Vacancies for Academic Staff
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Department: Department of Electronics and Information and Communication Technologies
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 Department of Electronics-ICT in the Faculty of Applied Engineering is looking for a full-time (100%) doctoral scholarship holder in the field of artificial intelligence.
The research of this PhD position will be conducted in the IDLab research group, which is embedded in imec and the University of Antwerp in Belgium. Imec was founded in 1984 and is today the world’s largest independent research and innovation centre for nanoelectronics and digital technology. Our worldwide team of 6,000 scientists, engineers, and innovators from over 100 countries, is driven by a shared passion to push boundaries. With expertise across nanoelectronics, AI, and digital technologies, our people are at the heart of every breakthrough.
Position
- You will work actively on the preparation and defence of a PhD thesis in the field of robust reinforcement learning (RL). This project explores how artificial intelligence can make industrial control systems safer and more efficient. It focuses on combining the reliability of classical control methods with the adaptability of RL. The goal is to develop RL controllers that can learn from data while guaranteeing stable and safe operation in complex, nonlinear systems such as chemical plants and energy processes. By validating the approach on realistic industrial benchmarks, the research aims to demonstrate how intelligent, data-driven control can improve performance, reduce energy use, and enhance the safety and sustainability of critical industrial operations.
- You will publish scientific articles related to the research project.
- You will carry out a limited number of teaching and research support tasks for IDLab.
Profile
- You hold a master’s degree in Electronics-ICT, Informatics, Computer Science or equivalent or you will have obtained it by the time you start work.
- You can demonstrate excellent study results.
- Your teaching competences are in line with the University of Antwerp’s educational vision.
- Your research qualities are in line with the faculty and university research policies.
- You act with attention to quality, integrity, creativity and cooperation.
- You hold excellent communication skills in English language
- You are a team worker and work collaboratively with other researchers
- Prior high impact conference or journal publications are a plus.
What we offer
- We offer a doctoral scholarship for a period of 1 year. Following a positive evaluation, the scholarship can be renewed for another year, up to a maximum duration of 4 years in total.
- The planned start date is February 1st 2026 or as soon as possible after that date.
- Your monthly scholarship amount is calculated according to the scholarship amounts for doctoral scholarship holders.
- You will receive ecocheques, Internet-connectivity allowance, teleworking allowance and a bicycle allowance or a full reimbursement of public transport costs for commuting.
- You will do most of your work at The Beacon and Campus Groenenborger in a dynamic and stimulating working environment.
- 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 November 17th 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
- a transcript of your MSc grades
- The selection committee reviews all applications as soon as possible after the application deadline. As soon as a decision is made, we will notify you. If you are still eligible after the pre-selection, you will be informed about the possible next step(s) in the selection procedure. Please note the following date in your calendar for the interviews: December 3rd and December 4th, 2025.
- If you have any questions about the online application form, please check the frequently asked questions or send an email to jobs@uantwerpen.be. If you have any questions about the job itself, please contact Siegfried Mercelis siegfried.mercelis@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.