Laser-printed flexible sustainable thermoelectrics (Postdoc position) KU Leuven in Belgium

Postdoc opportunity at KU Leuven in laser-printed flexible sustainable thermoelectrics. This fully funded 18-month position is hosted in the FMolina-Lopez group within the FunMat unit of the Department of Materials Engineering at KU Leuven, Belgium.

The project sits at the intersection of materials science, chemical engineering, electrical engineering, and physics, and focuses on developing next-generation thermoelectric devices for wearable energy harvesting and cooling. The main research idea is to use laser-printed metal chalcogenides on flexible substrates to create high-performance thermoelectric harvesters and coolers. The work aims to overcome the limitations of conventional thermoelectrics, which are often rigid, expensive to fabricate, and difficult to integrate into flexible devices.

The selected postdoc will work on developing thermoelectric alloy powders, formulating printable inks, and designing sintering and patterning processes based on selective laser exposure. Alternative approaches such as direct ink writing for 3D building may also be explored. The project combines experimental materials processing with a theoretical understanding of key thermoelectric concepts such as mobility, charge carrier concentration, Seebeck coefficient, and thermal conductivity.

Hands-on materials characterization is a major part of the role. The postdoc will use commercial tools and, where needed, develop specialized setups to measure thermoelectric properties. Characterization methods mentioned include SEM/EDS, TEM, XRD, ICP-OES, and EBSD. The candidate will also correlate morphology and elemental composition with thermoelectric performance and help develop devices optimized for both energy harvesting and cooling.

Eligibility highlights: applicants should have a PhD in a relevant field such as Materials Science and Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Nanoscience and Nanoengineering, or Applied Physics. The role requires prior lab experience in materials processing, characterization, electrical instrumentation, or microfabrication. The ideal candidate should be strongly experimental, collaborative, and able to bridge engineering science with fundamental concepts. Fluency in spoken and written English is required. A strong publication record in Q1 journals is highly valued, as is conference experience, patent-writing experience, and evidence of teamwork in joint publications or consortium projects.

Funding and environment: the position is fully funded and includes a competitive salary and benefits package under university regulations, plus access to world-class facilities for materials processing, characterization, and device fabrication. KU Leuven also supports conference participation and international collaboration, and offers a broad multi-disciplinary research environment in Leuven, Belgium.

Application deadline: 2026-09-30 23:59 (Europe/Brussels). Interested candidates should apply via the KU Leuven jobsite and review the group website for further information.