Marie Curie PhD vacancy (DC8) for PhD research titled "Additive manufacturing of ceramics with complex surfaces for small-scale turbomachinery"

About this position

KU Leuven seeks a highly motivated PhD candidate for a fully funded, four-year international doctoral position within the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Doctoral Network (MSCA-DN) project TURBO-IMPACT (TURBOmachinery Innovative Manufacturing, Processing, Analysis, Characterization, and Topology ; Website: https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101311350 ).

The TurboImpact project, funded by Horizon Europe – MSCA-DN, tackles challenges in designing, optimizing, selecting materials, and manufacturing small-scale turbomachinery for applications in heat pumps, fuel cells, organic Rankine cycles, or gas turbines. This project develops robust system and component design methods, an integrated manufacturing platform, and multi-material joining techniques to efficiently produce small-scale turbomachinery.

In this EU project, this PhD researcher (DC8) will focus on the complete indirect DLP/SLA additive manufacturing route for silicon nitride turbomachinery components. This involves the development of a UV-curable Si3N4 slurry, optimization of DLP/SLA printing strategies for reference parts and complex components such as impellers, and the post-printing debinding and sintering process to obtain fully dense complex near-net-shaped ceramic components. The AM parts will be microstructurally, mechanically and geometrically characterized.

Simple geometries will be used for the evaluation of joining and machining performances, whereas the complex near-net-shaped components will be applied in turbomachinery.

The doctoral candidate will:

• Develop a UV-curable Si3N4 slurry and optimize DLP/SLA printing strategies for reference parts and complex components
• Realize post-printing debinding and sintering processes to obtain fully dense complex near-net-shaped ceramic components
• Elucidate the processing – microstructure – mechanical properties – geometrical accuracy correlations.

The project includes potential international secondments at EPFL (Switzerland), Admatec Additive Solutions (The Netherlands) and IFW (Germany).

The researcher is supervised by Prof. Jozef Vleugels ( https://www.kuleuven.be/wieiswie/nl/person/00006337 ), head of the Functional Materials Division (FUNMAT) and coordinator of the Advanced Ceramics and Powder Metallurgy research group at the Department of Materials Engineering. The research group has a long track record (>35 years) on the powder metallurgical development, processing and characterisaton of ceramics, cermets, metcers and metals. More information on the website ( https://www.mtm.kuleuven.be/english/research/siem/ACPM )

• I have a two-year master degree in Materials Science, Materials Engineering, or an equivalent master degree.
• I am proficient in written and spoken English.
• During my courses, master thesis or prior professional activities, I have gathered basic experience on the processing of ceramics, additive manufacturing, microstructural and mechanical characterization or I have a profound interest in these topics.
• I demonstrate a strong sense of initiative and responsibility, while also being an effective and collaborative team player.
• I am very motivated and obtained good grades (minimum distinction level)
• I feel comfortable to work as a team member and I am eager to share my results to inspire and be inspired by my colleagues.

Special requirements: In accordance with the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Doctoral Network regulations:

• Applicants must comply with the MSCA Mobility Rule. At the time of recruitment, candidates must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the hiring Country for more than 12 months during the 36 months immediately preceding recruitment.
• Applicants must be doctoral candidates (i.e., not already hold a doctoral degree) and be eligible under the MSCA Doctoral Network rules at the time of recruitment
• Short stays such as holidays, compulsory national service, or time spent as part of a refugee procedure are not considered.

Applicants must have a two-year master's degree in Materials Engineering, Materials Science, or an equivalent master degree , or a similar degree with an academic level equivalent to a two-year master's degree.

Successful candidates will:

• Be enrolled in the KU Leuven PhD programme,
• Conduct research in a stimulating international environment with access to state-of-the-art facilities and supervision by recognised experts
• Participate in local and network-wide training activities aimed at advancing scientific knowledge and transferable skills,
• Attend workshops and international conferences relevant to their research topic,
• Undertake secondments of approximately 4–6 months at other network or associated partner institutions.
• Receive further doctoral training for PhD candidates in the framework of the KU Leuven Arenberg Doctoral School ( https://set.kuleuven.be/phd ), known for its strong focus on both future scientists and scientifically trained professionals who will valorise their doctoral expertise and competences in a non-academic context.

Assessment:

Recruitment will be carried out and monitored in full accordance with the principles of the European Charter for Researchers, the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers, and the Doctoral Network mobility rules. The process will follow an open, transparent, merit-based, impartial, and equitable procedure, tailored to each individual DC position. Promising candidates will undergo a series of interviews with the PI, the Supervisory Team, and the Recruitment Committee.

Please note that this position is part of a consortium involving several partner universities. By submitting your application, you consent to your personal data, CV and motivation letter being shared with and accessible to the relevant members of the consortium for the purposes of the recruitment and selection process.

Salary and appointment terms:

Successful candidates will receive a comprehensive financial package in line with the rules for Doctoral Candidates (DCs) in a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Doctoral Network. Employment will be provided by the recruiting organisation and will include mobility and family allowances (where applicable), together with full social security coverage.

Doctoral Candidates will benefit from a competitive salary, paid leave (in accordance with institutional regulations), and access to national social security schemes. The employment starts on 1 February 2027 or according to mutual agreement. The position is a full-time position.

For more information please contact Prof. dr. ir. Jef Vleugels, mail: jozef.vleugels@kuleuven.be .

Follow the KU Leuven job application tool and enclose:

Full CV – mandatory

Motivation letter – mandatory

Full list of credits and grades of both BSc and MSc degrees (as well as their transcription to English if possible) – mandatory (when you have not finished your degree yet, just provide us with the partial list of already available credits and grades)

Proof of English proficiency (TOEFL, IELTS, …) - if available

Two reference letters - if available

An English version of your MSc thesis, or of a recent publication or assignment - if available