Pieter Bonte

PhD Position in Cognitive Digital Twins, Knowledge Graphs, Edge Computing and Artificial Intelligence at KU Leuven (campus Kulak, Kortrijk, Belgium). The PhD researcher will join the Stream Intelligence Lab under the supervision of Prof. Pieter Bonte . The project focuses on building a Cognitive Digital Twin for monitoring critical infrastructure at sea, including offshore wind farms, energy islands, subsea cables, and pipelines. The research combines knowledge graphs , stream processing , database theory , logic , edge and cloud computing , and artificial intelligence to create a system that can understand both the data it observes and the way observations are processed into insight. Eligibility: applicants should hold a master's degree in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, or a related field. The post is especially suited to candidates interested in machine learning, knowledge graphs, stream processing, edge processing, and efficient algorithm implementation. Strong English communication skills are required, along with the ability to work independently and in a team. Funding: this is a PhD scholarship and the position is full-time. It is initially offered for one year, with possible extension depending on performance and additional funding. The intended duration of the doctorate is four years. Location: campus Kulak in Kortrijk. Application deadline: 30 October 2026, 23:59 CET. Apply via the online application tool on the KU Leuven job site.

KU Leuven is advertising a PhD position in Virtual Knowledge Graphs, Edge Computing and Artificial Intelligence at the Stream Intelligence Lab under the supervision of Prof. Pieter Bonte . The project explores how knowledge graphs can move from the cloud to the edge, so that devices such as network routers and home care gateways can reason over their own data streams. The research focuses on combining knowledge graphs , stream processing , logic , database theory , and edge/cloud computing to decide what should be materialised, when, and where (edge, fog, or cloud), while keeping reasoning efficient and expressive. This opportunity is based at campus Kulak in Kortrijk within the Science and Technology group. The successful candidate will contribute to teaching by supporting lectures and lab sessions alongside doctoral research. Applicants should hold a master's degree in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Mathematics, or a related field. The post seeks candidates with interest in logic, machine learning, knowledge graphs, stream processing, database theory, edge processing, and efficient algorithm implementation. Both theoretical and practical prototype-building skills are valued, as well as independence, teamwork, initiative, and fluent English. The position is offered as a PhD scholarship on a full-time one-year contract, with the possibility of extension depending on performance and additional funding. The aim is to complete the PhD within four years. The application deadline is 30 October 2026 .