative Languages and Artificial Intelligence) of KU Leuven.
Application Deadline: 13/11/2023
10. Fully Funded PhD Position in Pure Mathematics
Summary of PhD Program:
Financed by the long term Methusalem funding, the KU Leuven research groups in pure mathematics collaborate within the research project “Classification, symmetries and singularities at the frontiers of algebra, analysis and geometry”, encompassing the expertise of the different research groups involved and focusing on some of the most challenging problems in algebra, analysis and geometry. In this large scale research project, several PhD students and postdocs are employed. We organize colloquia, seminars and advanced courses. In this stimulating environment, all researchers are exposed to a broad spectrum of mathematical research with several collaboration opportunities.
Application Deadline: 12/02/2024
11. Fully Funded PhD Position in sports teams and organizations
Summary of PhD Program:
Within our research group it has already been shown that within sports teams, not only the coach, but also the players within the team fulfill important leadership roles (such as the role of task leader, motivational leader, social leader and external leader). In the search for who are the most important leaders within sports teams, our previous research showed that we need to look further than just the captain. What’s more, shared leadership, where different players take on different leadership roles in line with their talents, proved to be the driving force behind a team’s success. Furthermore, we found that the best leaders are so-called identity leaders; leaders who succeed in strengthening the shared team identity within their team.
Application Deadline: 11/30/2023
12. Fully Funded PhD Position in graded ceramic-metal tools with excellent machining performance
Summary of PhD Program:
The current vacancy offers a 48-monthPhD position focusing on the development of functionally gradient Ceramic-Metalmaterials (WC-Co, TiCN-Ni etc.) for tooling applications. The topic aims todevelopment tools with excellent machining performance, combining both theadvantage of cemented carbide and cermet. This ambitious topic is within thelarger project of Near-Net Shape Manufacturing of Innovative Multi-Materials. Multi-materials fabrication has alwaysbeen a major challenge for the powder metallurgy industry, especially whengeometrically-complex parts are targeted, and difficult-to-densify materials ormaterial combinations are envisaged.
Application Deadline: 1/02/2024
13. Fully Funded PhD Position in Signal processing algorithms for EEG-based brain-computer interface
Summary of PhD Program:
This job opening covers a PhD position (4 years) at the STADIUS group of the Department of Electrical Engineering (ESAT) of KU Leuven (Belgium) in the frame of a project on ‘natural’ brain-computer interfaces (BCI) for online tracking of auditory attention via electroencephalography (EEG) in individuals and groups of learners. The goal is to design new BCI algorithms, and tools with applications in educational neuroscience, EEG hyperscanning, diagnosis of attention disorders, and supportive neurofeedback for learners.
Application Deadline: 22/12/2023
14. Fully Funded PhD Position in Near real-time flexibility needs assessment and dynamic hosting capacity for distribution networks
Summary of PhD Program:
The evolution of distribution networks with greater amount of load and distributed generation uncertainty makes it challenging for the distribution system operators (DSOs) to operate the grid reliably. This energy transition demands developing decision support tools for the DSOs to use flexible resources while ensuring probable network congestion incidents and deteriorating power quality (power factor, voltage unbalance, etc.) events to be minimized. The traditional fit-and-forget approach for the distribution networks needs a major revamping.
Application Deadline: 30/11/2023
15. Fully Funded PhD Position in picture books and mathematics for young children
Summary of PhD Program:
This doctoral project focuses on the use of picture books to stimulate the mathematical development of young children (3-6 year olds). Special attention is paid to the interaction between the teacher and the child during the reading of picture books. The doctoral project will consist of a series of empirical studies in ecologically valid settings . In each of these studies, the interaction between the (future) teacher and the child during the reading of picture books is central. Based on observational research, the spontaneous teacher-child interaction and the attunement of this interaction to the child’s mathematical competencies can be mapped out. Intervention studies can be used to specifically train and professionalize (future) teachers to optimize this interaction with a view to maximum learning gains for all children.
Application Deadline: 3/12/2023
16. Fully Funded PhD Position in Non-coherent distributed-MIMO for sensing with 6G networks
Summary of PhD Program:
6G is attracting extensive attention in both industry and academia. There are three new visions released by the ITU to top up 5G: integrated sensing and communication, integrated AI and communication, as well as ubiquitous connectivity that mainly employs non-terrestrial infrastructure such as drones and satellites. For these visions, there is a tremendous need for original communication solutions including sensing methodologies, channel theory, and cross-layer design. Therefore, we are looking for highly motivated Ph.D. students to conduct cutting-edge research in wireless channels and sensing under the emerging 6G aerial networks.
Application Deadline: 25/01/2024
17. Fully Funded PhD Position in Development of a care pathway for intestinal complaints after rectal cancer treatment
Summary of PhD Program:
Colorectal cancer is the 2nd and 3rd most common cancer in women and men respectively, of which approximately 40% is located rectally. The gold standard treatment for rectal cancer (RC) is low anterior resection (+ chemoradiotherapy). However, this treatment has a negative impact on various aspects of intestinal function and quality of life. These intestinal complaints often persist more than 12 months after treatment. However, most measuring instruments are not able to capture the full spectrum or the therapy-related evolution of intestinal complaints. As a result, patients are often unable to provide a clear picture of their complaints and their impact on their daily lives, and clinicians are unable to adequately assess the effect of a particular intervention on these complaints.
Application Deadline: 3/11/2023
18. Fully Funded PhD Position in Agent-based modelling of the social-ecological system of Sagalassos/Ağlasun in past and present
Summary of PhD Program:
In this interdisciplinary PhD research the effect of socio-economic differentiation on land use and landscape change during past and present periods of accelerated growth and urbanization in Southwestern Anatolia, Turkey, will be explored using Agent-Based Modelling (ABM). ABM are widely used computational models to simulate the collective outcomes of aggregate individual behavior in complex systems. Shifting the focus from variables to agents, they allow to take into account differences and interactions between individual agents while simulating outcomes at the system level. Grounded Simulation (GS), as a specific ABM-approach, combines ABM with a Grounded Theory approach to qualitative research. It is particularly helpful when simulating the outcomes of choices made by social agents, including in-depth but qualitative knowledge about their decision making procedures in the model specifications in an iterative process.
Application Deadline: 15/11/2023
19. Fully Funded PhD Position in novel methodologies and models for milk quality monitoring
Summary of PhD Program:
Optical sensors are widely used in the agro-food sector to measure and monitor product quality. At the Livestock Technology research group of KU Leuven, we develop innovative and customized near-infrared spectral sensors to measure the composition of raw milk whilst being extracted from the cow’s udder. The obtained information can be used in real-time to separate milk based on its properties, safeguarding the quality of the delivered milk, or to create milk batches with unique characteristics. Moreover, as the production of milk is a dominant factor in the metabolism of dairy cows, involving a very intense interaction with the blood circulation, the extracted milk contains valuable information on the health status of the cow.
Application Deadline: 31/12/2023
20. Fully Funded PhD Position in Polymer Structure-Property Relationships Using Advanced Microscopy Techniques
Summary of PhD Program:
Polymers are versatile materials integral to various applications, offering a broad spectrum of properties and functionalities. However, the deliberate design of polymers with tailored properties remains a formidable challenge in polymer chemistry. This challenge arises due to the lack of comprehensive data at molecular, nanometer, and micrometer scales, and the limited tools available for studying heterogeneous systems. To address this gap, this proposal seeks to develop and apply microscopy-based techniques to explore molecular and network dynamics, bridging the gap between molecular architecture and macroscopic properties. This project aims to enhance our understanding of how polymer network structure correlates with mechanical properties, facilitating the rational design of new polymers for advanced applications.
Application Deadline: 31/10/2023
21. Fully Funded PhD Position in Predicting cartilage degeneration in knee OA patients
Summary of PhD Program:
The Biomechanics of Human Movement research group examines the biomechanical fingerprint of patients to support clinical decision-making and their therapeutic management. To this end, we use a ‘Measurement-Modelling-Intervention’ Approach in which the experimental characterization of the dysfunction (based on 3D motion analysis and medical imaging) forms input to a multi-scale modeling framework (based on multi-body and finite element simulations) , within which interventions can be digitally evaluated to determine musculoskeletal strain in osteoarthritis patients.
Application Deadline: 12/30/2023
22. Fully Funded PhD Position in Development of innovative sensors for monitoring milk quality, health and welfare in dairy cattle
Summary of PhD Program:
Dairy farming is an important part of Flemish agriculture with a 15% share of the total market value. Due to genetic advances and improved feeding and management practices, average milk production per cow and per lactation has increased dramatically over the past 50 years. However, these modern dairy cows are also more susceptible to production-related disorders. Close monitoring of animal health and welfare is therefore important to continue to guarantee sustainable milk production.
Application Deadline: 12/31/2023
23. Fully Funded PhD Position in microbial bioprocess engineering for the valorization of lignocellulose
Summary of PhD Program:
Symbiotic gut microbiota of xylophagous insects such as termites and beetles show lignocellulolytic activity enabling these insects to feed on wood. As such wood-eating beetles harbor an interesting microbiome with the potential for developing novel biotechnological applications for the bioeconomy. We want to unlock this potential by obtaining microbial isolates with interesting enzymatic traits that can be used to convert lignocellulosic feedstock to value-added biochemicals
Application Deadline: 27/11/2023
24. Fully Funded PhD Position in Model-based robust design methodologies for composite pressure vessels
Summary of PhD Program:
Hydrogen based energy is an important pillar to meet future energy demands in a renewable and sustainable manner. Academia and industry converge in this initiative to develop key enabling elements for hydrogen storage technologies that are more sustainable, reliable and affordable, in the form of recyclable and durable composite pressure vessels (CPVs). This PhD opportunity is part of an exciting international collaborative research initiative within the Horizon Europe programme. The EU project ECOHYDRO that will start in 2024 targets the reduction of whole lifetime costs of hydrogen storage technologies, the development of environmentally sustainable and circular storage systems, all the while ensuring the safety of the innovative hydrogen storage technologies, through the development of filament wound composite hydrogen storage tanks using high strength carbon fibres, low viscosity thermoplastic liquid resin and instant in-situ photopolymerization.
Application Deadline: 30/11/2023
25. Fully Funded PhD Position in Model that describes and predicts genetic regulation of flowering time of grains
Summary of PhD Program:
Wheat is an important food crop because it is adapted to local conditions. Transitions in the life cycle play an important role in this because they must be aligned with the environmental conditions. An important phenological characteristic is flowering time and this is closely related to yield. Winter wheat needs a cold period to blossom and this is called vernalization. We propose to generate and validate a mechanistic model for the Brachypodium model system and then apply it to wheat.
