Exploration of CAM and manufacturing strategies to unlock geometric potential of hybrid DED
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 Toegepaste mechanica, looking for a PhD-student with a doctoral grant.
More concretely your work package, for the preparation of a doctorate, contains:
The Mechanical Engineering department of the VUB is looking for a PhD candidate to participate in the research on the optimization of Laser based Directed Energy Deposition (DED) process of metallic components. The group's ambition is to make structural components of high quality in a hybrid manner. This consists of a combination of conventional parts, additive parts or/and machined parts, all of which are produced using an internally developed hybrid additive-subtractive research platform. The unique hybrid DED platform offers a plentitude of manufacturing strategies that can be applied. The required toolpath trajectories involved in the hybrid process is a key parameter that needs to be explored by available CAM solutions and developped tools by the candidate.
The goal of the currently presented PhD position aims to understand the impact of specific trajectories and manufacturing strategies, input process parameters on the achievable geometrical accuracy, mechanical properties for hybrid structures, optimizing also the buy-to-fly ratio for the additive/ subtractive manufacturing process compared to conventional manufacturing.
The successful candidate will have the opportunity to contribute to the group's R&D output in the following topics during their 36-month PhD programme. (could be extended to 48 months):
- Selection and implementation of CAM solutions and development of tools to enable implementation of different hybrid build strategies for wire fed and powder fed DED solutions. Residual stress measurements with available equipment (e.g. Digital Image Correlation (DIC), optical fibres, Incremental Centre Hole Drilling (ICHD), etc.).
- Performing an extensive set of (hybrid) additive manufacturing components.
- Data processing, including a coupling with available thermal melt-pool monitoring data and in situ acquired geometrical data.
- Propose, design and implement hardware modifications (e.g. pulsed laser sources) to the hybrid additive-subtractive research platform which targets a residual stress reduction and optimization of surface characteristics to improve structural strength of the interface between the conventional part and AM part.
- Develop test configurations and samples to understand overall implications of modified process conditions on part quality; porosity degree, mechanical strength, residual stress, etc.
- Optimization of process conditions based on the analysis and numerical simulation of the DED process with available tools within the research team.
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 are holder of a Masters degree in either Mechanical Engineering, automation engineering or Electronic Engineering
- You want to contribute to innovations in advanced production.
- You are a team-player and can work in an international environment using English as a scientific communication tool.
- Past experiences in the following topics are considered a bonus: additive manufacturing, machining, software development, (optical) measurement techniques, CAD, CAM, tool path planning, …
- The succesfull candidate:
- is motivated to become an expert in (hybrid) additive manufacturing, for parts with a high geometrical accuracy.
- posseses practical and programming skills to conduct experimental and software development work, implement monitoring solutions and perform hardware modifications to the research platform.
- has a strong analytical spirit.
- has basic CAD, CAM skills.
- has basic scripting skills in Matlab and/or Python as required for data collection, processing and presentation.
- 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.
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), with planned starting date 01/10/2025.
You’ll receive a grant linked to one of the scales set by the government.
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:
- Extensive homeworking options, a telework allowance of 50 euros per month OR an internet fee of 20 euros per month;
- 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;
- Cost-free hospitalisation insurance;
- Full reimbursement of your home-to-work commute with public transport according to VUB-policy, and/or compensation if you come by bike;
- A wide selection of meals in our campus restaurants at attractive prices;
- Excellent and affordable facilities for sport and exercise, a range of discounts via Benefits@Work (in all kinds of shops, on flights, in petrol stations, amusement parks...) and Ecocheques;
- 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 31/08/2025, via jobs.vub.be, and upload the following documents:
- your CV;
- your motivation letter;
- your diploma (not applicable for VUB alumni).
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 Dieter De Baere at dieter.de.baere@vub.be or on (+32)2 629 28 07.
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.
