PhD position on MEMS fabrication

Vacancies for Academic Staff

​On this page you will find vacancies for Academic Staff. Only vacancies in English are shown. For a complete list of all vacancies currently open at the university, please consult the vacancy pages in Dutch.

Didn't find what you were looking for? Save your search and create a job alert on the online application module to be automatically notified of interesting future job openings.More information can be found here.


Department: Department of Physics
Regime Full-time

Let’s shape the future - University of Antwerp

The University of Antwerp is a dynamic, forward-thinking, European university. We offer an innovative academic education to more than 20000 students, conduct pioneering scientific research and play an important service-providing role in society. We are one of the largest, most international and most innovative employers in the region. With more than 6000 employees from 100 different countries, we are helping to build tomorrow's world every day. Through top scientific research, we push back boundaries and set a course for the future – a future that you can help to shape. 

The EMAT research group at the Faculty of Science (University of Antwerp) is seeking to fill a PhD position on the development of nanofabricated sample supports and tracking algorithms for 5D electron diffraction (5DED).

EMAT is one of the leading electron microscopy centers in the world and has a vast expertise in both fundamental and applied electron microscopy. EMAT has several state of the art electron microscopes including three aberration corrected, high end FEI-Titan instruments, a dual beam FIB, an environmental SEM,... EMAT is also a pioneer in in situ 3D ED studies, as will be important in this project. More about us at our webpage.

Position

You will design and fabricate lithographically etched sample supports and MEMS devices that incorporate strategic markings, to improve the spatial resolution of 5D ED experiments (which involve both 4D-STEM and 3D ED).  You will code the necessary tracking software for your developed supports and MEMS devices.  You will also design and build versions of the MEMS devices for use in in situ TEM experiments involving gas and liquid environments. Together with other team members, you will integrate your tracking code into a code that maps the three-dimensional distribution of the phases and their structural parameters.  You will also help other researchers to integrate your code into their workflows. 

You will benchmark the supports, MEMS devices and developed codes on known multiphased reference samples.

The TEM will be done at EMAT (University of Antwerp) under guidance of Prof. Dr. Joke Hadermann, the support and MEMS fabrication will be done at CNRS Caen under guidance of Prof. Dr. Mathieu Denoual.

The preferred starting date is 1 December.

General

  • You will prepare a doctoral thesis in the field of Sciences or the field of Physics.
  • You present updates of your work to the project consortium in regular manner, both orally and in written form, in clear and correct English.
  • You publish scientific articles related to the research project of the assignment.
  • You present your work at national and international workshops, conferences and consortium meetings.

Profile

  • You hold (or will hold by 1 December) a Master’s degree in Engineering, Physics, Materials Science or another field that gives you the right background skills to successfully complete the tasks.
  • You are enthusiastic about the hands-on fabrication of TEM supports and MEMS devices.
  • You have good Python programming skills.
  • Experience with cleanroom processes (lithography, etching) or MEMS is a plus.
  • You are motivated to work in a multidisciplinary team across fabrication, coding and transmission electron microscopy.
  • You act with attention to detail, integrity, and creativity.
  • You can demonstrate excellent study results.
  • Your research qualities are in line with the faculty and university research policies.

What we offer

  • A doctoral scholarship for a period of 1 year. Following a positive evaluation, the scholarship can be renewed for another 3 years (total 4 years).
  • Participation in an exciting European project at the forefront of transmission electron microscopy and materials science.
  • A stimulating research environment at Campus Groenenborger, equipped with state-of-the-art instrumentation and computing facilities (www.emat.uantwerpen.be).
  • Your monthly scholarship amount is calculated according to the scholarship amounts for doctoral scholarship holders on the pay scales for contract research staff (Dutch: Bijzonder Academisch Personeel, BAP).
  • Find out more about working at the University of Antwerp here.

Want to apply?

  • You can apply for this vacancy through the University of Antwerp’s online job application platform up to and including July 15th 2025 (by midnight Brussels time). Click on the 'Apply' button and complete the online application form.
  • Be sure to include the following attachments:
    • a motivation letter
    • your academic CV (including followed courses, honours, previous work, programming skills, experience with nanofabrication and programming, publications, internships,…)
    • contact info of 2 professional references
    • a weblink to a short video introducing yourself
  • The selection committee reviews all applications as soon as possible after the application deadline. As soon as a decision has been made, we will inform you about the next steps in the selection procedure.
  • If you have any questions about the online application form, please check the frequently asked questions or send an email to jobs@uantwerpen.be. Questions about the scientific content of the position can be asked to Prof. Joke Hadermann, joke.hadermann@uantwerpen.be.

The University of Antwerp received the European Commission’s HR Excellence in Research Award for its HR policy. We are a sustainable, family-friendly organisation which invests in its employees’ growth. We encourage diversity and attach great importance to an inclusive working environment and equal opportunities, regardless of gender identity, disability, race, ethnicity, religion or belief, sexual orientation or age. We encourage people from diverse backgrounds and with diverse characteristics to apply.

Apply