Fully funded PhD Belgium 24 days left

Marie Curie PhD vacancy (DC5) on Digitalised micro-EDM process for high-precision microelectrodes for neural sensing and stimulation in MedTech applications

KU Leuven, Belgium

Institution: KU Leuven
Country: Belgium
Position type: PhD
Application deadline: 16 September 2026
Location: Leuven, Belgium
Funding: Fully funded position

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About this position

This PhD research will be undertaken under the MPE research group at the Department of Mechanical Engineering, which is a multidisciplinary team specialised in (micro)manufacturing, machining of advanced materials, design and integration of advanced manufacturing systems with a focus on precision, miniaturisation and process intelligence. The vibration and environment controlled research labs are located in the Leuven Nanocenter with state-of-the-art of manufacturing, metrology and characterisation infrastructure.

KU Leuven (University of Leuven) has been a center of learning for nearly six centuries since 1425, making it one of the oldest and most renowned universities in Europe. Today, it is Belgium’s highest ranked university (QS 2025 : 60), ranked among the top 4% universities in the world and consistently ranked in the top 10 most innovative universities in Europe. The university caters to over 60,000 students from more than 140 countries. KU Leuven's three doctoral schools provide internationally oriented PhD tracks for more than 4,000 doctoral students. KU Leuven and affiliated knowledge institutes provide fertile ground for innovation and high-tech entrepreneurship in the Leuven region. This favourable climate for knowledge-driven innovation makes the Leuven region an attractive location for many high-tech companies.

Project

KU Leuven seeks a highly motivated PhD candidate for a fully funded, international doctoral position within the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Doctoral Networks (MSCA-DN) project MicroMan4Health (Website: https://www.microman4health.eu/). (Data-Centric MicroManufacturing Platform for Added Value in Health Sector). MicroMan4Health pioneers a data-centric micromanufacturing framework for added value in the healthcare/MedTech sector. This shift from process-centric to data-centric micromanufacturing constitutes a paradigm shift in how knowledge, control, and value will be created in micromanufacturing platforms for the health sector. The project brings together 26 partners (Universities and Industries) and integrates more than eight advanced micromanufacturing technologies.

This PhD project (DC5) focuses on the research of a digitalised micro-Electrical Discharge Machining (micro-EDM) process for manufacturing high-precision microelectrodes for neural sensing and stimulation MedTech applications. The research combines micro-EDM process research, in-situ monitoring, process modelling and data-driven analysis to improve the accuracy, surface integrity and manufacturing reliability of microelectrodes produced from biocompatible materials.

The doctoral candidate will:

Investigate micro-EDM material removal mechanisms and machining behaviour in biomedical alloys for sub-micrometer electrode fabrication.
Research and optimise micro-EDM process parameters to improve dimensional accuracy, surface integrity and process stability.
Design high-frequency data-driven frameworks linking discharge characteristics and machining signals to feature quality, surface roughness and manufacturing performance.
Study tool electrode wear mechanisms and develop strategies to maintain dimensional accuracy during microelectrode production.
Establish digital process-monitoring and predictive modelling approaches for intelligent and reliable micro-EDM manufacturing.

The project includes potential international secondments at Sarix SA (Switzerland), University of Ljubljana (Slovenia) and University of Pisa (Italy).

Profile

Researchers can be of any nationality. At the time of recruitment, researchers:

Should not have been awarded a title of PhD (Applicants who have successfully defended their doctoral thesis but not yet formally been awarded the doctoral degree will not be considered eligible).
Should not have resided or carried out your main activity in Belgium for more than 12 months within the last 3 years.

We are looking for a highly motivated and research-oriented candidate who:

Holds a Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Materials Engineering, Production Engineering or a related field in Science and Engineering.
Has a strong interest in advanced manufacturing, precision engineering and digital manufacturing.
Has experience working with experimental setups and laboratory equipment.
Possesses practical knowledge of design of experiments (DoE), statistical analysis and scientific presentation.
Has knowledge of electrochemical manufacturing, process monitoring and control (preferred but not mandatory).
Has an excellent command of English (spoken and written) with Toefl or IELTS scores.

We encourage candidates from diverse backgrounds and experiences to apply, as we believe that different perspectives contribute to better research and innovation.

Offer

The start of PhD is planned for 1st October or November 2026 but is negotiable. The offer will include:

A fully funded and full-time Marie Curie PhD position with a remuneration package competitive with industry standards in Belgium, a country with a high quality of life and an excellent health care system.
As part of the MicroMan4Health Doctoral Network, you will participate in several international doctoral training programs (~ 12 weeks over 3 years) at different European locations.
Excellent guidance by both University and industry experts and access to nice lab infrastructure with state of the art non-conventional machining equipment.
Opportunities to network and present your research at international conferences.
Besides opportunities offered by the MSCA project, further doctoral training for PhD candidates is provided 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.

Interested?

To apply, use the KU Leuven online application platform (applications by email are not considered). Applications should ideally include:

1. Motivation Letter: A letter (maximum 1 A4 page) addressing your strengths and qualifications in relation to the project.

2. Complete Academic CV: A detailed CV including information about your education, current position, work experience (if any), employment gaps (if any), interests, extracurricular activities, international experiences, and projects demonstrating your programming/software skills, background knowledge relative to the project and level of expertise.

3. List of Publications: If applicable, provide a list of your publications, including DOIs. Please do not include PDFs of the publications.

4. Copies of Diplomas and supplements: Include copies of your BSc and MSc degrees with diploma supplements.

5. Transcript of Records: Provide transcripts for your BSc and MSc degrees. If you have not yet completed your Master's degree, include your available credits and scores, as well as a list of courses you are taking in the upcoming semester.

6. English Summary of Master Thesis: A summary of your master thesis in English (maximum 1 A4 page, or 2 pages max when including a figure).

7. Proof of English Language Proficiency: Documentation demonstrating your proficiency in English (TOEFL, IELTS, …), if available.

8. Reference Letter or Contact Details: A reference letter or the contact information for one reference who can provide a recommendation letter upon request.

Starting Date: Preferably by October-November 1st, 2026.

For more information please contact Prof. dr. ir. Krishna Kumar Saxena, mail: [email protected] or Mr. Muhammad Hazak Arshad, mail: [email protected].

KU Leuven strives for an inclusive, respectful and socially safe environment. We embrace diversity among individuals and groups as an asset. Open dialogue and differences in perspective are essential for an ambitious research and educational environment. In our commitment to equal opportunity, we recognize the consequences of historical inequalities. We do not accept any form of discrimination based on, but not limited to, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, age, ethnic or national background, skin colour, religious and philosophical diversity, neurodivergence, employment disability, health, or socioeconomic status. For questions about accessibility or support offered, we are happy to assist you at this email address.

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Applications close 16 September 2026.