PhD on On-farm biogas production from animal manure with decentralized BioLNG production and liquid CO2

 A fully funded PhD scholarship titled “On-farm biogas production from animal manure with decentralized BioLNG production and liquid CO2” is available at RE-SOURCE Lab, within the Faculty of Bioscience Engineering at Ghent University in Belgium. We are looking for a top student, to work as a PhD candidate under the following recently funded project:

Sponsor: The European Commission under Horizon Europe program,
Call ID: HORIZON-CL5-2021-D3-03 Sustainable, secure and competitive energy supply
Project title: SEMPRE-BIO - Securing Domestic Production of Cost-Effective Biomethane

SEMPRE-BIO aims to demonstrate novel and cost-effective biomethane production solutions and pathways, deemed essential to achieve the European Green Deal and climate and energy targets for 2030 and the net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, and to increase the market up-take of biomethane related technologies. To that extent, the specific aim of the PhD is to work on the Belgian pilot case study which will investigate the potential downscaling of a solution able to produce BioLNG and liquid CO2 from the raw biogas with the cleaning process integrated for applications at the level of farm-scale digestion, together with advanced technologies for efficient valorisation of CO2 and digestate. The PhD is also expected to support the follow-up of the daily management of the project and to work in strong collaboration with other project partners.

We are looking for successful candidates with a MSc degree obtained between September 2022 and September 2020 who will undertake the following responsibilities:

• Run your PhD project and deliver the project results in a timely manner.
• Submission of high quality publications in international journals.
• Link and integrate with research project of the other PhD students in the two groups as deemed appropriate.
• Contribute to group activities as requested by your promoters that are within the remit of the role and the grant, and the associated grade. This may include:

1. Supporting and collaborating with MSc and other PhD students.
2. Contribution to teaching programmes if requested to do so.
3. Assist in other activates in the group as deemed necessary.

Job profile

The candidate should fulfil the following requirements:

• Have a MSc degree in environmental engineering, agriculture engineering or biosystems engineering.
• Good contextual understanding of biogas reactors and agricultural-environmental interface.
• Preferentially have knowledge in the use of basic software and modelling languages, such as, MATLAB Toolbox, LabVIEW, R, ArcGIS, C++…
• Should have a high level of proficiency in English sufficient to communicate effectively with colleagues and write papers and reports.
• Good practical problem solver / Ability to find appropriate solutions to academic and technical problems.
• Ability to work as a member of a team within a dynamic research group.

Offer

• We offer a fully funded PhD scholarship starting anytime between 1st November 2022 and 1st December 2022. We offer approx. €2150 per month net based on a full working week (38 hours).
• Candidates will have the opportunity to work within a stimulating research environment within the RE-SOURCE Lab with interdisciplinary team comprised of agricultural engineers, environmental engineers, soil scientists, agronomists and data mining experts, where many international collaborations are foreseen.

Prof. Meers : https://www.ugent.be/bw/gct/en/research/ecochem/overviewresearch/researchmeers
Prof Meers is also involved in management of the following platforms : www.biorefine.eu ; www.nutricycle.vlaanderen ; www.biogas-e.be ; www.europeanbiogas.eu

How to apply

Applications should be submitted by not later than 30th August, 2022, enclosing the following documents:

• A cover letter outlining your motivation, research and teaching experience.
• A detailed CV and publication record.
• Your MSc degree or an interim document if you are still finishing your MSc.
• A verified transcript of your MSc and BSc degrees.
• Two reference letters from academic members.

Applications need to be submitted via email with subject ‘PhD SEMPRE-BIO’ to Sylvie Dewerte (E-mail: Sylvie.Dewerte@ugent.be) and Prof. Erik Meers (Erik.Meers@UGent.be).

PhD in Department of Environment

 THE ROYAL MUSEUM FOR CENTRAL AFRICA is recruiting a scientific employee in wood research (m/f/x)

CONTEXT

The Royal Museum for Central Africa is one of ten Federal Scientific Institutions (FSI) that fall under the authority of the State Secretary for Federal Science Policy. It is a scientific institution and a museum.

The RMCA is looking for a scientific collaborator to strengthen the team of the wood biology service.

The TREE4FLUX project supports the participation of the Wood Biology Service of the Royal Museum for Central Africa (RMCA) in the eddy covariance (EC) CongoFlux tower in Yangambi (D.R.Congo), in collaboration with Ghent University. The RMCA part of this project aims to further develop forest research on the ground, in support of the CongoFlux data. Specifically, the focus is on three types of permanent forest inventory plots (intensive, large-scale and geographically dispersed). The project will re-measure and further expand this plot network. The data from the plots will be used to validate, supplement and amplify the EC data from CongoFlux. The plots are mainly located in Yangambi.

By linking the RMCA and UGent infrastructures, TREE4FLUX will make Yangambi the first 'supersite' that measures the CO2 fluxes in the African tropical rainforest. Combined data enable robust upscaling of CO2 fluxes, which can be used to optimize references for national and international policy.

The specific focus of this position:

• to properly identify tree species in a new large-scale plot, by evaluating local botanical knowledge through modern techniques (e.g. DNA analysis, DART-TOFMS),
• detailed measurement of tree growth (wood formation) with classical inventory methods (measuring tape) and with dendrometers,
• measuring woody decay rates in intensive plots, to better estimate how quickly carbon is released from dead trees in a plot,µ
• quantifying tree growth, mortality and woody decay rate per tree species, with an analysis of the relationship between these vital rates and species-specific wood anatomical and functional characteristics.

Function

As a scientific employee, you will carry out the following assignments:

• preparing fieldwork in DRCongo,
• sampling (wood, leaves) to evaluate botanical identifications,
• measuring tree growth,
• measure woody decay rate,
• laboratory analysis (DNA, DART, microscopic examination of wood anatomy),
• analysis of data using standard programs (eg R).

Job profile

Job-related competencies:

• willingness and (possibly) experience to organize scientific fieldwork, preferably with a focus on tropical forest.
• communication skills: you are responsible for scientific reporting of the results and for contacts with various scientific and logistical partners.
• data analysis skills: you are familiar with the basic methods of data storage and statistics.
• knowledge of wood anatomy. You have successfully completed a relevant academic course on the microscopic structure of wood.
• Autonomy, accuracy and organizational skills.
• Degree required: University degree in bioengineering, biology or ecology.
• Experience Required: No Professional Experience Required.

We offer

• A contract of 3 years as a scientific employee (possibly renewable).
• The possibility to register as a PhD student at Ghent University and to follow a Doctoral Schools track.
• A wage in accordance with the scales of the federal government (minimum starting salary SW10: EUR 41,232.86 gross indexed annual salary).
• An interesting holiday arrangement.
• Free commuting by public transport or bicycle allowance.
• A pleasant working atmosphere in a dynamic working environment with attention to equal opportunities and diversity.

How to apply

Please send your CV with cover letter by e-mail to HR-RH@africamuseum.be with reference TREE4FLUX before September 1, 2022.

Only applications that match the profile and that are sent within the foreseen term will be accepted and answered. Interviews will take place on September 16.

For more information about:

• the function: Wannes Hubau, wannes.hubau@africamuseum.be
• the working conditions: An Spegelaere, 02 769 52 90, An.spegelaere@africamuseum.be
• the RMCA: http://www.africamuseum.be

PhD position in the CANOPI project – Upscaling/Remote-Sensing work package

 PhD position in the CANOPI project – Upscaling/Remote-Sensing work package

Employer : Liege University
Location : Gembloux, Belgium

Given the rapid changes in climate, immense shifts in forest composition, functioning and carbon balance are expected in tropical forests in central Africa. However, no studies have confirmed this worrisome trend using ground-based data, keeping central Africa a particularly understudied region despite its overwhelming size. Whether tropical forests in central Africa will be sensitive to drier conditions –because they are already limited by water availability– or resistant –because they are adapted to seasonal drought– is the ambitious challenge CANOPI aims to tackle (https://www.canopi.uliege.be/).

Your position

The CANOPI project is transdisciplinary and divided in five complementary work packages, each supported by one doctoral work. This position is relative to the fifth work package, whose main objective is to map central African forest functional properties, and in particular to upscale our understanding of canopy functioning built in the other WPs.

The selected candidate will:

• Build a data library with relevant indicators to characterize tree ecophysiology of key canopy species from spectral properties;
• Collect and build a library of spectral and lidar images from Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) to characterize ecosystem canopy phenology;
• Develop innovative methodologies based on the fusion of active and passive remote sensing products to upscale UAVs based understanding of ecosystem phenology.

Job profile

• We are looking for a highly motivated candidate with a self-organized and solution-oriented work attitude.
• Applicants should hold a MSc degree in bio-engineering, geography, biology, environmental science, computational biology or related fields.
• The candidate should have strong affinities with innovative remote sensing technologies and recent development in big data (e.g., drones, cloud computing tools, …) but should also be willing to conduct fieldwork under harsh logistic and climatic conditions.
• The candidate should be able to independently conduct spatial and statistical analyses (in R or other programming language).
• The candidate should be able to speak properly in French for the field and to speak and write properly in English for interactions with colleagues and for scientific communication.

We offer you

A fully-funded PhD position for four years (as of 01/10/2022) in a dynamic research group including professors and other colleagues from Liège and Ghent Universities in Belgium, and from CENAREST in Gabon and from INERA in Democratic Republic of Congo. You will join a supportive, collaborative and cooperative working environment.

You will have the opportunity to be integrated in established (inter)national research networks. Salary and social benefits are provided according to the rules of Liege University.

How to apply

Prepare a 1-page CV and a 1-page motivation letter and send this to jfbastin@uliege.be

PhD on Merging immunology with synthetic biology to improve animal health

 The Center for Synthetic Biology (Prof. M. De Mey) and the Laboratory of Immunology (Prof. B. Devriendt) welcome candidates for two PhD positions in the context of the interdisciplinary project ImmunoKeys: Merging immunology with synthetic biology to improve animal health: strain engineering for the production of structurally defined carbohydrates with immunomodulating properties.

The continued spread of anti-microbial resistant bacterial pathogens together with a lag in the development of suitable antibiotic alternatives set the alarm bells ringing in public and animal health. The ImmunoKeys project brings together experts in synthetic biology and animal immunology to engineer microbial cell factories capable of producing structurally well-defined chitooligosaccharides with optimal immunostimulating properties via an integrated Design-Build-Test-Learn (DBTL) cycle. The obtained knowledge will lay the foundation for the development of these glycans as innovative alternatives for antibiotics in animal health.

The intended start date of the positions is 1 October 2022.

Funding is available for both positions. A full-time, fixed-term appointment for initially 1 year, renewable after positive evaluation up to 4 years, will be offered.

About the teams:
The Centre for Synthetic Biology (CSB, www.csb.ugent.be) is part of the Faculty of Bioscience Engineering at Ghent University, a top 100 university in most rankings. CSB has a long tradition in the application of synthetic biology for industrial biotechnology, particularly directed towards the biocatalytic synthesis of chemicals through either microbial fermentation or the use of isolated enzymes. The area of expertise includes the screening for novel biocatalysts (enzymes and micro-organisms), the optimisation of fermentation strains through metabolic engineering, the engineering of enzymes through rational design and directed evolution, as well as process development, up-scaling, and downstream processing. Prof. De Mey leads a group of 8 PhD students and 4 postdocs and has a strong track-record in translating her basic research into real-life applications, including patents and spin-offs.

The laboratory of Immunology is part of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at Ghent University, a top 100 university in most rankings. The lab is at the leading edge of research in animal mucosal immunology and host-pathogen interactions with a focus on the development of oral vaccination strategies and novel immune stimulating glycans. We have expertise in evaluating pathogen- and vaccine-induced immune responses, design and production of recombinant antibodies for the targeted delivery of biologics to the gut tissues and advanced 3D models of the gut epithelium. Prof. B Devriendt leads a team of 7 PhD students and 1 postdoc.

Job profile

Background and experience

• A Master’s degree in Bioscience Engineering, Biomedical Sciences, Veterinary Medicine, Biotechnology or equivalent, completed before the start date of the position, with excellent grades.
• Experience in the field of immunology, animal health and/or synthetic biology for microbial biotechnology will be greatly appreciated.

Scientific knowledge and skills

• Knowledge of immunology or microbial biotechnology.
• Hands on experience in asceptic cultivation of animal cell lines or microbes.
• Hands on experience in immune cell isolation or microbial synthetic biology is a strong added value.
• Ability to rigorously design experiments and to perform experiments under well-controlled conditions.
• Ability to work with analytics, such as chromatography, as well as experience with microbial or cell line analyses.
• Ability to rigorously design and perform experiments in a result-oriented and thorough manner.
• Ability to perform in-depth and critical data analysis.
• Ability to communicate through high-quality scientific channels, e.g. WoS publications (A1).

Personal knowledge and skills

• A strong interest in inter/multi-disciplinary applied science.
• Excellent interpersonal skills to work effectively with team members from different backgrounds and in different research areas.
• Excellent skills for time management and the ability to meet objectives within strictly set deadlines.
• Good oral and written communication skills in English are strictly required (C1 level).
• Knowledge of Dutch is an asset but not a must
• Demonstrated ability to work efficiently.
• Outcome focused, hands-on mentality.
• Willingness to travel internationally for project meetings and conferences.
• Willingness to apply for scholarships to obtain additional funding.

How to apply

Applications should be sent via email to Prof. Bert Devriendt (b.devriendt@ugent.be) and Prof. Marjan De Mey (marjan.demey@ugent.be) before the 2nd of September, 23:59h (Central European Time), with “vacancy ImmunoKeys” in the email subject and providing the following documents:

• Professional resume (CV), named as: “CV_Family name”, including an overview of your educational professional qualification and achievements as well as the names and contact details (address, telephone, e-mail) of two referees.
• Motivation letter (one page), named as: “MotivationLetter_Family name”
• A statement on how you meet each of the selection criteria, named as: “SelectionCriteria_Family name”

We advise to submit your application as soon as possible, as a decision may be taken before the deadline. After an initial screening and selection based on CV and motivation letter, interviews will take place.

For additional information about this vacancy, please contact Prof. B. Devriendt or Prof. M. De Mey.

PhD on IMAGIng-assisted human BRAIn organoid engineering for studying and treating NeuroDevelopmental Disorders

 In the interdisciplinary project entitled ‘IMAGIBRAINDD: IMAGIng-assisted human BRAIn organoid engineering for studying and treating NeuroDevelopmental Disorders (NDDs)’, Prof. Vergult and Prof. Dmitriev will put their expertise together to set up brain organoid research at Ghent University.

In this project, we propose an innovative pipeline to study NDDs using human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived brain organoids with dedicated high-resolution multi-parameter live microscopy imaging and (single cell) multi-omics technologies. Using genetic manipulation of iPSCs, we will produce 3D brain ‘organoids’ with aberrations in NDD genes, providing us with important information on disease development at early stages. These organoids will be subjected to state-of-the-art analysis with chemical and nanosensors measuring live tissue oxygenation, cell metabolism, proliferation and Ca2+ dynamics in a non-destructive way, compatible with downstream multi-omcis, electrode-based and other analyses. Our project will help to unravel the etiology of specific NDD syndromes and will lead to a better understanding of human brain development.

The PhD student will be engaged in setting up brain organoids for specific NDDs, generating and integrating (single cell) omics data of these models as well as establishing fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) approaches to perform non-destructive monitoring of neuronal function within live organoids.

We are looking for a talented and strongly motivated PhD student to join our enthusiastic and young interdisciplinary teams of Prof. Vergult and Prof. Dmitriev. We provide an open and stimulating working environment, in which teamwork, initiative, a critical mindset and originality are highly appreciated.

We offer a four year position, but will also request to participate in obtaining external funding (e.g. by the Research Foundation Flanders (FWO)).

For more information about both research groups:
https://www.ugent.be/ge/biomolecular-medicine/en/research/research-labs/functional-genomics-lab
https://www.ugent.be/ge/hsr/en/research/tissue-engineering-and-biomaterials/overview.htm

Job profile

- You obtained a Master of Science in Biochemistry, Biotechnology, Biomedical Sciences, Bioscience Engineering, Bioinformatics or equivalent awarded by the competent institutions in one of the countries of the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland not more than two years ago.

(The certificate may have been awarded outside the EEA and Switzerland, but you need to be eligible for external funding by the FWO: https://www.fwo.be/en/fellowships-funding/phd-fellowships/phd-fellowship-fundamental-research/)
- You have a strong interest in (3D) cell culture, microscopy, biosensors, genetics and molecular biology. Prior experience with (iPSC) tissue culture, organoids and/or microscopy is considered an advantage.
- You have (basic) bio-informatics skills or are willing to learn. Prior experience with next generation sequencing and data-analysis is considered an advantage.
- You are an accurate and precise worker and possess strong analytical problem-solving skills (creative, critical, thinking out-of-the-box).
- You can work independently, yet you are also a team player.
- Candidates must have excellent written and oral communication skills in English.
- You are expected to get involved in supervision of master students, organising conferences and minor teaching activities

How to apply

Applications including a CV, motivation letter (max. 1 page), grades, ranking and the email addresses of two potential referees should be sent electronically to Prof. Sarah Vergult (sarah.vergult@ugent.be) and Prof. Ruslan Dmitriev (ruslan.dmitriev@ugent.be) by September 10, the latest.
Top-ranked candidates will be invited for an interview (either on-site or via Teams). Starting date will be determined in agreement with the candidate.

Location:
Medical Research Building (MRB1), Entrance 34
Center for Medical Genetics Ghent (CMGG)
&
Tissue Engineering and Biomaterials Lab
Building B3, Entrance 46, 4th floor

Ghent University Hospital
Corneel Heymanslaan 10
B-9000 Ghent, Belgium

PhD position on Cloud-native 6G network management

 We offer a very challenging full-time position in an inspiring, flexible, and very dynamic environment. You will join a young and enthusiastic team of developers, researchers, post-docs, and professors. You will receive a competitive salary.

Research area
Novel ultra-high throughput and ultra-low latency applications in various application domains such as extended reality (XR), the Internet of Everything, autonomous vehicles and cybersecurity, require fundamental changes to networking architectures and integration with computational resources in the cloud-edge continuum.
To support such services, the 6G ecosystem must envision an end-to-end, cloud-native architecture that provides unified and distributed orchestration and management strategies, while taking interoperability, security and privacy aspects into account. The decentralized AI-based framework that enforces these policies should consist of independent, cooperating entities able to adapt adequately to both local and global context changes.
In this project, the candidate will work on solutions for resource management over 6G networks, on topics that include (but are not limited to) the following:

• End-to-end resource orchestration in support of Quality-of-Experience optimization;
• Machine learning mechanisms for increased automation and reliability;
• Efficient and dynamic placement of network functions and service function chains;
• Integration of novel networking paradigms for routing, intent-based communication and Quality-of-Service enforcement;
• Distributed and federated solutions for cross-domain and cross-provider management of storage, computing and network resources;
• Proof-of-concept system realization for container-based applications in a European-scale testbed.

Responsibilities
• Conducting research in the context of national and European research projects
• Implementing novel AI techniques for resource orchestration in next-generation networks
• Planning and conducting well-designed simulation and emulation experiments on our Virtual Wall infrastructure and on imec’s technical lab
• Performing statistical analysis and interpretation of results
• Presenting results and findings at international conferences and in scientific journals

Research group and timing
The candidate will be supervised by Prof. Filip De Turck and work at IDLab, a core research group at the Department of Information Technology, Ghent University. Our group performs fundamental and applied research on data science and Internet technology, and is, with close to 500 researchers, one of the larger research groups at imec. Imec, in its turn, is the world-leading research and innovation hub in nanoelectronics and digital technologies. By leveraging a world-class research infrastructure and local and global ecosystem of partners across a multitude of industries, innovation is created in application domains such as healthcare, smart cities, logistics, manufacturing, and energy.
The candidate will reside in the iGent building, Technologiepark-Zwijnaarde 126, 9052 Ghent.

Tentative starting period: late 2022. The position is valid for one year and can be extended to a maximum of four years. Visit this page for more information about PhD studies at Ghent University.

Job profile

Profile of the candidate
• Master’s degree in computer science, informatics, or electrical engineering
• A keen interest in network and service management solutions
• Strong analytical skills; well-organized and able to autonomously plan and execute tasks
• Highly proficient in a variety of programming languages (e.g., Java, Python, C/C++)
• Excellent communication skills in English – both orally and written
• Highly motivated to conduct scientific research

How to apply

How to apply
• Application submitted electronically in a single PDF file, by e-mail to Prof. Filip De Turck and Dr. Tim Wauters (filip.deturck@ugent.be and tim.wauters@ugent.be)
• Include your CV and a motivation letter, and if possible, an overview of study results
• Submit your application as soon as possible, as a decision may be taken before the deadline
• Selected candidates will be contacted for a remote interview and a programming test
• For more information, please contact Dr. Tim Wauters (tim.wauters@ugent.be)

PhD on Soft and Flexible Technology for Responsive Epileptic Seizure Treatment

 Project background: Soft and Flexible Technology for Responsive Epileptic Seizure Treatment

The offered PhD position is embedded in the BOF-GOA project SOFTRESET (Soft and Flexible Technology for Responsive Epileptic Seizure Treatment), funded by Ghent University with 1.6 million Euros. This project aims to develop technology for targeted therapy of focal epilepsy based on the therapeutic effects of deep brain stimulation using innovative soft probes for both the recording of the epileptic brain region and its optical stimulation.
You will be part of a multidisciplinary team of 5 PhD students with interconnecting projects, under the guidance of top researchers from several teams at Ghent University at the faculties of Medicine and Health Sciences, Engineering and Architecture, and Sciences: 4Brain, imec-CMST, imec-Waves, PBM-UGent, and Neural Waves.

PhD Research: Development of implantable soft electrical interfaces for neural interrogation.
You will be in charge of the development of soft electrical neural interfaces consisting of passive electrodes and active bioelectronics, based on internal ion gated organic electrochemical transistors (IGTs) including the read-out circuit. In addition, you will work, with other PhD students, towards the integration of electrical interfaces and optical waveguides into a combined electrical-optical soft probe and the fabrication of a fully implantable system for Responsive Epileptic Seizure Treatment.
- Development of soft and conformable electrical neural interfaces.
- Integration of electrical interfaces and optical waveguides into a combined electro-optical soft probe.
- Multidisciplinary research.
- Material selection
- Design, fabrication, and testing
- Micro-processing in a cleanroom environment
- Implantation experiments under the guidance of a post-doc

Job profile

Applicants should hold an academic university degree (Masters or equivalent) in Materials Science and Engineering, Physics, Chemistry or other Engineering fields such
as Electrical, or Biomedical Engineering.
Excellent written and oral English skills are required.
Coding skills (Matlab), cleanroom experience, and experience with writing scientific papers are a plus.

How to apply

Applications should include a CV, motivation letter, copies of higher-education degrees, grade transcripts, and the name and contact details of two persons who are willing to give a reference. All documents should be sent electronically (in pdf) to: georgios.spyropoulos@ugent.be. Please mention “PhD_SOFTRESET” in the subject line. Inquiries about the position can be directed to Prof. Spyropoulos (georgios.spyropoulos@ugent.be).

PhD position on Artificial Intelligence for modulating human time perception

 We are heading towards a hybrid society, where AI-enabled agents cooperate with humans in a variety of tasks. Human decision making is however notably prone to cognitive biases. In applications supporting the human, the integrated AI should account for these biases when making suggestions or taking actions. Within the context of a prestigious European FET-OPEN collaborative project (ChronoPilot), the Phd study recruited for this position will design a computational model that generates multi-modal (audio, video, haptic) stimuli via XR technology to resolve the differences in individual time perception during group tasks.

The perception of time is a critical component of a large range of human activities. In particular, when individuals have to make decisions and consider the outcomes associated with their choices. Nevertheless, humans perceive durations mostly subjectively. Sometimes time flies, whereas at other moments, time feels expanded, depending on the individual’s environment, the task at hand, the allocation of the individual’s attention, etc. This subjective judgment of durations influences the optimality of human decisions, well-being, performance, etc. While the focus of this position is on the computational modelling using AI techniques, the researcher will closely collaborate with researchers from other disciplines.

Psychological experiments have shown that humans estimate time duration differently when they are presented with particular stimuli, like flickering dots or beeps. It is thus possible to modulate the duration of a perceived interval by presenting well-chosen stimuli. However, these experiments were conducted in well-controlled laboratory environments with very elementary stimuli. In this project, we aim to develop a set of computation models that can predict and modulate human time perception in a large set of experiments and in more realistic—thus less-controlled— environments. Among many other techniques, we will explore techniques such as Bayesian models and predictive coding to design our adaptive computational models.
The goal of the current PhD position is to model, build and test the AI component that extracts features from the scene observed by the human as well as physiological signals (e.g. to derive stress), and that outputs an estimation of the subjective time as well as possible stimuli to modulate the subjective time experience in the desired direction. The computational model will be designed and tested in tight collaboration with another PhD researcher in our group.
The hired candidate will work on this topic in the context of the FET ChronoPilot project; in collaboration with project partners from Greece, Luxemburg, Germany and Belgium. The hired candidate is responsible for the design of the computational models, and for the integration in a working prototype. The candidate will collaborate with students with a background in psychology to evaluate the models in experiments with volunteers, and with students with a background in VR/AR to design the environments.

Job profile

This PhD position is fully funded for 4 years.

Main tasks:

• Design, development, and implementation of AI techniques for modelling subjective time experience in multi-person settings. These models take as input environmental stimuli, task-related stimuli as well as physiological state measured via sensors, and output a subjective time.
• Validation of these models through user experiments, and interpretation of the results in tight collaboration with psychologists.
• Integration of these models into a working prototype using VR/AR glasses and robots, in cooperation with other technical partners. You also assist in the evaluation of the prototype, in cooperation with partners who have expertise in psychology.
• Independent work on a diverse set of tools and methods (mainly machine learning, VR/AR and real-life demonstrators)
• Collaboration on publications and presentations at international conferences
• Supervision of master theses related to the subject of this PhD
  
  

Requirements

• You have a master degree in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence or equivalent. To be admissible to the PhD-program, your degree must be equivalent to 5 years of studies (bachelor + master) in the European Union. Last year students are also welcome to apply.
• You have a solid academic track record (graduation cum laude or grades in the top 10%).
• You have a strong interest in one or more of the following domains: cognitive modelling, computational neuroscience or (advanced) machine learning (e.g. deep learning, Bayesian, probabilistic graphical models, etc.).
• Besides computational modeling, you are willing to engage in hands-on implementation and prototyping. Proven hands-on experience in one of the domains, e.g. via your master thesis topic or projects, is a necessity.
• You are interested in working with other researchers in a multidisciplinary and European setting, in particular with psychologists to set-up user experiments. When needed, you should be willing to spend short research stays in other European countries.
• You speak and write English fluently (C1 CEFR level).
• You have good communication skills.
  
  

The recruited candidate can start immediately.

How to apply

Please send your CV, an overview of your grades and a motivation letter to pieter.simoens@ugent.be. There is no deadline: applications will be reviewed immediately.

PhD in Department of Biomedical Molecular Biology

 The research team of Prof. van Loo and Prof. Esther. Hoste has a vacancy for a highly motivated PhD student to investigate the role of different cell death modalities in keratinocytes and their implications for injury repair and skin tumour formation.

The successful candidate will be responsible for the study of the impact of cell death on different stem cell niches in the skin, using mouse models of skin inflammation, wound healing and tumour formation in combination with cell-based assays on cells of human and mouse origin. Stem cells are fundamental mediators of tissue biology. In this project, we will make use of advanced confocal microscopy, flow cytometry, mouse transgenesis, CRISPR-Cas9 genome-wide screening approaches and spatial transcriptomics to understand how cell death affects the behaviour of neighbouring stem cells in the skin.

Job profile

• Master in Sciences: Biotechnology, Bioscience Engineering, Biochemistry, Biomedicine, Biology or a related discipline
• Prior hands-on experience with basic molecular biology techniques
• Highly motivated team player, able to work independently
• Desirable but not required:
• FELASA certificate level B or higher
  
  

We offer:

• A 4-year PhD position
• A multidisciplinary and highly stimulating and supporting international research environment
• Access to state-of-the-art technologies and infrastructure
• A multitude of training opportunities organized at Ghent University and VIB to broaden your expertise and skill-set.

How to apply

Motivated candidates are requested to apply online. The application should consist of:

• Your CV
• Your motivation letter expressing your interest and suitability for the position
• A transcript of your master degree
  
  

A shortlist of applicants will be selected and invited for interviews.

For more information: please contact Esther.Hoste@irc.vib-ugent.be

PhD in Artificial Intelligence for energy applications

 Vacancy: PhD in Artificial Intelligence for energy applications

The “AI for Energy” team (AI4E), led by prof. Chris Develder and prof. Bert Claessens at the Internet and Data Lab (IDLab) at Ghent University - imec is looking for a qualified and motivated candidate to pursue a Ph.D. in data analytics and machine learning for smart grid applications.
Job offer:

• PhD position to work on fundamental and applied research projects (4 years)
• Focus on data science (analytics, modeling, machine learning) for energy / smart grid related applications, as well as scalable/distributed algorithms to coordinate energy consumption and production (demand response, DR)
• Challenging, creative and constructive environment
• Unique opportunity to participate in European/national research projects and to cooperate with important ICT-oriented companies
• Competitive salary

Function:
Our research group currently is involved in research projects in the energy domain, including mostly smart grid applications. The focus of our AI4E team in these projects is on data analytics, as well as coordination algorithms for, e.g., demand response. A major objective of the applications we want to support is to accommodate large penetration of renewable sources (wind mills, solar panels, etc.) without requiring excessive investments in the power grid infrastructure. This involves characterizing and eventually predicting both power generation (from renewables) and consumption behavior (and its flexibility, e.g., what portion thereof can be shifted in time), using data analytics techniques, constructing generative models, applying machine learning, etc. The next step is to actively control power consumption, e.g., by developing algorithms for energy management systems (to steer power consumption and/or decide what to use local production for, e.g., push into the grid or local storage).

Your role in these projects will be to devise and evaluate cutting edge algorithms, implement them, evaluate them in case studies and report on the results in a well-structured manner. Additionally, depending on the project, this may also involve the design/implementation of software prototypes for simulation and proof-of-concept demonstrations (in lab settings, but also in live field trials). You will perform this work in the context of research projects that will give you the opportunity to interact and collaborate with researchers and engineers from other universities, research institutes and companies, e.g., in the context of European Union funded programmes. As you will be dealing with several aspects of designing and evaluating systems (mathematical models, machine learning, optimization techniques, software development, simulation, etc.), the function is an excellent opportunity to demonstrate and further improve several of your mathematical and engineering skills.

Job profile

Your profile:

• Holder of a M.Sc. degree relevant to the position (i.e., with a focus on computer science) with first class performance as demonstrated through outstanding grades, M.Sc. thesis results and/or publications.
• You have strong analytical skills, you are well organized, you are an excellent communicator, a team player.
• You have a strong sense of responsibility and are also able to autonomously plan and perform research tasks. You respect the predetermined milestones in research projects.
• Your English is fluent, both in speaking and writing.
• Both young graduates and candidates with (industrial) experience are welcome
• Knowledge of data analysis, machine learning, optimization techniques (e.g., ILP, heuristics), basic distributed software concepts.
• A proven experience in software development (e.g., student projects or master thesis with an important software development component), knowledge of Python, Java and/or C/C++. Experience with R is a plus.

How to apply

Interested?
Send your CV and motivation letter, including contact details for up to 3 references that we may contact, to chris.develder@ugent.be, indicating “Application: PhD in AI for Energy” in the subject.

PhD Position in reconstructing past polar marine environments (m/f/d)

 The Marine Geology Department is seeking to employ a PhD student in the field of paleo environmental reconstructions.

Background
Sea ice is not only highly responsive to, but also a considerable driver of climate change. For an improved understanding and assessment of how the currently observed loss of Arctic sea ice already affects and will further amplify changes in oceanic and atmospheric circulation patterns (and thus global heat transport), knowledge about past fluctuations in Arctic sea ice cover is essential. In particular, past time intervals of warmer-than-present climate conditions may serve as crucial analogues to identify feedback mechanisms and boundary conditions in the ice-ocean-atmosphere system to refine projections of future climate change.
Organic geochemical analyses of marine sediment cores collected in the high-latitude polar oceans provide key information on past environmental changes in these climate-sensitive areas over glacial-interglacial time scales. This PhD project - a close cooperation between the Alfred Wegener Institute and the MARUM Excellence Cluster - focusses on the identification of sea ice fluctuations and associated shifts in primary productivity in the Baffin Bay during past glacial-interglacial cycles. Comparisons with other (sub)Arctic and also Antarctic sea ice records further serve to evaluate potential intra- and interhemispheric spatio-temporal (dis)similarities.

Tasks

• conduct organic geochemical bulk sediment and biomarker analyses
• interpret and evaluate coupled gas chromatography-mass spectrometry data
• investigate the often complex relationships between changes in sea ice cover, ice-sheet dynamics and oceanic and atmospheric interactions during past intervals of climate change
• presentation and discussion of scientific data (workshops, conferences, scientific articles)

Requirements

• MSc degree or equivalent in (Marine) Geology, (Organic) Geochemistry or related discipline
• experience in wet chemical laboratory work (ideally also in the field of organic geochemical lipid analysis)
• very good knowledge of written and spoken English
• good knowledge of standard computer software (MS Office products); desirable also graphics programmes (Illustrator, CorelDraw, Grapher or similar)
• ability to work in a team and interest in (inter)national and interdisciplinary cooperation

Further Information

Please contact Dr. Juliane Müller (Juliane.Mueller@awi.de; +49(471)4831-1238) for further information.

This position is limited to 3 years. The salary will be paid in accordance with the Collective Agreement for the Public Service of the Federation (Tarifvertrag des öffentlichen Dienstes, TVöD Bund), up to salary level 13 (66%). The place of employment will be Bremerhaven.

All doctoral candidates will be members of AWI's postgraduate program POLMAR or another graduate school and thus benefit from a comprehensive training program and extensive support measures.

The AWI is characterised by

• our scientific success - excellent research
• collaboration and cooperation - intra-institute, national and international, interdisciplinary
• opportunities to develop – on the job, aiming at other positions and beyond AWI
• a culture of reconciling work and family – an audited and well-supported aspect of our operation
  
• our outstanding research infrastructure – ships, stations, aircraft, laboratories and more
• an international environment – everyday contacts with people from all over the world
• having an influence – fundamental research with social and political relevance
• flat hierarchies – facilitating freedom and responsibility
• exciting science topics, with opportunities also in technology, administration and infrastructure

Equal opportunities are an integral part of our personnel policy. The AWI aims to increase the number of female employees and therefore strongly encourages qualified women to apply.

Disabled applicants will be given preference when equal qualifications are present.

The AWI fosters the compatibility of work and family in various ways and has received a number of awards as a result of this engagement.

We look forward to your application!

Please submit your application by September7^th 2022, exclusively online.
Reference number 22/120/D/Geo-b.

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Scientific-Administrative EU Project Manager (m/f/d)

 The Department Research Support supports the scientists at AWI regarding all aspects of financial, legal and administrative issues for proposal preparation and project implementation for third-party-funded research projects. Within an EU Collaborative Project coordinated by AWI, we invite applicants for a position as

Scientific-Administrative EU Project Manager

Tasks

• Scientific-administrative management of EU-funded projects
• Support of Project Coordinators and the project consortium for scientific and financial reporting
• Organisation and implementation of project meetings, workshops, information events
• Coordination of collaborative EU proposals (consortium building, coordination of proposal preparation)
• Support of funding advice and information
• You are working together with international colleagues in respective workshops and networks

Requirements

• Scientific Master/Diploma or equivalent
• Proven experience in management of larger research projects (collaborative projects and/or larger EU projects)
• Very good knowledge of the usual software (MS Office, SAP, European Commission Funding and Tenders Portal)
• Willingness to participate in business trips abroad (Europe)
• Excellent level of written and spoken German and English
• Experience in scientific and administrative management
• Strong skills in budget calculation and controlling
• Teamwork capability, accuracy and assertiveness
• Highly service oriented working style
• Intercultural awareness

Further Information

Please contact Dr. Lars Henning (Lars.Henning@awi.de; +49(471)4831-1812) for further information.

This is a full-time position, limited to 50 moths, and advertised subject to approval of funding. It is also suitable for part-time employment. The expected starting date is 01.01.2023. The salary will be paid in accordance with the Collective Agreement for the Public Service of the Federation (Tarifvertrag des öffentlichen Dienstes, TVöD Bund), up to salary level 13. The place of employment will be Bremerhaven. 

The AWI is characterised by

• our scientific success - excellent research
• collaboration and cooperation - intra-institute, national and international, interdisciplinary
• opportunities to develop – on the job, aiming at other positions and beyond AWI
• a culture of reconciling work and family – an audited and well-supported aspect of our operation
  
• our outstanding research infrastructure – ships, stations, aircraft, laboratories and more
• an international environment – everyday contacts with people from all over the world
• having an influence – fundamental research with social and political relevance
• flat hierarchies – facilitating freedom and responsibility
• exciting science topics, with opportunities also in technology, administration and infrastructure

Equal opportunities are an integral part of our personnel policy. The AWI aims to increase the number of female employees and therefore strongly encourages qualified women to apply.

Disabled applicants will be given preference when equal qualifications are present.

The AWI fosters the compatibility of work and family in various ways and has received a number of awards as a result of this engagement.

We look forward to your application!

Please submit your application by August 31^st 2022, exclusively online.
Reference number 22/119/D/FF-b.

APPLY NOW!