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PhD in Multifunctional Polymer Composites: Mechanics and Electromagnetic Design

Project 2179 · Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) · Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e)

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Country or region
Netherlands
Application deadline
The vacancy and application instructions give 22 November 2026 (23:59 Europe/Amsterdam); another record gives 23 November. Screening is rolling and may close early; plan for the earlier date and confirm the cutoff and availability.
Funding
Four-year full-time TU/e employment. P-scale base salary: €3,204–€4,051 gross/month, plus 8% holiday allowance and an 8.3% year-end bonus. Teaching is at least 10% over the appointment and at most 15% in any year. TU/e policy exempts employed PhD candidates from tuition; confirm this status in the final contract. ABP pension premium is split 70% university/30% employee.

The research opportunity

PhD in Multifunctional Polymer Composites: Mechanics and Electromagnetic Design

Project overview

Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) is recruiting two salaried PhD researchers through VALOR to develop lightweight polymer-composite panels that combine load-bearing and impact-resistant structures with electromagnetic-wave absorption. Both projects share material screening and larger-panel demonstrations, but each has a distinct thesis: PhD1 focuses on mechanics and manufacturing; PhD2 on electromagnetic characterisation and design.

The work is based in Mechanical Engineering's Processing and Performance of Materials section and involves industrial, government and defence partners. The stated applications include protecting electronics on naval vessels, unmanned aircraft and military vehicles. These are application contexts, not promises of a deployed product, certified panel or particular performance result.

Research and doctoral work

The research links processing, structure and measured properties, using architected polymer nanocomposites and predictive modelling. PhD1 will print nanocomposite lattices, manufacture composite facesheets, conduct mechanical tests and build and validate mechanical finite-element models. PhD2 will formulate and characterise polymer nanocomposites, design and test absorbing structures, and simulate electromagnetic shielding. The two researchers collaborate from material screening to larger-scale demonstrations without sharing every technical responsibility.

The group lists around 20 PhD researchers and postdoctoral researchers and access to computing, rheology, polymer processing, additive manufacturing and mechanical-testing resources. Availability, booked instrument time and technical support for these posts remain to be agreed. TU/e's usual doctoral trajectory is four years and leads to the Dr./PhD after dissertation and defence; PROOF provides research, academic, transferable, teaching and career training. Exact registration timing and training credits are not stated.

Employment and application

The appointment is full-time for four years, with an intermediate assessment after nine months. Teaching accounts for at least 10% of the full appointment and no more than 15% in any year. The 38-hour P-scale base salary is €3,204–€4,051 gross per month, plus 8% holiday allowance and an 8.3% year-end bonus. Annual leave is 29 days, or up to 41 days with a two-hour longer work week. The university pays 70% of the ABP pension premium and the employee 30%; this is a contribution split, not a 30% salary deduction. Other listed benefits include partial parental leave and commuting, home-working and internet allowances. The employed PhD route is tuition-free under TU/e policy; confirm that the final contract uses this status.

The official vacancy gives 22 November 2026, while another saved project record gives 23 November. Applications are screened as they arrive and the post may close when filled. Use the earlier date as the planning limit and verify the portal's closing time. The start date is not stated.

PhD1 requires an excellent master's degree in Mechanical Engineering or equivalent, specialising in mechanics of materials or solid mechanics. PhD2 requires an excellent master's degree in mechanical or electrical engineering, materials science or applied physics, with a materials specialisation. Experience in polymer characterisation, mechanical or electromagnetic modelling, vector-network or waveguide measurements, additive manufacturing and polymer processing is desirable for the relevant route. Both applicants should be interested in combining experiments and numerical work and in interdisciplinary, industrial and defence collaboration; C1 spoken and written English is required.

Apply through the online application form with a motivation and qualification letter, a CV including publications and three referees' contact details, and full bachelor's and master's transcripts. The form requires applicants to choose PhD1 or PhD2 and answer questions about polymer-laboratory and finite-element experience; a required answer does not imply that experience is mandatory. Contact Frederik Van Loock (f.v.loock@tue.nl) or HR Services (HRServices.me@tue.nl) to clarify the deadline, second preference, start date, supervision split, equipment access, partner-site access, publication/IP conditions and any individual immigration requirements.

Research and application brief

Report generated: . This date does not confirm that recruitment remains open.

Information updated: . Recheck the original notice before applying.

Show report contents

PhD in Multifunctional Polymer Composites: Mechanics and Electromagnetic Design

Project and research question

VALOR offers two salaried PhDs at Eindhoven University of Technology: mechanics/manufacturing and electromagnetic characterisation/design. The researchers collaborate from material screening to larger panel demonstrators, combining experiments and numerical work. The project explicitly involves industrial, government and defence partners. Its appeal is the connection between polymer processing, structure and measured properties; partner access, supervision and publication conditions need agreement. Official vacancy.

The research joins absorption-based electromagnetic shielding with impact-resistant sandwich structures. Lightweight load-bearing capability, impact response, total shielding and absorption are separate performance questions: success in one does not establish success in the others. The work seeks an integrated design framework using architected polymer nanocomposites and predictive modelling. Defence platforms are the stated application context, but no deployed product, panel qualification or publication count is promised.

Route Advertised work Entry focus and desirable experience
PhD1: mechanics and manufacturing Print nanocomposite lattices; fabricate composite facesheets; perform mechanical tests; build and validate mechanical finite-element models Excellent Mechanical Engineering MSc/equivalent specialising in mechanics of materials or solid mechanics. Polymer mechanical characterisation, mechanical FE simulation, printing and processing are desirable.
PhD2: electromagnetic testing and design Formulate and characterise polymer nanocomposites; design and test absorbing architected structures; simulate electromagnetic shielding Excellent MSc/equivalent in mechanical/electrical engineering, materials science or applied physics, with a materials specialisation. Electromagnetic characterisation, including vector-network/waveguide measurements, electromagnetic simulation such as full-wave FE, and polymer printing/processing are desirable.

Both require enthusiasm for experiments with numerical modelling, interdisciplinary and industrial/defence collaboration, critical thinking, communication and C1 spoken/written English. Previous expertise in every listed instrument is not required. Each thesis needs its own scope within the shared demonstrator; sample-level evidence should remain distinct from panel-level conclusions, with uncertainty and reproducibility addressed. These are evaluation considerations, not a newly prescribed protocol.

School, field and doctoral training

TU/e is the employer and intended awarding institution. The post belongs to Mechanical Engineering's Processing and Performance of Materials section, which studies processing–structure–property relationships in polymers and composites. The relevant group has about 20 doctoral/postdoctoral researchers. Rheology, polymer processing/additive manufacturing, mechanical-testing and computing resources are listed; their existence does not establish project-specific bookings or support hours. Department, section, mechanical testing, polymer processing.

The normal four-year trajectory leads through dissertation and defence to Dr./PhD. PROOF supports research, academic, transferable, teaching and career skills. General admission requires a recognised relevant MSc/equivalent and at least C1 English, with foreign qualifications assessed individually. Exact registration timing and project training credits are unstated. This is the vacancy-employed route; no joint or double degree with a partner is advertised. Doctoral training, admission routes.

QS lists TU/e at 152 overall for 2027, versus =140 for 2026. These are university-wide figures. The saved 2026 mechanical/aeronautical/manufacturing table did not establish TU/e's dynamic row, so no exact subject rank is used. The section's laboratories and relevant publications are the more direct field evidence. Institutional ranking, subject table.

Supervisors and existing research

Project leader Frederik Van Loock works on polymer deformation/failure through combined experiments and numerical analysis. Ruth Cardinaels studies multiphase microstructure, rheology and dielectric properties; her part-time TU/e full professorship and KU Leuven professorship do not imply a joint degree. Tom Engels is a part-time TU/e associate professor and Envalior principal scientist with polymer mechanics/processing expertise. His affiliation does not establish Envalior as a VALOR partner or a graduate employer. Agree day-to-day guidance and availability across these roles. Van Loock, Cardinaels, Engels.

Three related papers illustrate methods relevant to VALOR, while their evidence does not establish the performance of its proposed panels:

  • Van Loock et al., Composites Part A (2025), combines theory, characterisation and numerical validation for polymer multilayers, distinguishing absorption from total shielding. It supports methodological continuity, not impact qualification or success of the new panels. Record.
  • De Smedt et al., Advanced Functional Materials (2026), presents SMaRT Stacking through systematic modelling and manufactured multilayer validation. The paper appeared online in August 2025 and in the January 2026 issue. Its material system and prior funding do not automatically define VALOR's materials or sponsor. Record.
  • Sbrescia et al., Soft Matter (2023), with Engels, examines how loading conditions and molecular weight affect elastomer failure. Tensile and fracture responses are not interchangeable, and this different material class does not establish panel performance. Record.

Employment, fees and living costs

The advertised appointment is four years full-time, with an intermediate assessment after nine months. Teaching occupies at least 10% over the four-year employment and at most 15% in any year. The 38-hour P-scale base is €3,204–€4,051 gross/month, plus 8% holiday allowance and 8.3% year-end bonus. The advert gives 29 annual leave days, with an option for 41 by working two additional weekly hours, plus partial parental leave and commuting/home-working/internet benefits. ABP premiums are split 70% university/30% employee; this is not a 30% salary deduction. The cited collective agreement covers 1 July 2026–30 June 2027. Terms, agreement.

TU/e policy exempts vacancy-employed PhDs from tuition. External/scholarship fees and restrictions on CSC scholarship funding concern other routes, not a nationality ban on salaried Chinese applicants. Confirm the final employed status in the offer. Policy.

Design Academy Eindhoven's single-student reference totals €1,737/month: €635 rent/utilities, €453 food/clothing/personal services, €343 books/materials, €67 transport and €239 other expenses. It uses survey estimates and includes art-study materials; it is neither a live rental quotation nor an employed engineering PhD's budget. Gross salary minus this amount is not savings. Tax, pension, insurance, deposits, household size and relocation require individual estimates; accommodation is not guaranteed. Local student benchmark.

Application, preparation and career relevance

The official vacancy gives 22 November 2026, one day earlier than the other project header, with screening as applications arrive until filled. Use the earlier date and check continued acceptance. Separate application instructions specify 23:59 Europe/Amsterdam; the employer announcement itself gives only the date. Start date is unstated. The form requires a single PhD1/PhD2 choice and yes/no answers about polymer laboratory and FE experience; a mandatory answer does not mean only “yes” is acceptable. Ask whether a second preference can be stated. Form.

Apply online with a motivation/qualification letter, CV including publications and three referees' contact details, and complete bachelor's/master's grade records. Inform referees, who may be contacted at any recruitment stage. E-mail or post is not accepted. Academic enquiries: f.v.loock@tue.nl; HR: HRServices.me@tue.nl. A knowledge-security check may apply. No nationality exclusion is stated, but neither partner access nor an IND researcher permit is automatic; employer sponsorship and individual conditions remain relevant. Residence route.

A useful application shows one prior research problem, personal contribution, data quality, model assumptions and limits, aligned with the chosen route. A purely theoretical or remote-only preference does not match the laboratory/collaborative work. No complete defence-panel proposal needs inventing. Processing, characterisation, simulation and validation skills can transfer to materials R&D, advanced manufacturing or academia. Brainport's high-tech manufacturing ecosystem is context, not a placement rate, salary premium or guaranteed job; defence jobs may impose separate access conditions. Career context.

At interview, resolve the supervision split, separate theses, facilities/support and nine-month assessment goals. Before accepting, settle start date, salary progression/net pay, tuition status, immigration/relocation and real housing costs, alongside partner-site access, publication/IP restrictions and a completion plan if the joint demonstrator is delayed.

Evidence and Sources

Position and doctoral training

Supervisors, publications and resources

Employment, living and career context

Evidence date: 22 October 2026. Consult the official vacancy for its current recruitment status.

Sources

The listing may come from a university or recruitment platform. Check the notice and official sources in the report for current application requirements. View the recruitment source

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