Future engineering design paradigms: balancing product performance, value, cost, comfort and sustainability in mechanical product development.
KU Leuven is an autonomous university. It was founded in 1425. It was born of and has grown within the Catholic tradition.
KU Leuven Mecha(tro)nic System Dynamics (LMSD - http://www.mech.kuleuven.be/lmsd) and the Research Center for Operations Management (https://feb.kuleuven.be/research/decision-sciences-and-information-management/om) of KU Leuven are seeking a full‑time PhD researcher for a project on developing Future engineering design paradigms.
Project
* This PhD project is part of the ‘PACCAR Chair: Future Engineering Design’ bringing together expertise from the fields of mechanical engineering, economics and materials science to find the complex balance between performance, cost, comfort and sustainability in mechanical product development.
* A central aspect of this research will be the investigation and development of innovative mechanical design paradigms made possible by the integration of complete lifecycle data for mechanical components and systems. By factoring in information on design, production, operation and maintenance, the project aims to move beyond the conventional ‘build to last’ design philosophy. Instead, it will explore strategies where components are designed to perform reliably until the next scheduled maintenance, potentially enabling significant material savings or production cost reduction without compromising operational reliability.
* The research will be jointly supervised by members of the Faculties of Engineering Science, Engineering Technology and the Faculty of Economics and Business. For this, the researcher will be embedded in both engineering and economics research teams. The researcher is expected to divide his time equally between both teams.
* The PhD will be supervised by the PACCAR Chair promoter and co‑promoters (https://giving.kuleuven.be/how-to-support/chairs/institutes-cross-group/paccar-chair-future-engineering-design), with the final supervising committee established in alignment with the candidate’s personnel background and interests.
Profile
If you recognize yourself in the story below, then you have the profile that fits the project and the research groups.
* I have a master degree in engineering or business engineering and performed above average in comparison to my peers. I do not hold a doctoral degree at the time of recruitment.
* I am proficient in written and spoken English.
* I have a profound interest, or I have gained experience through my courses or prior professional activities, in either mechanical design and analysis or business model innovations in the manufacturing industry.
* I have a multidisciplinary mindset and enjoy exploring innovative ideas that extend beyond the traditional boundaries of core engineering and economic disciplines.
* I perform research in a structured and scientifically sound manner. I read technical papers, understand the nuances between different theories and implement and improve methodologies myself.
* Based on interactions and discussions with my supervisors and colleagues in the team, I can develop and update a plan of approach for the upcoming 1 to 3 months to work towards my research goals. I work with a sufficient degree of independence to follow my plan and achieve my goals. I indicate timely when deviations of the plan are required, if goals cannot be met or if I want to discuss intermediate results or issues.
* In frequent reporting, varying between weekly to monthly, I show the results that I have obtained and I give a well‑founded interpretation of those results. I refine my work and approach based on the feedback of my supervisors, who guide the direction of my research.
* I feel comfortable working as a team member, and I am eager to share my results to inspire and be inspired by my colleagues.
* During my PhD, I aim to advance my involvement in the project I am working on and represent the research group at project meetings and conferences. I view these events as an opportunity to disseminate my work to an international audience of experts and research colleagues, and to gain insight into the broader context of my research and the research project.
Offer
* A remuneration package competitive with industry standards in Belgium, a country with a high quality of life and an excellent health care system.
* An opportunity to pursue a PhD at KU Leuven in either Mechanical Engineering or Economics and Business, typically a 4‑year trajectory, in a stimulating and ambitious research environment.
* Ample opportunities to develop yourself in a scientific and/or an industrial direction. Besides the opportunities offered by the research group, further doctoral training for PhD candidates is provided within the framework of the KU Leuven Arenberg Doctoral School (https://set.kuleuven.be/phd), which is known for its strong focus on both future scientists and scientifically trained professionals who will valorise their doctoral expertise and competences in a non‑academic context. More information on the training opportunities can be found on the following link: https://set.kuleuven.be/phd/dopl/whytraining.
Interested?
To apply for this position, please follow the application tool and enclose:
* Full CV – mandatory
* Full list of credits and grades of both BSc and MSc degrees (as well as their transcription to English if possible) – mandatory (when you haven’t finished your degree yet, just provide us with the partial list of already available credits and grades)
* Proof of English proficiency (TOEFL, IELTS, …) – if available
* Two reference letters – if available
* An English version of MSc or PhD thesis, or of a recent publication or assignment – if available
For more information, please contact Dr. Claus Claeys (mail: claus.claeys@kuleuven.be) by email and mention ‘PhD Future Engineering design’ in the subject.
KU Leuven strives for an inclusive, respectful and socially safe environment. We embrace diversity among individuals and groups as an asset. Open dialogue and differences in perspective are essential for an ambitious research and educational environment. In our commitment to equal opportunity, we recognize the consequences of historical inequalities. We do not accept any form of discrimination based on, but not limited to, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, age, ethnic or national background, skin colour, religious and philosophical diversity, neurodivergence, employment disability, health, or socioeconomic status. For questions about accessibility or support offered, we are happy to assist you at this email address.
Job details
Title
Future engineering design paradigms: balancing product performance, value, cost, comfort and sustainability in mechanical product development.
Closing on: 2026-01-20 (Europe/Brussels)
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