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Home > Job vacancies

NEW : 6 PhD and postdoc vacancies for Fall 2023

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 2019, it was ranked, globally, 66th by the Academic Ranking of World Universities or Shanghai ranking (http://www.shanghairanking.com/World-University-Rankings/Ghent-University.html). 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 finite element modelling of textile materials and processes

  We are looking for a PhD student for a research project on textile modelling. In this project, the main purpose is to develop a multi-scale textile modelling framework that allows accurate simulation of textile manufacturing processes such as yarn unwinding from a bobbin, weft insertion during weaving, stitching and tufting. This framework is implemented using finite element modelling as well as virtual fibre modelling. Key here are the dynamics of these systems as most textile production happens at high speeds. Moreover, the approach should entail both kinematics as well as mechanics such that predictive simulations of textile manufacturing can be made. This is still a very new research topic and many scientific questions remain unanswered. The PhD researcher will be part of a team of 4 researchers (3 PhD students and one postdoctoral researcher) who will all work on this large research project.

  Requirements

  • Experience with finite element mechanical modelling;
  • Master’s degree in mechanical engineering, computational mechanics, materials science, or similar;
  • Familiar with mechanics of materials and computational techniques;
  • Good knowledge of English writing and speaking;

  Optional expertise

  • Knowledge of Abaqus or other commercial FEA packages;
  • Experience with, or background in, textile materials and processes;
  
  
  
• Vacancy 2: PhD (4 years) on experimental characterization of textile materials and their connections

  We are looking for a PhD student for a research project on textile modelling and characterization. In this project, the main purpose is to develop a multi-scale textile modelling framework that allows accurate simulation of textile manufacturing processes such as yarn unwinding from a bobbin, weft insertion during weaving, stitching and tufting. Besides a strong numerical research focus, there is also an experimental research track focusing on advanced mechanical testing of textile materials and their connections, both on lab-scale and industrial scale (e.g. in-situ measurements on textile machines). Using techniques such as Digital Image Correlation and high speed camera’s we gain much better insights into the rate-dependent behaviour of different textile materials, ranging from yarn to fabric. These measurements will also serve as input to and validation of the numerical models. This PhD requires an experimentalist to do the mechanical characterization of textile materials and their connections at different scales. The PhD researcher will be part of a team of 4 researchers (3 PhD students and one postdoctoral researcher) who will all work on this large research project.

  Requirements

  • Experience with experimental testing of materials;
  • Master’s degree in mechanical engineering, textile engineering, materials science, or similar;
  • Familiar with mechanics of materials and experimental techniques;
  • Good knowledge of English writing and speaking;

  Optional expertise

  • Knowledge of instrumentation techniques such as Digital Image Correlation (DIC);
  • Experience with, or a background in, textile materials and processes;
  
  
  
  
• Vacancy 3: Postdoc (3 years) on finite element modelling of textile materials and processes

  We are looking for a postdoctoral researcher for a research project on textile modelling. In this project, the main purpose is to develop a multi-scale textile modelling framework that allows accurate simulation of textile manufacturing processes such as yarn unwinding from a bobbin, weft insertion during weaving, stitching and tufting. This framework is implemented using finite element modelling as well as virtual fibre modelling. Key here are the dynamics of these systems as most textile production happens at high speeds. Moreover, the approach should entail both kinematics as well as mechanics such that predictive simulations of textile manufacturing can be made. This is still a very new research topic and many scientific questions remain unanswered. The postdoctoral researcher will be part of a team of 4 researchers (3 PhD students and one postdoctoral researcher) who will all work on this large research project. The postdoctoral researcher is also expected to support the 3 PhD students and act as a mentor and tutor for them.

  Requirements

  • Experience with finite element mechanical modelling;
  • PhD degree in mechanical engineering, computational mechanics, materials science, or similar;
  • Familiar with mechanics of materials and computational techniques;
  • Good knowledge of English writing and speaking;

  Optional expertise

  • Knowledge of Abaqus or other commercial FEA packages;
  • Experience with, or background in, textile materials and processes;
  
  
  
  
• Vacancy 4: Postdoc (1.5 years) on topology optimization of electrical machines

  Over the past years, UGent-MMS has developed a stand-alone topology optimization code for additive manufacturing applications. The topology optimization software can deal with thermo-mechanical coupled problems, combined with multi-material selection. Such features are not available in any commercial topology optimization code.
  The code can also deal with large industrial optimization problems, with millions degrees of freedom in three-dimensional finite element models.

  The next step is to extend the topology optimization code towards multi-physics applications, in particular electromagnetic fields in electrical machines. The purpose of this postdoctoral research is to develop topology optimization strategies for electromagnetic problems into the existing UGent-MMS topology optimization software. This requires an advanced knowledge of Python programming, topology optimization strategies and electromagnetic simulations. The candidate will closely work together with the senior postdoctoral researcher who developed and is still developing the UGent-MMS topology optimization software.
  

  Only candidates with a PhD degree in Computational Mechanics, Electrical Engineering or similar should apply.
  
  
  

• Vacancy 5: Postdoc (2 years) on Machine learning techniques for interpretation of vibrational data

  Additive manufacturing of metal alloys yields great potential for the aerospace industry (and others) as it allows the generation of geometrically complex structures with high specific strength, low density and high corrosion resistance. For example, General Electric has demonstrated the possibility of printing titanium fuel injectors for their LEAP engine, Boeing incorporated more than 300 printed parts in their 777X airplane … For such critical applications, the structural quality of printed parts is of utmost importance. Small deviations in print conditions, e.g. change in laser fluence, variation in powder quality, non-uniform gas flow, build position … may result in varying print quality, and even to inferior parts containing porosity, cracks, residual stress and geometrical deviations, amongst others. Current inspection protocol involves the use of X-rays, but this is a time-and cost-inefficient method for high-volume applications.

  The RESON-AM project aims at developing a fast, practical and sensitive quality control technologies for AM metal parts. The project is a close collaboration between several large industries (Materialise, Siemens and MatchID) and academia (KULeuven and UGent). Materialise will provide large sets of AM metal parts for use in the project. The project is funded by SIM-Flanders (Strategic Initiative Materials in Flanders).

  At UGent, three researchers will be involved in the project who will focus on the development and implementation of a quality inspection strategy of AM parts using vibrations. For this specific vacancy, we search a postdoctoral researcher who will work on data-driven models for simulating the vibrational behavior of AM metal parts, and for generating a large and diverse virtual database to enrich the experimental database. Secondly, the researcher will investigate and implement (supervised) classification methods to identify long-term trends in the printed parts (e.g. due to drift of laser fluence), and to detect off-nominal AM parts (e.g. due to presence of large pores) using the virtual and experimental database.
  

  This vacancy applies to mature researchers having a strong background in statistics and deep learning. Knowledge in vibrational testing is a plus.
  
  
  

• Vacancy 6: PhD (4 years) on micromechanical testing and interface characterization of composites

  We are looking for a PhD student for a research project on microscale mechanical characterization of fiber reinforced polymer composites using in-situ microscopic techniques. Much more fundamental insights and measurements at the micro-scale are necessary to enable fully predictive multi-scale modelling and faster adaptation of composites. Therefore, we have developed advanced micromechanical test methods for fibre reinforced polymer composites based on in-situ optical and electron microscopy during loading. This includes micro-scale Digital Image Correlation (DIC) which gives full-field strain information at the sub-micron scale, force measurement and correlation of the damage mechanisms at micro- and macro-scale. This also generates accurate input data for multi-scale models for composites. This PhD will further develop and enhance these micromechanical tests and optimize the microscopic measurement techniques for different types of composites.

  Further micromechanical tests will be done to characterize the fibre/matrix interface in composites. Fibre debonding will be monitored in real-time and different loading conditions to the interface will be applied.
  

  This PhD requires an experimentalist to do the micromechanical characterization of the composites. Experience with experimental testing of materials and microscopy is required. Knowledge of composites and/or instrumentation techniques such as Digital Image Correlation (DIC) is an advantage.