→ Apply before 02/05/2025 (DD/MM/YYYY) 23:59 (Brussels Time)
→ Faculty of Engineering and Architecture
→ Department: EA14 - Bouwkundige Constructies en Bouwmaterialen
→ Occupancy rate:50%
→ Number of positions: 1
→ Type of employment: Contract of unlimited duration with clause
→ Term of assignment: 2,5 jaar (30 maanden)
→ Wage scale: PD1 to PD4 (doctoral degree)
→ Required diploma:PhD
ABOUT GHENT UNIVERSITY
Ghent University is a world of its own. Employing more than 15,000 people, it is actively involved in education and research, management and administration, as well as technical and social service provision on a daily basis. It is one of the largest, most exciting employers in the area and offers great career opportunities. With its 11 faculties and more than 80 departments offering state-of-the-art study programmes grounded in research in a wide range of academic fields, Ghent University is a logical choice for its staff and students.
YOUR TASKS
Applications are invited for a postdoctoral research position in a granted FWO project “From damage to healing monitoring of ultra-high performance concrete”, a collaborative project between Vrije Universiteit Brussels and Ghent University, Belgium. The successful applicant will preferably start in September/October 2025, with a contract duration of 2.5 years.
The project aims to push the boundaries of monitoring ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) elements, specifically focusing on service loading, degradation, and self-healing. Despite its exceptional properties, UHPC faces challenges such as shrinkage cracking and degradation in aggressive environments, and its self-healing potential remains unexplored. The proposal seeks to explore the capabilities of air-coupled ultrasound for in-depth interpretation of UHPC behavior. By monitoring damage processes at an early stage, material optimization can be achieved, and prompt maintenance actions can be taken to prevent compromised performance, ensuring safety and reducing future maintenance costs. Additionally, evaluating the mechanical and durability restoration after repair or healing is crucial for continuous safe operation and extending the useful life of structures, contributing to sustainability. The use of advanced dispersive features of elastic waves allows for sensitivity to different length scales and physical properties, enabling the early detection and characterization of damage types induced by loading or durability loss. This approach also facilitates comprehensive mapping of the interior of UHPC elements using frequencies that provide the most accurate characterization, in a non-contact manner that has not previously been achieved in cementitious media, particularly in UHPC.
At least 70% of your assignment will be spent on academic research.
You will carry out the original research tasks, as foreseen in the project description, mainly:
- Investigate the effect of mix design of ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC), presence of fibres and superabsorbent polymers, on the autogenous shrinkage cracking and crack formation during freeze-thaw testing.
- Relate the extent of damage induced by different exposure and loading conditions to parameters acquired with non-destructive testing techniques.
- Quantify specimen self-healing with traditional and non-destructive testing techniques
- Investigate the durability of UPHC in the undamaged, cracked and healing state under marine conditions or exposed to freeze-thaw actions with deicing salts.
In addition, you will provide guidance and mentorship to master and PhD students throughout their research projects, fostering academic growth and ensuring high-quality research outcomes. More particularly, you will supervise the PhD student that will be recruited for the same FWO project (joint PhD between VUB and UGent).
WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR
- You hold a thesis-based doctorate in civil engineering obtained max. 6 years ago. This term of 6 years is determined by the date written on the above-mentioned required diploma).
- You show a strong motivation to drive independent research, from experiment design through to publication.
- You possess effective collaboration skills, with the ability to engage with multidisciplinary teams, coordinate with both internal and external partners, and contribute as a team player.
- You have hands-on experience and a strong commitment to experimental work in the field of concrete technology and durability. Experience on the topic of self-healing concrete is a strong point.
- You have experience working with analytical techniques such as thermogravimetric analysis, X-ray diffraction, isothermal calorimetry, microscopy, mercury intrusion porosimetry, ...
- You are fluent in English; Dutch language skills are desirable but not mandatory.
WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU
- We offer you a contract of indefinite duration with a maximum term of 30 months.
- Minimum 50% employment, 100% employment is possible. This is to be agreed upon as part of the selection procedure.
- Your contract will start on 1/09/2025 at the earliest.
- Your remuneration will be determined by salary scale PD1. Click here for more information about our salary scales.
- All Ghent University staff members enjoy a number of benefits, such as a wide range of training and education opportunities, 36 days of holiday leave (on an annual basis for a full-time job) supplemented by annual fixed bridge days, a bicycle allowance and eco vouchers.. Click here for a complete overview of all the staff benefits.
INTERESTED?
Apply online through the e-recruitment system before the application deadline (see above). We do not accept late applications or applications that are not submitted through the online system.
Your application must include the following documents:
- In the field ‘CV’: your CV and a transcript of your academic record (merged into one pdf file)
- In the field ‘Cover letter’: your application letter in pdf format.
- In the field ‘Diploma’: a transcript of the required degree (if already in your possession). If you have a foreign diploma in a language other than our national languages (Dutch, French or German) or English, please add a translation in one of the mentioned languages.
- In the field “other documents”: other relevant documents like a reference letter, an overview of your study results, …
Note that the maximum file size for each field is 10 MB.
As Ghent University maintains an equal opportunities and diversity policy, everyone is encouraged to apply for this position.
MORE INFORMATION
For more information about this vacancy, please contact Prof. Nele De Belie ([email protected]). Important: do NOT send your application by email, but apply online.
Do you have a question regarding the online application process? Please read the FAQ or contact us via [email protected] or +32 9 264 34 36
