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PhD Position in 3D Printing / Chemical and Materials Engineering : Leuven, Belgium

PhD position in 3D printing / chemical and materials engineering

• Unique opportunity to pioneer the application of 3D printing in unexplored domains
• Work at a leading scientific institution with dedicated professionals
• Offering outstanding career development and professional support

The Centre for Surface Chemistry and Catalysis (part of KU Leuven – the University of Leuven) is seeking to appoint a highly motivated PhD student who will explore the opportunities for 3D printing in chemical and materials engineering applications.

The Centre for Surface Chemistry and Catalysis constitutes an interdisciplinary team of seven professors focused on researching the chemistry of the solid-gas, solid-liquid, and solid-solid interphases. The Centre currently hosts over 120 PhD students, postdoctoral scholars and technicians and is internationally recognized for its expertise in gas and liquid phase catalysis, porous materials synthesis and characterization, adsorptive separations, and related challenges in chemistry and chemical engineering. For more information on the professor leading this project, including previous publications in top journals such as Nature Chemistry, Advanced Materials, Angewandte Chemie, ect, please refer to the following websites: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Rob_Ameloot/ or http://scholar.google.com/citations?user=8GN5hk8AAAAJ&hl=en

The development of 3D printing and related additive manufacturing technologies have recently gained momentum in a spectacular way. Based on a computer model, these printing tools enable the direct and automated fabrication of a real-world object with an arbitrarily complex geometry, not accessible via conventional machining. While the application of 3D printing starts to be established in some fields (e.g. implants and medical devices), there have been few attempts to explore the potential of 3D printing in solving challenges related to chemistry and chemical engineering. The aim of this PhD project is to pioneer this field and by designing, 3D printing and applying tailor-made porous materials and heterogeneous catalysts.

We are seeking:
• a highly motivated candidate with a strong academic record and a MSc diploma in the field of Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Materials Engineering, Bio-Engineering or any related field in Science and Engineering.
• Equally important is that you show a true passion for technology and are excited by working on realizing the potential of 3D printing, irrespective of your background.
• Previous research experience and/or demonstrations of out-of-the-box thinking are a plus.
• Since we are an international team, English is the main language and proficiency in written and spoken English is crucial.

We offer a full-time PhD position in a high-level international team at the University of Leuven , including an attractive salary and benefits package. Most importantly, we offer the opportunity to do top-level science in a fun, international environment.

Interested?
For more information about this job opportunity and submitting your application, please contact Prof. dr. ir. Rob Ameloot (Rob.Ameloot@biw.kuleuven.be). Please mention "PhD position in 3D Printing / Chemical and Materials Engineering" in the subject line.

The deadline for applying for this job is August 25, 2014.

Location:
Situated in the heart of Western Europe, KU Leuven (University of Leuven) has been a center of learning for nearly six centuries. Today, it is Belgium's largest and highest-ranked university and, founded in 1425, one of the oldest and most renowned universities in Europe. The university caters to more than 40,000 students, of which 15.5% are international 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. They also generate a huge inflow of state-of-the-art knowledge that brings with it a myriad of innovative ideas for new and existing companies. This favorable climate for knowledge-driven entrepreneurship and innovation makes the Leuven region an attractive location for many high-tech companies. Most of the KU Leuven spin-off companies (approx. 100 in business in 2014) are located in or around Leuven.
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Job details

Employer:KU Leuven

Location:Centre for Surface Chemistry and Catalysis, Kasteelpark Arenberg 23, Leuven, Belgium

Expires:August 25, 2014

Job type:PhD Studentship

Salary:Unspecified

Qualifications:Postgraduate - Master's degree

Employment type:Temporary

Job hours:Full-time