KU Leuven is offering a fully funded PhD Scholarship in the field of high-Q metasurfaces for optical sensing applications. The project combines design, simulation, fabrication, and optical characterization of advanced metasurfaces with strong research support from the Department of Physics and Astronomy. Candidates must hold a Master’s degree in physics, engineering, nanotechnology, or related fields, with strong interest in optics, nanofabrication, and photonics.
🔍 Job Details
| Title | PhD Scholarship: High-Q Metasurfaces for Optical Sensing |
|---|---|
| Organization | KU Leuven |
| Department | Department of Physics and Astronomy (QSP Group) |
| Research Fields | Physics (Optics, Solid State Physics, Applied Physics), Nanotechnology, Optronics, Materials Engineering |
| Researcher Profile | First Stage Researcher (R1) – Doctoral Candidate |
| Contract Type | 1-year renewable bursary (up to 4 years) |
| Job Status | Full-time |
| Application Deadline | 20 September 2025 (23:59 UTC) |
| Start Date | 1 November 2025 |
| Location | Leuven, Belgium |
| Funding | Tax-free PhD scholarship (equivalent to research assistant salary), with bonuses & benefits |
| Reference Number | BAP-2025-530 |
| How to Apply | Online via KU Leuven Jobs Portal |
About KU Leuven & QSP Group
KU Leuven is one of Europe’s most prestigious research universities, consistently ranked among the top institutions worldwide. The Quantum Solid State Physics (QSP) group is recruiting a doctoral candidate to advance its research on high-quality-factor metasurfaces for optical sensing applications.
Metasurfaces are ultra-thin nanostructured materials that manipulate light at the nanoscale. Their role in next-generation sensing technologies makes this project highly relevant for both academia and industry.
Project Description
The PhD project will involve:
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Design & Simulation of dielectric and plasmonic metasurfaces.
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Nanofabrication using KU Leuven’s cleanroom and Leuven Nanocenter facilities.
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Optical characterization with advanced tools for sensing applications.
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Writing beam time proposals for international facilities such as FELIX (Nijmegen).
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Active participation in national and international conferences.
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Assisting in supervision of bachelor’s and master’s research projects.
Candidate Profile
Applicants must meet the following requirements:
✅ Master’s degree in Physics, Engineering, Materials Science, Nanotechnology, or related fields.
✅ Strong knowledge of optics, light-matter interactions, and photonics.
✅ Advantageous: experience with nanofabrication & optical characterization.
✅ Bonus skills: computational electromagnetics & machine learning.
✅ Excellent academic track record and strong motivation for research.
✅ Fluent in English (spoken and written).
✅ Team player with good communication, creativity, and persistence.
Benefits
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Duration: 1-year bursary contract, renewable annually up to 4 years.
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Salary: Tax-free stipend equivalent to research assistant salary.
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Additional Benefits: Holiday bonus, end-of-year bonus, non-monetary benefits.
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Work Environment: Stimulating research atmosphere at KU Leuven.
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Location: Leuven, Belgium – a historic, multicultural city in the heart of Europe, only 20 minutes from Brussels.
Application Instructions
To apply, submit your application via the KU Leuven job portal including:
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CV
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Motivation letter
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Copies of degrees and transcripts
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Contact details of referees
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Other supporting documents (if available)
Deadline: 20 September 2025 (23:59 UTC)
Start date: 1 November 2025
📧 For inquiries, contact:
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Prof. Dr. Ewald Janssens – [email protected]
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Mr. Amirmostafa Amirjani – [email protected]
🔗 Reference Links
⚠️ Disclaimer
This summary is based on the official KU Leuven announcement. Please refer to the official job portal for the latest details and requirements.
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