Davy Pissoort

The M-Group at KU Leuven Bruges Campus is at the forefront of innovation in interconnected, intelligent mechatronic systems, with a dedicated focus on dependable autonomous systems and dynamic safety assurance. In close collaboration with Flanders Make, the group is advancing the field of safety-critical autonomous operation through the newly launched COSAIN project: “Co-Designing Safety, Control and Perception for Autonomous Outdoor Operation.” This PhD position centers on developing next-generation methods for runtime safety assurance in autonomous systems operating in complex, uncertain outdoor environments. The COSAIN project tackles the challenge of ensuring safe behavior in dynamic and uncertain settings, where perception, control, and safety are tightly interconnected. The project introduces a novel co-design approach based on Dynamic Safety Cases (DSCs) that evolve during system operation and interact with perception, modeling, and control components. As a PhD researcher, you will play a central scientific role in developing executable and runtime-integrated safety assurance mechanisms for the COSAIN project. Your responsibilities will include: Developing machine-readable and executable safety case representations and methods to derive runtime monitoring requirements and safety performance indicators. Contributing to the development of dynamic safety case frameworks and their integration with runtime data and system behavior. Collaborating within an interdisciplinary team working on perception, modeling, and control. Participating in experiments and validation (simulation, hardware-in-the-loop, real-world demonstrators). Working with industrial partners and contributing to use cases in domains such as inland navigation and robotics. Publishing research results in leading international journals and conferences. Eligibility: Candidates must hold a master’s degree in Safety Engineering, Computer Science, Electronics, Electrical Engineering, or a closely related field. Strong interest in safety engineering, autonomous systems, or cyber-physical systems is required. Experience or interest in safety analysis methods and runtime safety assurance approaches is expected. Familiarity with model-based safety engineering tools is a strong plus. Candidates should possess strong analytical and problem-solving skills, excellent communication and scientific writing skills in English, and the ability to work independently and collaboratively in multidisciplinary teams. Funding: This is a fully funded 4-year PhD position at KU Leuven, offering a competitive salary and a comprehensive package of university benefits. The research environment is dynamic and internationally connected, with strong industrial involvement through Flanders Make. You will have access to advanced simulation environments and real-world autonomous system demonstrators, including vessel experiments. Opportunities exist to collaborate with leading companies in autonomous systems, robotics, maritime technology, and sensing, and to participate in international conferences, workshops, and collaborative European research initiatives. Application Window: The application deadline is July 10, 2026. Interested candidates should apply online via the KU Leuven job portal. For more information, contact Prof. dr. ir. Davy Pissoort ([email protected]) or Mr. Dries Vanoost ([email protected]). KU Leuven is committed to an inclusive, respectful, and socially safe environment, embracing diversity as an asset and ensuring equal opportunity for all applicants.

The M-Group at KU Leuven Bruges Campus is at the forefront of innovation in interconnected, intelligent mechatronic systems. This postdoctoral position is embedded within a team dedicated to electromagnetic risk management, tackling the latest challenges in electromagnetic interference and shaping the future of this dynamic field. The research project is a collaboration between KU Leuven and an industrial semiconductor company, aiming to advance electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) through the development of an AI-driven Intelligent Diagnostic Assistant (IDA) for integrated circuit (IC) design and verification. As a postdoctoral researcher, you will conduct advanced research on AI- and data-driven methods for EMC-aware IC design and verification, with a strong emphasis on risk-based reasoning. Your responsibilities include contributing to the development of the IDA, which integrates machine learning models, expert EMC knowledge, and explainable AI techniques. You will design and validate predictive models such as graph neural networks, physics-informed machine learning, and hybrid AI approaches to assess EMC risks in integrated circuits. Translating EMC expertise, simulation results, and measurement data into structured representations suitable for machine learning and automated reasoning is a key aspect of the role. The position offers close collaboration with academic researchers and engineers from industrial partners, ensuring strong alignment between research outcomes and industrial needs. You will have opportunities to publish your research in leading international journals and conferences in the fields of EMC, microelectronics, and artificial intelligence. Additionally, you will support the supervision of PhD researchers and contribute to knowledge transfer within the research group, as well as participate in project meetings, workshops, and dissemination activities at both national and European levels. Applicants should hold a PhD in Electrical Engineering, Applied Physics, Computer Science, or a closely related field, with strong research experience in electromagnetic compatibility, integrated circuits, RF/analog/mixed-signal design, or related domains. Proven expertise or a strong interest in machine learning and AI, especially as applied to physical or engineering systems, is essential. Experience with modeling, simulation, data analysis, and solid programming skills in Python (with ML frameworks as a plus) are required. Candidates should demonstrate the ability to bridge fundamental research and industrial application, possess a strong or emerging publication record, and have excellent English communication skills. Proactivity, independence, and strong collaboration skills are highly valued. The position is fully funded for two years (with possible extension), providing access to state-of-the-art infrastructure and a range of university benefits, including health insurance. The research environment is dynamic and international, with a passionate team of postdocs, PhD students, and test engineers, and close collaboration with both industrial and academic partners. KU Leuven is committed to diversity, inclusion, and equal opportunity, fostering an environment of open dialogue and respect for all individuals. For more information, prospective applicants are encouraged to contact Prof. dr. ir. Tim Claeys ([email protected]) or Prof. dr. ir. Davy Pissoort ([email protected]). Applications should be submitted online via the KU Leuven job portal before the deadline of June 19, 2026.