PhD job vacancies PhD job positions composites and composite materials: research

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Last updated: 22 June 2025

NEW : 4 PhD and postdoc vacancies for Fall 2025

Clearly mention in all your communication the number of the vacancy you are applying for !

Where ?

All vacancies are available in the "Mechanics of Materials and Structures" research group (UGent-MMS) at Ghent University.
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 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 ?

Vacancy 1: PhD (4 years) on experimental and numerical characterization of composites during processing/manufacturing of hydrogen tanks

[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.

This PhD vacancy is focused on the experimental and numerical characterization of composites during processing/manufacturing of hydrogen tanks. This includes measurement of physical and mechanical properties, from individual fibre and polymer constituents, over curing experiments of the composite, till the build-up of residual stresses. These experiments are complemented with finite element simulations to understand the different steps in the processing of these materials.

State-of-the-art characterization techniques such as DSC, DMA, DTMA, micro-Computed Tomography (micro-CT), optical microscopy and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) are combined with advanced numerical simulations to gain insight into these high-end composite materials.

The research will be done in close collaboration with the Centre for Textile Science and Engineering and 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 and (micro-)mechanical characterization of composites, 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 and computational mechanics of composite materials, and should be enthusiastic to work in a collaborative project between industry and academia.

Vacancy 2: PhD (4 years) on numerical simulation of composite hydrogen tanks

[Net salary (after taxes) starting from 2600 EUR/month]

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 (static burst, fatigue and impact). 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.

Vacancy 3: PhD (4 years) or postdoc (3 years) on mechanical modelling of textile-machine interaction under dynamical manufacturing conditions

[Net salary (after taxes) starting from 2600 EUR/month]

We are looking for a researcher to work on the finite element modelling of the interaction between textile materials (yarns and fabrics) and textile manufacturing machines (looms, bobbinfeeders, ...) under dynamic conditions. Such simulations are very challenging due to the use of diverse materials (natural and synthetic fibers, yarns and fabrics) which are highly anisotropic and non-linear. Furthermore, the dynamics of high-speed manufacturing processes need to be included in the modelling framework, ensuring its applicability to industrial processes. This is still a very new research topic and many scientific questions remain unanswered.

Alongside the modelling research, there will also be a measurement campaign using high-speed imaging and in-line force measurements on actual textile manufacturing machinery in collaboration with leading industrial partners. The goal is to develop a predictive modelling framework that can serve as a digital twin of the manufacturing process allowing for a faster and more precise optimization trough virtual engineering.

You will work within a research team comprising two other researchers dedicated to this project. The project is in close collaboration between the Centre for Textile Science and Engineering (Prof. Lode Daelemans) and the Mechanics of Materials and Structures group (Prof. Wim Van Paepegem) from the same department.

Only candidates with a Master degree should apply. The candidate should have a strong interest in experimental and computational mechanics of textile materials, and should be enthusiastic to work in a collaborative project between industry and academia.

Vacancy 4: PhD (4 years) on design, manufacturing and testing of composite propellers for underwater drone applications

[Net salary (after taxes) starting from 2600 EUR/month]

UGent-MMS is part of a European project on next generation propellers for underwater drones. The propellers will be made of composite materials, and should sustain all mechanical loads in-service.
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.

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.

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 ?

you are interested in research and have obtained a Master and/or PhD degree,
you are interested to interact and collaborate closely with the industrial partners during the research period,
you have an education in Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Computational Mechanics, or similar,
you are familiar with mechanics of materials and experimental or computational techniques (depending on the specific vacancy requirement mentioned above),
mastering the Dutch language is not a prerequisite, but a good knowledge of English writing and speaking is absolutely required.

What do we offer ?

you will be working in a dynamic environment. Our group has expanded quite fast the last few years and currently, 16 postdoc's and 15 PhD students are working in our group. Besides, 18 PhD students have successfully obtained their PhD degree in the last five years,
we have extensive experimental and numerical facilities. You will have access to several Linux workstations and a high performance computing cluster to run finite element simulations on 2000+ cores,
we have good contacts with the regional composite and additive manufacturing industry and regional universities, so you will come into contact with industrial applications of composites and related research in other universities,
you will get the chance to attend international conferences (e.g. ECCM, ICCM,...) and to present papers on these conferences. For those who are interested, an international exchange with another university is possible. As publications are increasingly important (also for your career afterwards), you are encouraged to publish your results not only on international conferences, but also in peer-reviewed international journals,
you will have a personal laptop and a private workspace. All PhD students and staff have their office in the same wing of the building. The laboratories are separate in another wing of the same building,
if you are just graduated (junior PhD student), your net income is about 2600 EUR per month. That is the amount of money that is deposited on your bank account every month (after taxes). If you have a dependent wife/husband and/or children, the salary is raised. Also seniority can be taken into account if you can show former relevant experience. The salary for postdoctoral researchers starts at 2900 EUR net income per month (after taxes).
the cost for the PhD study itself is very limited. Our education system is very different from for example the system in the United Kingdom. When you start your PhD study, you pay a once-only tuition fee of ca. 1000 EUR, and the rest of your study is free of charge,
the university offers compensations for public transport (train) and bicycle. The work location can be reached easily by public transport (train and tram/bus),
a hospitalization insurance policy can be concluded,
there are a lot of sport accommodations and other benefits (reductions on computer purchase, internet connection, fitness,...) for university personnel,
there are specific organizations for the international student community in Gent. There are ISAG (International Students Association Ghent) and ESN (European Students Network). They are quite active in organizing all sorts of events (Student Unions and Societies for international students).
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.

How to apply ?

you write a detailed Curriculum Vitae in Dutch or English, containing:
- your personal details (name, address, date of birth, nationality,...)
- your education, subject of master thesis and degrees
- transcripts of records of Bachelor and Master degree
- your work experience (previous jobs)
- additional skills (finite element software, programming languages, communication skills, ...)
- mastered languages (Dutch, English, French)
- references (previous projects in the domain, published papers,...)
you send the C.V. by post or e-mail to the following person:
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

Additional information ?

you can freely download our research brochure. This PDF-document contains a lot of pictures and impressions of our research activities. You can find it on the webpage http://www.composites.ugent.be/slideshow/Slideshow.pdf
you can contact Prof. Wim VAN PAEPEGEM for any additional information, either by phone or e-mail or a personal appointment.