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Last updated: 27 April 2026
NEW : 7 PhD and postdoc vacancies for Fall 2026
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Where ?
All vacancies are available in the
"Mechanics of Materials and Structures" research group (UGent-MMS) at Ghent University.
The research group UGent-MMS counts 3 professors and about 30 researchers.
More information can be found in the
slideshow of the research group.
The offices and laboratories of this group are situated in the
south of Ghent (Technologiepark-Zwijnaarde 46,
9052 Zwijnaarde).
Duration ?
All vacancies are full-time job positions. For the duration, see below.
Job description ?
[Net salary (after taxes) starting from 2600 EUR/month]
UGent-MMS is part of a European project on next generation propellers for underwater
drones. Such underwater drones are becoming more and more important
in mine counter measure applications and surveillance tasks. They are sent out by the mother
ship and can sweep mines or inspect critical maritime infrastructure. In this project,
the propellers will be made of composite materials, and should sustain all
mechanical loads in-service. The consortium consists of a large group of European
defense companies and research institutes.
The PhD researcher will interact with the different partners in the European project,
in particular also with the research partner at the Royal Military Academy in Belgium,
who is doing the Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations to estimate the
hydrodynamic loads on the propellers.
Only candidates with a Master degree should apply. The candidate should have
a strong interest in experimental and computational mechanics of composite materials,
and should be enthusiastic to work in a collaborative project between industry and
academia. The candidate should also be willing to travel regularly to other European
countries for experimental testing campaigns at different partners.
[Net salary (after taxes) starting from 2600 EUR/month]
Belgium has been taking a leading position in the transition towards a hydrogen
economy thanks to many companies and research institutes active in hydrogen
technologies. In addition, Belgium has currently the second largest hydrogen
pipeline network in the world and has a strategic position in Western Europe
as an import and transit hub for renewable H2 molecules.
In the context of these global and local evolutions, Ghent University (UGent) focuses
on an important link in the future hydrogen economy, being the storage of hydrogen
in pressurized composite tanks, both in the vehicle itself as in refueling stations.
Indeed, the success of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles depends both on the development
of safe storage options in the vehicle, as well as a supporting refueling infrastructure.
UGent-MMS is partner in a large new research project with several leading companies
in the automotive industry. This research project aims at developing composite
solutions for future hydrogen storage tanks. This PhD vacancy is focused on the
experimental characterization of composites for hydrogen tanks. This includes
measurement of physical and mechanical properties, instrumentation and data
acquisition on full tanks and assessment of solutions for Structural Health Monitoring.
The research will be done in close collaboration with the involved industrial partners.
The PhD researcher will also closely work together with the other doctoral and
postdoctoral colleagues that work on composite hydrogen tanks, to form a strong
and complementary team for this highly challenging research topic.
Only candidates with a Master degree should apply. The candidate should have
a strong interest in experimental mechanics of composite materials, and should
be enthusiastic to work in a collaborative project between industry and academia.
[Net salary (after taxes) starting from 2600 EUR/month]
Belgium has been taking a leading position in the transition towards a hydrogen
economy thanks to many companies and research institutes active in hydrogen
technologies. In addition, Belgium has currently the second largest hydrogen
pipeline network in the world and has a strategic position in Western Europe
as an import and transit hub for renewable H2 molecules.
In the context of these global and local evolutions, Ghent University (UGent) focuses
on an important link in the future hydrogen economy, being the storage of hydrogen
in pressurized composite tanks, both in the vehicle itself as in refueling stations.
Indeed, the success of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles depends both on the development
of safe storage options in the vehicle, as well as a supporting refueling infrastructure.
UGent-MMS is partner in a large new research project with several leading companies
in the automotive industry. This research project aims at developing composite
solutions for future hydrogen storage tanks. This PhD vacancy is focused on the
finite element modelling and design of the pressurized composite tank, in different
operational conditions (pressurization, depletion, thermomechanical loads). The research will be
done in close collaboration with the involved industrial partners.
The PhD researcher will also closely work together with the other doctoral and
postdoctoral colleagues that work on composite hydrogen tanks, to form a strong
and complementary team for this highly challenging research topic.
Only candidates with a Master degree should apply. The candidate should have
a strong interest in computational mechanics of composite materials, and should
be enthusiastic to work in a collaborative project between industry and academia.
[Net salary (after taxes) starting from 2900 EUR/month]
Belgium has been taking a leading position in the transition towards a hydrogen
economy thanks to many companies and research institutes active in hydrogen
technologies. In addition, Belgium has currently the second largest hydrogen
pipeline network in the world and has a strategic position in Western Europe
as an import and transit hub for renewable H2 molecules.
In the context of these global and local evolutions, Ghent University (UGent) focuses
on an important link in the future hydrogen economy, being the storage of hydrogen
in pressurized composite tanks, both in the vehicle itself as in refueling stations.
Indeed, the success of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles depends both on the development
of safe storage options in the vehicle, as well as a supporting refueling infrastructure.
UGent-MMS is partner in a large new research project with several leading companies
in the automotive industry. This research project aims at developing composite
solutions for future hydrogen storage tanks. This PhD vacancy is focused on the
finite element modelling and design of the pressurized composite tank, in different
operational conditions (pressurization, depletion, thermomechanical loads). The research will be
done in close collaboration with the involved industrial partners.
The postdoctoral researcher will also closely work together with the other doctoral and
postdoctoral colleagues that work on composite hydrogen tanks, to form a strong
and complementary team for this highly challenging research topic.
Only candidates with a PhD degree should apply. The candidate should have
a strong interest in computational mechanics of composite materials, and should
be enthusiastic to work in a collaborative project between industry and academia.
[Net salary (after taxes) starting from 2600 EUR/month]
UGent-MMS is coordinating a 4-year research project on snap fit joints.
Snap fit joints, also called snap-lock joints or clickable joints, are one
of the most widely used connection types in all sorts of construction elements,
automotive parts, medical devices and many more. Those joints are more and more
important in the context of disassembly, recycling and repair.
This research project does not deal with the most simple snap fit joints,
based on cantilever flexible beams. Rather it focuses on the complex snap
fit joints that are used in window profiles, laminate flooring, injection moulded
parts for automotive, etc. When those joints are engaged, they follow a complex
loading path, with effects of friction, strain rate, geometric nonlinearity and
manufacturing tolerances. After that, the snap fit joints have to keep the parts
together for many years, despite temperature fluctuations, creep and environmental
ageing.
The project is funded by Flanders Make, and is a collaboration between UGent,
KULeuven and Flanders Make. The project is supported by 10 companies from the
construction, automotive and consumer goods sector.
This PhD will focus on development of advanced finite element analysis techniques
for the engagement and long-term performance of snap fit joints. Different
solver strategies (implicit/explicit) will be investigated, and computational
techniques will be developed for automated optimization of snap fit geometry
and performance. He/she will collaborate with the other PhD students and postdoc,
involved in the project.
Only candidates with a Master degree should apply. The candidate should
have a strong interest in computational mechanics of materials, and should be
enthusiastic to work in a collaborative project between industry and academia.
[Net salary (after taxes) starting from 2600 EUR/month]
UGent-MMS is coordinating a 4-year research project on snap fit joints.
Snap fit joints, also called snap-lock joints or clickable joints, are one
of the most widely used connection types in all sorts of construction elements,
automotive parts, medical devices and many more. Those joints are more and more
important in the context of disassembly, recycling and repair.
This research project does not deal with the most simple snap fit joints,
based on cantilever flexible beams. Rather it focuses on the complex snap
fit joints that are used in window profiles, laminate flooring, injection moulded
parts for automotive, etc. When those joints are engaged, they follow a complex
loading path, with effects of friction, strain rate, geometric nonlinearity and
manufacturing tolerances. After that, the snap fit joints have to keep the parts
together for many years, despite temperature fluctuations, creep and environmental
ageing.
The project is funded by Flanders Make, and is a collaboration between UGent,
KULeuven and Flanders Make. The project is supported by 10 companies from the
construction, automotive and consumer goods sector.
This PhD will focus on development of experimental characterization techniques
for the engagement and long-term performance of snap fit joints. Instrumentation
techniques such as Digital Image Correlation (DIC) and high-speed imaging will be
used, and tests will be extended from quasi-static loading to long-term creep
loading, combined with temperature influences. He/she will collaborate with
the other PhD students and postdoc, involved in the project.
Only candidates with a Master degree should apply. The candidate should
have a strong interest in experimental mechanics of materials, and should be
enthusiastic to work in a collaborative project between industry and academia.
[Net salary (after taxes) starting from 2900 EUR/month]
UGent-MMS is coordinating a 4-year research project on snap fit joints.
Snap fit joints, also called snap-lock joints or clickable joints, are one
of the most widely used connection types in all sorts of construction elements,
automotive parts, medical devices and many more. Those joints are more and more
important in the context of disassembly, recycling and repair.
This research project does not deal with the most simple snap fit joints,
based on cantilever flexible beams. Rather it focuses on the complex snap
fit joints that are used in window profiles, laminate flooring, injection moulded
parts for automotive, etc. When those joints are engaged, they follow a complex
loading path, with effects of friction, strain rate, geometric nonlinearity and
manufacturing tolerances. After that, the snap fit joints have to keep the parts
together for many years, despite temperature fluctuations, creep and environmental
ageing.
The project is funded by Flanders Make, and is a collaboration between UGent,
KULeuven and Flanders Make. The project is supported by 10 companies from the
construction, automotive and consumer goods sector.
This postdoc will focus on development of advanced finite element analysis
techniques for the optimization and long-term performance of snap fit joints.
He/she will help in the coordination of the project, will co-supervise the involved
PhD students (see vacancies above) and will interact with the companies in the
project.
Only candidates with a PhD degree should apply. The candidate should
have a strong interest in computational mechanics of materials, and should be
enthusiastic to work in a collaborative project between industry and academia.
Contact person ?
The responsible person at Ghent University is Prof. Wim VAN PAEPEGEM.
He has 25 years of experience in mechanics of composites and finite element simulations.
More information on the achievements of the research group can be found
on http://www.composites.ugent.be/.
Who do we look for ?
What do we offer ?
How to apply ?
Additional information ?
Ghent University is a large
university in Belgium, counting about 45,000 students. Ghent University consistently
ranks among the best 100 universities in the world. In 2023, it was ranked, globally,
84th by the Academic Ranking of World Universities or Shanghai ranking
(https://www.shanghairanking.com/institution/ghent-university).
More information about the UGent rankings can be found here.
The research tasks at UGent-MMS involve several aspects: (i) design and finite
element simulation of different propeller geometries and material configurations,
(ii) optimization of material choices and manufacturing processes, (iii) mechanical
characterization of the built propellers.
Ghent University has 6 regional platforms, which give support, guidance and advice to international students from different continents (see UGent regional platforms). For example, for Chinese students, there is the
East-Asia platform and for Indian students, the South-Asia platform.
Prof. Wim VAN PAEPEGEM
Ghent University
Mechanics of Materials and Structures
Technologiepark-Zwijnaarde 46
9052 Zwijnaarde
Belgium
Tel.: +32-(0)9-331.04.32
E-mail: Wim.VanPaepegem@UGent.be