PhD in Next-Generation Sensing Technologies for Polymer Recycling at Ghent University
Ghent University is advertising a
PhD position
in
Next-Generation Sensing Technologies for Polymer Recycling
within the
Laboratory of Circular Process Engineering (LCPE)
on the Kortrijk campus. The project focuses on improving the quality and consistency of recycled plastics by developing and applying advanced
in-line sensing
and
data-driven analytics
to detect impurities, reduce material variability, and support better control of recycling processes.
The research is supervised by
Prof. Pieter Nachtergaele
and
Prof. Steven De Meester
, and is embedded in a young, multidisciplinary team with strong industry ties. The work combines
spectroscopic techniques
such as NIR, Raman, and hyperspectral imaging with
machine learning
and
chemometric modelling
. It is well suited to candidates interested in
chemical engineering
,
materials science
,
industrial engineering
,
physics
,
computer science
, and sustainability-oriented plastics research.
Eligibility highlights include a relevant master's degree (chemical engineering, bioscience engineering, materials science, civil engineering, industrial engineering, or equivalent; applied physics or chemistry with a strong engineering focus may also be considered), strong English communication skills, and an interest in scientific research, process monitoring, and collaboration with industrial partners. Helpful experience includes spectroscopy, chemometrics, polymer characterization, plastic sorting/recycling, laboratory work, and programming in Python, MATLAB, or R.
The position is a full-time doctoral fellowship for an initial 12 months, extendable to a maximum of 48 months after positive evaluation. The fellowship is tax-free and set at 100% of the net salary of an AAP member in equal family circumstances. The application deadline is
31 May 2026
.
To apply, candidates should email their CV, diploma copy (if available), motivation letter, and at least one reference contact to
[email protected]
. The official vacancy page is available on the Ghent University website.
