PhD position on Bio-Cemented Mineral Composites for Building Applications KU Leuven in Belgium

KU Leuven is offering a PhD position on Bio-Cemented Mineral Composites for Building Applications within the E.CoLith project, a multidisciplinary effort to develop next-generation sustainable biomineral composites for construction. The project combines synthetic microbiology, concrete chemistry, mineralogy, and materials engineering to explore how bacteria can be used as programmable components in the formation of mineral-based building materials.

The PhD researcher will be jointly supervised by Prof. Özlem Cizer and Prof. Ruben Snellings at KU Leuven. Prof. Cizer’s group brings expertise in carbonation and bio-cementation mechanisms, porous-material microstructure, and performance assessment, while Prof. Snellings’ group contributes expertise in low-carbon mineral binders, precursor reactivity, mineral carbonation, and advanced mineralogical characterization.

The research is embedded in a broader interdisciplinary consortium and focuses on Work Package 2: Material Formulation, Bio-Fabrication & Characterization. The project aims to design porous mineral scaffolds and binder-precursor systems that support controlled bacterial colonization and enable calcium carbonate and silica mineralization while meeting relevant processing, microstructural, and engineering requirements. The work will move from well-defined model minerals to recycled and secondary mineral resources.

The position offers access to advanced facilities for mineral processing, material fabrication, microbial experimentation, cement and concrete testing, and multiscale characterization. You will collaborate with researchers in synthetic microbiology, microstructure-scale modelling, and architectural biofabrication, participate in the Materials and Constructions group and the wider E.CoLith consortium, and complete the KU Leuven Arenberg Doctoral School training programme through publications, conference participation, and coursework.

Eligibility highlights: candidates should hold a Master’s degree in Civil Engineering, Materials Engineering, Materials Science, Geology, Mineralogy, Geochemistry, Chemistry, Applied Chemistry, or a closely related field, with strong academic performance and demonstrated research/experimental skills. Background in mineral-based materials, cement chemistry, crystallization, porous materials, biomineralization, or biofabrication is desirable. Experience with X-ray diffraction, thermal analysis, microscopy, spectroscopy, pore-structure characterization, or geochemistry is an advantage. Excellent English communication skills are required.

Funding: the position includes a full-time doctoral scholarship for four years, subject to positive evaluation, and leads to a PhD in Engineering Science upon successful completion. KU Leuven also highlights institutional benefits such as health insurance and access to university infrastructure and sports facilities.

Application deadline: 2026-09-30. The preferred starting date is January 2027, though a mutually agreed date may be possible. Apply online and include a CV, motivation letter, diplomas and transcripts, thesis summary, English proficiency proof, and contact details for at least two academic referees.

For more information, contact Prof. dr. Özlem Cizer at [email protected].