Karen De Clerck

Prof. at Ghent University

Ghent University
Country flagBelgium

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Positions (1)

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Karen De Clerck

University Name
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Ghent University

Ghent University is recruiting a post-doctoral assistant in the Department of Materials, Textiles and Chemical Engineering within the Faculty of Engineering and Architecture in Ghent, Belgium. The appointment is a temporary AAP position at 100% workload, with one opening. The role is research-intensive, with at least 70% of the assignment dedicated to academic research, alongside teaching and supervision duties at Bachelor’s and Master’s level. The research focus is the development of high-quality, sustainable fiber materials . The position places particular emphasis on solvent-based fiber production processes , especially electrospinning and wet spinning , for the creation of innovative fiber materials. The successful candidate will contribute to several parallel research projects and will work across the full chain from innovative polymers and chemistry through fiber production to characterization of final material properties. In addition to research, the post-doctoral assistant will support teaching in Dutch and English, guide Bachelor’s students with exercises, projects and work placements, support Master’s dissertation work, and counsel doctoral students. This makes the role suitable for a researcher who also enjoys academic mentoring and student interaction. Applicants must hold a doctoral degree in Materials Engineering , Textile Engineering , or an equivalent doctoral degree by the start of the appointment. The university also looks for prior research experience in innovative fiber materials, with electrospinning and wet spinning seen as an advantage. A strong multidisciplinary profile, evidence of promising doctoral research, relevant peer-reviewed publications, and excellent Dutch and English communication skills are required. Candidates should already be living in Belgium or be prepared to stay there during the research period. The appointment starts no earlier than 1 November 2026 and runs for 3 years , with the possibility of a second 3-year appointment subject to favourable evaluation. Salary is set according to AAP5 . Ghent University also highlights its broader employee benefits, including training opportunities, paid leave, bicycle commuting reimbursement, and ecocheques. Applications must be submitted online through the university’s e-recruitment system by 2026-09-08 . Candidates should upload a merged PDF containing their CV and publication overview, a cover letter, and a diploma transcript if available. If the degree was awarded outside the EU, a NARIC certificate or proof of application for equivalence is required. For questions about the vacancy, candidates may contact Prof. Karen De Clerck by email.

1 month ago

Articles (14)

Year:

2024

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2024

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2024

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2023

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2023

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2023

Year:

2023

Electrospun nanofiber membranes show high potential in various application fields (e.g., filtration, catalysis, and sensing). Nevertheless, knowledge of the mechanical behavior, and more specifically, the deformation of nanofiber membranes is still limited today which can complicate the appliance of nanofiber membranes in applications where they are mechanically loaded. In this paper, we, therefore, analyzed the mechanical behavior of polymeric nanofiber membranes with different fiber orientations (random and aligned) extensively. Polyamide 6 was used as a representative reference polymer for proof-of-concept. Mechanical tests show that all membranes have a coherent deformation behavior at the macroscale up to the point of fracture. Large variations in stiffness, ultimate strength, and ultimate strain were observed between membranes with different fiber orientations (Random: E-mod: 370 ± 34 MP; UTS: 38.5 ± 6.0 MPa; εmax: 30.0 ± 2.8%; Parallel aligned: E-mod: 753 ± 11 MPa; UTS: 55.4 ± 0.8 MPa; εmax: 12.0 ± 0.1%; Perpendicular aligned: E-mod: 24.1 ± 3.7 MPa; UTS:/; εmax: >40%). This shows the versatility and tunability of the mechanical behavior of these nanofiber membranes. At the microscale, the fibrous structure results in deformation mechanisms that resist failure formation and progression when the membrane is mechanically loaded. This results in a high fracture resistance, even for pre-damaged membranes. Realignment of the fibers along the loading direction causes crack tip blunting, locally reinforcing the membrane.

Year:

2023

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2023

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2023

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2023

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2023

Year:

2023

Year:

2022

Collaborators (8)

Klaartje De Buysser

Professor

Universiteit Gent

BELGIUM
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Veronique Van Speybroeck

Ghent University

BELGIUM
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Dagmar R. D’hooge

Ghent University

BELGIUM
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Inge Gies

Vrije Universiteit Brussel

BELGIUM
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Meike N. Leiske

Junior Professor

University of Bayreuth

GERMANY
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Lynn Vanhaecke

The Queen's University Belfast

UNITED KINGDOM
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Rahman Omidinia Anarkoli

DWI – Leibniz-Institut für Interaktive Materialien

GERMANY
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Lode Daelemans

Ghent University

BELGIUM
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