The Faculty of Engineering, Department Toegepaste natuurkunde en fotonica, Research Group Brussels Photonics is looking for a PhD-student with a doctoral grant.
More concretely your work package, for the preparation of a doctorate, contains:
The PhD student will be working on the development of novel spectroscopic sensors, in the framework of the FWO-funded research project on Functionally GRaded Additive manufacturing through closed-loop Directed Energy Deposition process control (GRADΞD).
Functionally Graded Additive Metals (FGAM) present unseen design and manufacturing opportunities, enabling to fabricate components with spatially controlled material properties. Within this PhD topic, the main objective is the development of a multi-modal spectroscopic sensing system enabling the in-situ and real-time monitoring of the meltpool, allowing an accurate control of the manufacturing process of the functionally graded materials.
We are looking for an excellent PhD candidate in photonics (48-month duration) to join our team under the supervision of Prof. Heidi Ottevaere and Prof. Lien Smeesters.
The research work will include:
• Demonstrating and conducting spectroscopic measurements (Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) and Raman spectroscopy) on metals and impurities
• Development of a miniaturized laboratory setup for combined LIBS and Raman spectroscopy
• Advanced machine learning processing of the spectroscopic data
• The optical design and development of novel custom spectroscopic sensors benefitting from freeform optics.
• Integration of the in-situ spectroscopic sensing unit in the additive manufacturing process.
For this function, our Brussels Humanities, Sciences & Engineering Campus (Elsene) will serve as your home base.
What do we expect from you?
- You should have a master’s degree in physics, photonics, applied math, electrical engineering or related scientific field. Interest in photonic systems, and light technology are necessary.
• Knowledge about optical spectroscopy and Raman sensing is a strong plus.
• Experience with experimental optical setups, lasers, spectrometers, and fiber optics, is a strong plus.
• Good programming skills are a strong plus. Experience with Matlab, Python or a similar language and environment is a plus. Depending on the skills of the candidate, training can be arranged in the first year of the PhD.
• Good knowledge of numerical techniques and advanced simulation methods (ANSYS Zemax OpticsStudio) is a plus.
• You are expected to be able to carry out the research activities independently and in a critical manner, whilst having excellent communication skills and a positive attitude towards collaboration.
• Good time management skills are a must, along with the ability to meet tight deadlines.
• Proficiency in both spoken and written English (typically CEFR level C1 or equivalent) is required. You will have the opportunity to take evening English classes to improve your language skills if needed.
• You should be prepared to travel in Europe and potentially worldwide e.g. for participation in conferences or research stays at partner institutions.
- You have not performed any works in the execution of a mandate as an assistant, paid from operating resources, over a total (cumulated) period of more than 12 months.
- As a (non-)EEA national, meet the conditions for obtaining a valid permit for VUB and comply with the VUB residence requirements. More info here.
The VUB wants to be a reflection of the society where everyone’s talent is valued, regardless of gender, age, religion, skin color, migration background, disability and neurodiversity.
Are you going to be our new colleague?
You’ll be offered a full-time PhD-scholarship, for 12 months (extendable up to max. 48 months, on condition of the positive evaluation of the PhD activities), with planned starting date 01/01/2026.
You’ll receive a grant linked to one of the scales set by the government.
