Doctoral fellow

ABOUT GHENT UNIVERSITY

Ghent University is a world of its own. Employing more than 15.000 people, it is actively involved in education and research, management and administration, as well as technical and social service provision on a daily basis. It is one of the largest, most exciting employers in the area and offers great career opportunities.
With its 11 faculties and more than 85 departments offering state-of-the-art study programmes grounded in research in a wide range of academic fields, Ghent University is a logical choice for its staff and students.

YOUR TASKS

The STFES research group (Sustainable Thermo-Fluid Energy Systems, https://www.ugent.be/ea/eemmecs/en/research/stfes) is widely known for its research on thermal energy. Both experimental and numerical techniques are used in the analysis, design and optimization, resulting in a unique position in the field. The overall goal is to support more energy efficient systems in buildings and industry. With this, the research contributes in devising technical solutions for the reduction of CO2 emissions in accordance with the European Union's Energy Roadmap 2050. The PhD project will be conducted in collaboration with the Dynamic Design Lab, which specializes in modelling, control, and optimization of mechatronic systems and processes (https://dynamics.ugent.be).

We are looking for a motivated and talented PhD student to delve into the field of thermal energy and (hybrid) machine learning in which physics-based models are combined with data-driven techniques. Thermal cycles make it possible to meet the demand for heating, cooling, and electricity in a sustainable way. As part of various national and international research projects, the research group has built extensive expertise in heat pump technology, cooling technology, and Organic Rankine Cycles (ORC). Nevertheless, many aspects still require further investigation to fully exploit the potential. With this PhD, we aim to continue and reinforce this research. The specific research theme includes:

• Thermal root cause analysis – Industrial and residential heat pumps and chillers: the aim of the research is to develop a framework for fault and root cause analysis that uses causal AI, multimodal data, and engineering models to determine why failures occur in complex machines such as heat pumps and chillers.
  
  
• You also support the STFES (Sustainable Thermo-Fluid Energy Systems, https://www.ugent.be/ea/eemmecs/en/research/stfes) research group for educational tasks and internal operation of the group.

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

• You hold a Master of engineering in (Elektro)mechanical engineering or Mechatronics or similar. (obtained max. 5 years ago. This term of 5 years is determined by the date written on the above-mentioned required diploma).
• You have a strong motivation for conducting scientific research and project-based research and services.
• You have experience in the research field of thermal energy.
• You have project management skills.
• You communicate fluently and clearly in English.
• You have an open personality and willing to contribute to the operations and targets of the team.

WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU

• We offer a full-time position as a doctoral fellow, consisting of an initial period of 12 months, which - after a positive evaluation, will be extended to a total maximum of 48 months.
• Your contract will start on 1/4/2026 at the earliest.
• The fellowship amount is 100% of the net salary of an AAP member in equal family circumstances. The individual fellowship amount is determined by Team Personnel Administration based on family status and seniority. A grant that meets the conditions and criteria of the regulations for doctoral fellowships is considered free of personal income tax. Click here for more information about our salary scales
• All Ghent University staff members enjoy a number of benefits, such as a wide range of training and education opportunities, 36 days of holiday leave (on an annual basis for a full-time job) supplemented by annual fixed bridge days, bicycle allowance and eco vouchers. Click here for a complete overview of all the staff benefits

INTERESTED?

Send your CV, copy of your diploma (if already in your possession) and a motivation letter to stfes.vacancies@ugent.be before 15/3/2026.

We do not accept late applications.

For more information about this vacancy, please contact Prof. Steven Lecompte (steven.lecompte@UGent.be)