Wim Van Paepegem

[Fully funded 4-year PhD positions. Net salary starts from about 2600 EUR/month (funding notes also mention >2700 EUR/month after taxes and social security costs), with a once-only tuition fee of 1100 EUR at the start of the PhD.] Ghent University (UGent), in Belgium, is advertising 5 fully funded PhD vacancies in the research group Mechanics of Materials and Structures (UGent-MMS). These projects sit at the intersection of mechanics of materials, composite structures, numerical simulation, and experimental characterization, with close collaboration with industry and research partners. The available PhD topics are: composite propellers for underwater drones, experimental testing of composites for hydrogen tanks, numerical simulation of composite hydrogen tanks, finite element simulation of snap fit joints, and experimental characterization of snap fit joints. Across the projects, the research themes include finite element modelling, mechanical testing, structural health monitoring, digital image correlation, high-speed imaging, creep, temperature effects, manufacturing processes, and long-term performance of advanced joints and composite structures. All positions last 4 years and are fully funded. The advertisement notes a net salary starting from about 2600 EUR/month, with funding details also indicating a net salary of more than 2700 EUR/month after taxes and social security costs. A very low tuition cost applies, limited to a one-time fee of 1100 EUR at the start of the PhD. These openings are suitable for candidates with a Master’s degree and a strong interest in either experimental or computational mechanics, especially in composites and structural materials. The propeller project includes collaboration with European defense companies and the Royal Military Academy in Belgium, while the hydrogen tank projects involve leading automotive partners. The snap fit joint projects are coordinated with KULeuven, Flanders Make, and industry partners from construction, automotive, and consumer goods sectors. Applicants should be prepared for collaborative, applied research in an academic-industrial environment. For the underwater drone project, willingness to travel to other European countries for experimental testing campaigns is explicitly mentioned. The application deadline is 31 October 2026.