Doctoral Fellowship - Multimodal portable units for biofilm monitoring and inhibition

1 - Working at the VUB

For more than 50 years, the Vrije Universiteit Brussel has stood for freedom, equality and solidarity, and this is very much alive on our campuses among students and staff alike. 

At the VUB, you will find a diverse collection of personalities: innovators pur sang, but above all people who are 100% their authentic selves. With some 4,000 employees, we are the largest Dutch-speaking employer, in the private sector, in Brussels; an international city with which we are only too happy to connect and where (around) our 4 campuses are located. 

Add to this our principle of free research - in which self-reflection, a critical attitude and an open, creative mind around scientific and social issues are central - and you have a university that is fundamentally groundbreaking and pioneering in education and research. In short: the VUB all over again. 

Moreover, the VUB is a member of EUTOPIA, an alliance of like-minded European universities, all ready to reinvent themselves.

2 - Position description

The Faculty of Engineering, Department Applied Physics and Photonics, Research Group Brussels Photonics Team, is looking for a PhD-student with a doctoral grant. 

The work will focus on the development of a portable fluorescence/Raman sensing unit to monitor microbial colonisation on stained glass with the integration of a light-based pretreatment (e.g. UV-C) to inhibit biofilm formation.

Stained-glass panels represent iconic elements of European cultural heritage, reflecting the technological craftsmanship of different regions and historical periods. Despite advances in stained-glass conservation, research gaps remain in material characterisation, in understanding and mitigating the environmental and human factors driving glass deterioration and in implementing sustainable conservation strategies. The presence of stained glass extends beyond cathedrals, shaping the decoration of parish churches and private buildings. Comprehensive documentation of Europe’s stained-glass heritage remains fragmented and incomplete, leaving many artworks unrecorded and at risk of disappearing without trace.

Existing conservation approaches lack methods to non-destructively monitor biofilm formation in situ and to effectively remove biofilms and alteration layers without compromising fragile surfaces. Moreover, traditional cleaning methods are often toxic and resource-intensive, highlighting the need for eco-friendly alternatives.

The goal of this PhD project is to develop a portable fluorescence/Raman sensing unit to monitor microbial colonisation on stained glass and to integrate a light-based pretreatment to inhibit biofilm formation. The research aims to detect biofilm activity even under strong optical interference and inhibit biofilm formation by a spectrally tailored light distribution, ideally integrated within a single protocol.

This position is offered in the framework of the ITN DN Marie Sklodowska-Curie Doctoral Network with the project acronym ‘Glass-Care’ (DC09) (https://glasscare.eu).

We are looking for a highly motivated PhD candidate in photonics to join our team under the supervision of Prof. Wendy Meulebroeck. You are motivated to conduct scientific research and complete a PhD within four years aligning with the goals of the Glass-Care network. You will participate in network-wide training events, summer schools and workshops. You will work closely with researchers at B-PHOT and with international partners during research visits abroad (secondments), present your results at international conferences and build an international network in optics and spectroscopy. You will publish your research results in international peer-reviewed scientific journals. The position also includes, to a limited extent, coordinating and supervising exercises, practical sessions and projects (WPO) for courses offered by the B-PHOT department. The specific assignment will be determined annually in consultation with you and your colleagues. You will also contribute to outreach activities promoting science to the broad audience.  You are open-minded, communicative and collegial towards your co-workers. You actively contribute to the department’s general operation and practical organisation. You will join a team that places a strong emphasis on collaboration, knowledge sharing and effective onboarding.

For this function, our Brussels Humanities, Sciences & Engineering Campus (Elsene) will serve as your home base. 

3 - Profile

What do we expect from you?

• You hold a master’s degree in engineering sciences (Photonics, Electronics and Information Technology) or (Applied) Physics, or a degree recognised as equivalent by the competent university authorities. The degree must be obtained before the official recruitment date;

• You have excellent communication skills, be fluent in written and spoken English and you are able to work both independently and collaboratively within an interdisciplinary team;
• Your initial experience with spectroscopic analysis and optical data processing is desirable, while hands-on experience with laboratory setups is a strong advantage. Knowledge about microbiology would be an asset;
• To comply with European Commission regulations, you must also meet the MSCA eligibility criteria at the time of recruitment. You may not have resided or carried out your main activity, such as work or studies, in Belgium for more than 12 months during the three years immediately preceding the recruitment date. In addition, you must not already hold a doctoral degree.

• You have not performed any works in the execution of a mandate as an assistant, paid from operating resources, over a total (cumulated) period of more than 12 months.

• As a (non-)EEA national, meet the conditions for obtaining a valid permit for VUB and comply with the VUB residence requirements. More info here.

The VUB wants to be a reflection of the society where everyone's talent is valued, regardless of gender, age, religion, skin color, migration background, disability and neurodiversity.

4 - Offer

Are you going to be our new colleague?

You’ll be offered a full-time PhD-scholarship, for 12 months (extendable up to max. 48 months, on condition of the positive evaluation of the PhD activities by the PhD guidance commission), with planned starting date 01/07/2027. 

For the first 36 months, the MSCA fellowship comprises a Living Allowance, a Mobility Allowance and, where applicable, a Family Allowance, in accordance with official MSCA guidelines. The finances of the fourth year of the fellowship will be covered by VUB research council with Flemish PhD salary scales applied.

The position also provides access to state-of-the-art research facilities and infrastructure, as well as an international, multidisciplinary environment offering excellent career development opportunities.

IMPORTANT: The effective result of the doctorate scholarship is subject to the condition precedent of your enrolment as a doctorate student at the university.

At the VUB, you’re guaranteed an open, involved and diverse workplace where you are offered opportunities to (further) build on your career.

As well as this, you will also enjoy various other benefits:

• An open and informal working environment where attention is paid to work-life balance, and exceptional holiday arrangements with 35 days of leave (based on a fulltime contract), closure between Christmas and New Year and 3 extra leave days;
• A wide selection of meals in our campus restaurants at attractive prices;
• Nursery near campus, discount on holiday camps; 
• The space to form your job content and to continuously learn through our VUB learning platforms and training courses;
• And finally: great colleagues with a healthy drive.

5 - Interested?

Is this the job you’ve been dreaming of?

Then apply, at the latest on 31/01/2027, via jobs.vub.be, and upload the following documents:

• Your motivation letter explaining your interest in the Glass-Care project as a whole in general and for this specific position in particular (400 words / 1 page);
• Your Curriculum Vitae (CV);
• Transcripts and diplomas for bachelor’s and master’s degrees;
• The completed ‘Glass_Care_Application_Questionnaire.pdf’ (downloadable from https://glasscare.eu);
• A project proposal aligned with the research objectives and expected results described on the Glass-Care website. The proposal should include an overall description of the research questions, theoretical perspectives, methodological design and project progress plan of the DC project you selected;
• Names and contact information of two relevant referees;
• If available, language certificates, scientific publications or other documentation of previous research work (e.g. a copy of your master thesis).

Our application process is as follows (subject to change):

• step 1: an initial selection based on your application file; 
• step 2: a job interview.

Do you have questions about the job content? Contact Wendy Meulebroeck at wendy.meulebroeck@vub.be or on +32 2 629 34 51.

Would you like to know what it’s like to work at the VUB? Go to jobs.vub.be, and find all there is to know about our campuses, benefits, strategic goals and your future colleagues.

Would you like more information about EUTOPIA? Go to eutopia-university.eu, and read more about the role of the VUB in the development of the EUTOPIA alliance.

Visit https://glasscare.eu to learn more about the Glass-Care project.