Senior postdoc researcher on process monitoring of laser powder bed fusion

12 Mar 2024
Job Information

Organisation/Company

KU Leuven

Research Field

Engineering
Technology

Researcher Profile

Recognised Researcher (R2)

Country

Belgium

Application Deadline

30 Apr 2024 - 00:00 (UTC)

Type of Contract

Temporary

Job Status

Full-time

Hours Per Week

38 hours/week

Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?

Not funded by an EU programme

Reference Number

BAP-2024-140

Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?

No

Offer Description

The successful applicant is expected to partake in, and follow up on ongoing projects concerning process monitoring of laser powder bed fusion:

• (1) Off-axis camera monitoring and resulting control of laser powder bed fusion with multiple lasers. The work consists of implementing multiple cameras into a control loop on a Prima Additive multi-laser system, using the available Materialise enabled interface (in collaboration with Materialise), and related experiments and characterization.
• (2) Using multiple sensing/monitoring techniques on single laser powder bed fusion, including on-axis optical methods as well as acoustic emissions, and using all the data concurrently for improved quality control. In this project, you will collaborate with (and possibly mentor) a PhD student.
• (3) Direct monitoring of the laser powder bed fusion process, leveraging the recoater movements. This work will be in collaboration with a PhD, for whom the postdoc can take a mentor role.

Additionally, the position allows for the remaining time to be used for either collaborating with the AM team on their work, or for new investigations that the successful applicant envisions to study, leveraging the unique capabilities of the AM facilities. 

Requirements

Research Field

Engineering

Education Level

PhD or equivalent

Languages

ENGLISH

Level

Excellent

Additional Information
Benefits

• A two year appointment as post-doc (evaluated after one year), that can be extended further after mutual agreement, at the Department of Mechanical Engineering.
• An opportunity to take a leading role and (further) develop yourself as a senior, independent researcher.
• A remuneration package competitive with industry standards in Belgium, a country with a high quality of life and excellent health care system.
• A highly specialized doctoral training (see Arenberg Doctoral School) in an international environment at a top European university to allow you to gain the skills required to successfully complete your PhD, as well as develop yourself as an independent researcher.
• Multiple benefits (health insurance, access to university infrastructure and sport facilities, self-development through skills training courses etc.).
• The opportunity to participate in research collaborations and international conferences.
• A highly motivated group of colleagues with excellent group dynamic, stimulated through various activities organized outside of work.
• A stepping stone towards future career opportunities. KU Leuven AM group alumni have an excellent track record in pursuing both academic as well as industrial careers, both in Flanders and abroad.
• A stay in a vibrant environment in the hearth of Europe. The university is located in Leuven, a town of approximately 100000 inhabitants, located close to Brussels (25 km), and 20 minutes by train from Brussels International Airport. This strategic positioning and the strong presence of the university, international research centers, and industry, lead to a safe town with high quality of life, welcome to non-Dutch speaking people and with ample opportunities for social and sport activities. The mixture of cultures and research fields are some of the ingredients making the university of Leuven the most innovative university in Europe.

The successful candidate is expected to start on September 1st 2024 (upon agreement with Prof. Vrancken).

Eligibility criteria

The ideal candidate is highly motivated, enthusiastic and communicative researcher with a PhD in Mechanical, Electrical, Automation Engineering, or a closely related field. You have an excellent academic track record. You have experience with laser powder bed fusion hardware and operating systems, process monitoring, data science, Python and/or LabVIEW. You are aware of the limitations imposed by the eventual implementation into process control loops: signal noise, complex correlations with process phenomena, fast processing speeds, data transfer, and limited computational space. You have managed research projects before or are willing to develop the soft skills necessary to do so. Furthermore, applicants should have excellent oral and written English communication skills (TOEFL score of at least 94 or IELTS-score of 7 or higher).

The successful candidate is expected to contribute to education at the Bachelor or Master level (master thesis supervision, teaching of exercise or practical sessions, …), take a leading role in mentoring PhD students working on similar subjects as the described project, and provide the day-to-day follow up of projects mentioned in the project description.

Selection process

Documents required for application:

1.       Full CV – mandatory

2.       Motivation letter (maximum 1 page) – mandatory

3.       Proof of PhD

4.       Proof of English proficiency (TOEFL, IELTS, …) - if available

5.       Two reference letters - if available

6.       An English version of MSc or of a recent publication or assignment - if available

Selected candidates will proceed towards an online interview, and may be asked to read a scientific publication and prepare a short presentation to present themselves, and their understanding of that paper.

For more information do not hesitate to contact Prof. dr. ir. Bey Vrancken (tel.: +32 16 19 48 65, mail: [email protected] ).

You can apply for this job no later than 30/04/2024 via the online application tool

Work Location(s)

Number of offers available

1

Company/Institute

KU Leuven

Country

Belgium

State/Province

Vlaams Brabant

City

Leuven

Postal Code

3000

Street

Leuven

Geofield

Where to apply

Website

https://easyapply.jobs/r/6kQSyJ621wq5761MoaBe

Contact

State/Province

Leuven

City

Vlaams Brabant

Street

Leuven

Postal Code

3000

STATUS: EXPIRED