PhD in Electromagnetic and Thermal Design Optimization Framework

Introduction
Are you a motivated researcher with a strong background in applied low-frequency electromagnetics, or applied physics, or electromechanics? We are seeking a highly motivated PhD candidate to join our research team in an ambitious 5-year project AI-driven Holistic Design and Control Tools for Planar Motors. You’ll be part of an excellent team at the Electromechanics and Power Electronics (EPE) Group at the Department of Electrical Engineering, and work in a close collaboration with other two PhD students and PostDocs in the Control Systems group of Eindhoven University and Computational Design and Mechanics research group at Delft University of Technology.

Job Description
High-precision motion systems for semiconductor manufacturing demand extreme accuracy, high throughput, and minimal thermal losses, yet current design processes are slow and fragmented. This project tackles the challenge by developing AI-driven, multi-physics design tools that integrate electromagnetic, thermal, and mechanical aspects into one holistic optimization framework, enabling faster, cost-effective, and innovative electromechanical actuator designs.

As a PhD candidate in the Electromechanics and Power Electronics group, you will develop advanced electromagnetic and thermal modeling frameworks for MAGLEV planar motors with moving permanent magnets and stationary coils. Your work will include creating computationally efficient magnetostatic formulations, designing optimal winding and magnet configurations using inverse modelling technique, and coupling these with thermal and cooling strategies to ensure robust performance. You will implement topology and shape optimization techniques for complex geometries, integrate multi-physics constraints, and validate your models through experimental setups and performance measurements. The research will lead to robust software tools and real-world prototype demonstrations in close collaboration with seven leading partners from high-tech industry.

Job Requirements

• Master’s degree (or an equivalent university degree) in Electrical or Aerospace Engineering, Applied Physics, or Applied Mathematics.
• Very strong mathematical background, with knowledge of neural networks architectures.
• Ability to perform non-linear electromagnetic modeling, including IGA and coupling strategies, and to apply FE tools and electromechanical actuator design principles.
• Knowledge of programming languages, including Python and MATLAB, and of machine learning techniques.
• Experience with experimental work on electromechanical systems and with the measurement of magnetic material properties.
• Research-oriented attitude and ability to conduct high-quality academic research, reflected in demonstrable outputs.
• Good social and collaborative skills: ability to work in an interdisciplinary team and interest in collaborating with industrial partners.
• Fluent in spoken and written English (C1 level); knowledge of Dutch and German is a plus.
• Good scientific writing and documentation skills.
• Motivated to develop your teaching skills and coach students.

Conditions of Employment
A meaningful job in a dynamic and ambitious university, in an interdisciplinary setting and within an international network. You will work on a beautiful, green campus within walking distance of the central train station. In addition, we offer you:

• Full-time employment for four years, with an intermediate assessment after nine months. You will spend a minimum of 10% of your four-year employment on teaching tasks, with a maximum of 15% per year of your employment.
• Salary and benefits (such as a pension scheme, paid pregnancy and maternity leave, partially paid parental leave) in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, scale P (min. € 3,059 - max. € 3,881).
• A year-end bonus of 8.3% and annual vacation pay of 8%.
• High-quality training programs and other support to grow into a self-aware, autonomous scientific researcher. At TU/e we challenge you to take charge of your own learning process.
• An excellent technical infrastructure, on-campus children's day care and sports facilities.
• An allowance for commuting, working from home and internet costs.
• A Staff Immigration Team and a tax compensation scheme (the 30% facility) for international candidates.

About us
Eindhoven University of Technology is a leading international university within the Brainport region where scientific curiosity meets a hands-on mindset. We work in an open and collaborative way with high-tech industries to tackle complex societal challenges. Our responsible and respectful approach ensures impact — today and in the future. TU/e is home to over 13,000 students and more than 7,000 staff, forming a diverse and vibrant academic community.

The mission of the Department of Electrical Engineering is to acquire, share and transfer knowledge and understanding in the whole field of Electrical Engineering through education, research and valorization. We work towards a ‘Smart Sustainable Society’, a ‘Connected World’, and a healthy humanity (‘Care & Cure’). Activities share an application-oriented character, a high degree of complexity and a large synergy between multiple facets of the field.

Research is carried out into the applications of electromagnetic phenomena in all forms of energy conversion, telecommunication and electrical signal processing. Existing and new electrical components and systems are analyzed, designed and built. The Electrical Engineering department takes its inspiration from contacts with high-tech industry in the direct surrounding region and beyond.

The department is innovative and has international ambitions and partnerships. The result is a challenging and inspiring setting in which socially relevant issues are addressed.

Information
Do you recognize yourself in this profile and would you like to know more? Please contact the hiring manager Prof. dr. E.A. Lomonova (e.lomonova@tue.nl) or dr. C. Ciuhu (c.ciuhu@tue.nl).

Visit our website for more information about the application process or the conditions of employment. You can also contact HR Services Flux, hrservices.flux@tue.nl.

Curious to hear more about what it’s like as a PhD candidate at TU/e? Please view the video.

Are you inspired and would like to know more about working at TU/e? Please visit our career page.

Application
We invite you to submit a complete application by using the apply button. The application should include a:

• Cover letter in which you describe your motivation and qualifications for the position.
• Curriculum vitae, including a list of your publications and the contact information of three references. Kindly note that we may reach out to references at any stage of the recruitment process. We recommend notifying your references upon submitting your application.

We look forward to receiving your application and will screen it as soon as possible. The vacancy will remain open until the position is filled.

Please note

• You can apply online. We will not process applications sent by email and/or post.
• A pre-employment screening (e.g. knowledge security check) can be part of the selection procedure. For more information on the knowledge security check, please consult the National Knowledge Security Guidelines.
• Please do not contact us for unsolicited services.

PhD in Electromagnetic and Thermal Design Optimization Framework

High-precision motion systems for semiconductor manufacturing demand extreme accuracy, high throughput, and minimal thermal losses, yet current design processes are slow and fragmented. This project tackles the challenge by developing AI-driven, multi-physics design tools that integrate electromagnetic, thermal, and mechanical aspects into one holistic optimization framework, enabling faster, cost-effective, and innovative electromechanical actuator designs.

As a PhD candidate in the Electromechanics and Power Electronics group, you will develop advanced electromagnetic and thermal modeling frameworks for MAGLEV planar motors with moving permanent magnets and stationary coils. Your work will include creating computationally efficient magnetostatic formulations, designing optimal winding and magnet configurations using inverse modelling technique, and coupling these with thermal and cooling strategies to ensure robust performance. You will implement topology and shape optimization techniques for complex geometries, integrate multi-physics constraints, and validate your models through experimental setups and performance measurements. The research will lead to robust software tools and real-world prototype demonstrations in close collaboration with seven leading partners from high-tech industry.

PostDoc In City Information Models for Urban Water Management and Nature-Based Solutions

Introduction
Are you passionate about creating digital tools that help cities manage water resources sustainably? We are looking for a postdoctoral researcher to join an international research initiative focused on developing innovative City Information Models (CIM) to support urban water management and planning nature-based solutions.

Job Description
This position is part of Green4Grey, a Water4All European project that brings together universities and municipalities to enhance urban water circularity by advancing sustainable, efficient, and safe management of non-conventional water resources, reducing reliance on traditional water supplies, and integrating decentralized Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) with centralized urban systems.

However, cities currently lack comprehensive digital tools to effectively plan and implement NBS. Existing models don't integrate spatial data or social considerations, nor do they enable decision-making across different scales. Professionals face knowledge gaps about NBS performance and struggle to justify their adoption over conventional infrastructure due to insufficient evidence and high implementation complexity.

Within this project, TU/e addresses these barriers by developing a modular, spatially explicit City Information Model (CIM) that integrates data management, computational operations, and interactive visualization for optimal NBS integration. As a postdoctoral researcher, you will use web-GIS technology and generative AI to develop a parametric CIM that helps cities assess, plan, and implement NBS to enhance water quality and quantity while contributing to circular economy principles. The CIM will enable urban stakeholders to explore water availability, evaluate NBS options, and scale interventions from individual buildings to entire neighborhoods.

As a postdoctoral researcher, you will:

• Develop a CIM Data Module managing connections to local and global data sources (rainfall, water use, sensor data, materials, costs).
• Develop a CIM Operations Module to integrate nature-based solutions. As part of this module, develop an ontology of selected green infrastructure types including their attributes, interrelationships, and performance criteria, and instantiate this ontology as a knowledge graph in selected project use cases.
• Develop a CIM Interactive Visualization Module providing parametric 2D/3D interfaces using open-source technologies like Cesium. Allow users to place and visualize NbS elements (green roofs, rain gardens, bioswales) on specific sites and buildings. Integrate generative AI components that enable natural language user input to the CIM, allowing users to issue commands via text or speech (e.g., "Place a green roof on this building and add a rain garden to its south side").
• Develop scalability assessment tools that enable users to replicate NbS measures across larger urban areas and simulate their collective impact on water quality and quantity.
• Organize and facilitate participatory workshops with local stakeholders to test the CIM prototypes, gather feedback, and refine functionality to ensure practical usability and integration into real-world decision-making processes.
• Produce project deliverables including CIM prototypes, technical documentation, and academic publications.
• Contribute to project management, including planning, monitoring, ethics and data management, and reporting to funding bodies.

You will be working with the Information Systems in the Built Environment (ISBE) within the Department of the Built Environment. The group carries out research and education in the field of information systems for design, engineering, construction and management of the built environment.

Sustainability, in its broadest definition, is the cornerstone of research and education in the Department of Built Environment. We take the lead in (re)shaping the built environment to be future-proof, safe, healthy, inclusive and respectful of planetary boundaries. We house the entire spectrum of technology, engineering, design, and human behavior disciplines in the built environment, with world-class experimental facilities at all scales. This allows us to address societal challenges from a uniquely integrated perspective.

Job Requirements

• PhD in urban planning, geographic information science, computer science, environmental engineering, or comparable domain.
• Proven research experience in digital twins, city information models, or spatial decision support systems.
• Strong programming and software development skills (e.g., Python, JavaScript, web-GIS frameworks).
• Experience with 3D visualization technologies (e.g., Cesium, Three.js, or similar platforms).
• Experience with knowledge graphs, semantic web technologies, or LLM integration.
• Knowledge of urban water management, green infrastructure, or nature-based solutions is highly desirable.
• Experience with participatory methods, stakeholder engagement, or co-design processes is valued.
• Ability to conduct high-quality academic research, reflected in demonstrable outputs.
• A proven ability to manage complex projects and deliver results on schedule.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with experience or willingness to engage diverse partners (academic, municipalities, NGOs).
• Excellent (written and verbal) proficiency in English.
• A team player who enjoys working in a dynamic, interdisciplinary environment.

Conditions of Employment
A meaningful job in a dynamic and ambitious university, in an interdisciplinary setting and within an international network. You will work on a beautiful, green campus within walking distance of the central train station. In addition, we offer you:

• Full-time employment for 18 months.
• Salary in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, scale 10 (min. € 4,241 max. € 5,538).
• A year-end bonus of 8.3% and annual vacation pay of 8%.
• High-quality training programs on general skills, didactics and topics related to research and valorization.
• An excellent technical infrastructure, on-campus children's day care and sports facilities.
• Partially paid parental leave and an allowance for commuting, working from home and internet costs.
• A TU/e Postdoc Association that helps you to build a stronger and broader academic and personal network, and offers tailored support, training and workshops.
• A Staff Immigration Team is available for international candidates, as are a tax compensation scheme (the 30% facility) and a compensation for moving expenses.

About us
Eindhoven University of Technology is a leading international university within the Brainport region where scientific curiosity meets a hands-on mindset. We work in an open and collaborative way with high-tech industries to tackle complex societal challenges. Our responsible and respectful approach ensures impact — today and in the future. TU/e is home to over 13,000 students and more than 7,000 staff, forming a diverse and vibrant academic community.

Information
Do you recognize yourself in this profile and would you like to know more? Please contact prof. Bige Tunçer, b.tuncer@tue.nl, or Dr. Shahryar Sarabi, s.ershad.sarabi@tue.nl.

Visit our website for more information about the application process or the conditions of employment. You can also contact L. van Houten, HR-Advisor, l.v.houten@tue.nl or +31 40 247 8269.

Are you inspired and would like to know more about working at TU/e? Please visit our career page.

Application
We invite you to submit a complete application using the apply-button. The application should include a:

• Cover letter in which you describe your motivation and qualifications for the position.
• Curriculum vitae, including a list of your publications and the contact information of three references. Kindly note that we may reach out to references at any stage of the recruitment process. We recommend notifying your references upon submitting your application.
• List of up to five self-selected ‘best publications’.

We look forward to receiving your application and will screen it as soon as possible. The vacancy will remain open until the position is filled.

Please note

• You can apply online. We will not process applications sent by email and/or post.
• A pre-employment screening (e.g. knowledge security check) can be part of the selection procedure. For more information on the knowledge security check, please consult the National Knowledge Security Guidelines.
• Please do not contact us for unsolicited services.

PostDoc In City Information Models for Urban Water Management and Nature-Based Solutions

This position is part of Green4Grey, a Water4All European project that brings together universities and municipalities to enhance urban water circularity by advancing sustainable, efficient, and safe management of non-conventional water resources, reducing reliance on traditional water supplies, and integrating decentralized Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) with centralized urban systems.

However, cities currently lack comprehensive digital tools to effectively plan and implement NBS. Existing models don't integrate spatial data or social considerations, nor do they enable decision-making across different scales. Professionals face knowledge gaps about NBS performance and struggle to justify their adoption over conventional infrastructure due to insufficient evidence and high implementation complexity.

Within this project, TU/e addresses these barriers by developing a modular, spatially explicit City Information Model (CIM) that integrates data management, computational operations, and interactive visualization for optimal NBS integration. As a postdoctoral researcher, you will use web-GIS technology and generative AI to develop a parametric CIM that helps cities assess, plan, and implement NBS to enhance water quality and quantity while contributing to circular economy principles. The CIM will enable urban stakeholders to explore water availability, evaluate NBS options, and scale interventions from individual buildings to entire neighborhoods.

As a postdoctoral researcher, you will:

• Develop a CIM Data Module managing connections to local and global data sources (rainfall, water use, sensor data, materials, costs).
• Develop a CIM Operations Module to integrate nature-based solutions. As part of this module, develop an ontology of selected green infrastructure types including their attributes, interrelationships, and performance criteria, and instantiate this ontology as a knowledge graph in selected project use cases.
• Develop a CIM Interactive Visualization Module providing parametric 2D/3D interfaces using open-source technologies like Cesium. Allow users to place and visualize NbS elements (green roofs, rain gardens, bioswales) on specific sites and buildings. Integrate generative AI components that enable natural language user input to the CIM, allowing users to issue commands via text or speech (e.g., "Place a green roof on this building and add a rain garden to its south side").
• Develop scalability assessment tools that enable users to replicate NbS measures across larger urban areas and simulate their collective impact on water quality and quantity.
• Organize and facilitate participatory workshops with local stakeholders to test the CIM prototypes, gather feedback, and refine functionality to ensure practical usability and integration into real-world decision-making processes.
• Produce project deliverables including CIM prototypes, technical documentation, and academic publications.
• Contribute to project management, including planning, monitoring, ethics and data management, and reporting to funding bodies.

You will be working with the Information Systems in the Built Environment (ISBE) within the Department of the Built Environment. The group carries out research and education in the field of information systems for design, engineering, construction and management of the built environment.

Sustainability, in its broadest definition, is the cornerstone of research and education in the Department of Built Environment. We take the lead in (re)shaping the built environment to be future-proof, safe, healthy, inclusive and respectful of planetary boundaries. We house the entire spectrum of technology, engineering, design, and human behavior disciplines in the built environment, with world-class experimental facilities at all scales. This allows us to address societal challenges from a uniquely integrated perspective.

Postdoc In Socio-Emotional Processes in Team Learning within Challenge-Based Engineering Education

Introduction
Are you excited about advancing the next generation of engineering education? Do you want to investigate how student teams navigate the socio-emotional aspects of learning while solving complex, real-world challenges? Then this 2-year postdoc position at the Department of Applied Physics and Science Education may be the perfect next step in your academic career.

Eindhoven University of Technology’s Strategy 2030 highlights a university-wide transition toward challenge-based learning (CBL) as a central educational model. At the heart of CBL are multidisciplinary student teams working on authentic, open-ended problems, requiring the ability to regulate motivation, emotions, and social interactions effectively.

Building on previous work on Socially Shared Regulation of Learning (SSRL), this postdoctoral project will focus more explicitly on socio-emotional processes in team learning, investigating how emotions, motivation, group climate, and interpersonal regulation shape learning and performance in engineering multidisciplinary student teams. The project offers opportunities for collaboration with other ongoing research projects on team learning in CBL, while allowing the postdoc to develop their own research line within this broader theme.

Project Focus
This Postdoc research aims to:

• Advance theoretical and empirical understanding of socio-emotional processes and team regulation in engineering student teams working within CBL environments.
• Identify mechanisms and team conditions that foster productive collaboration, resilience, and shared regulation under demanding situations.
• Contribute to methodological innovation to study socio-emotional and regulatory processes (e.g., multimodal data, process-oriented analyses).

The project allows significant room for the postdoctoral researcher to refine the specific research questions, develop new methodological approaches, and pursue collaborations within the department.

Job Description
As a Postdoctoral Researcher, you will:

• Lead the development of theoretical and conceptual contributions on socio-emotional processes in team learning.
• Design and carry out empirical studies using quantitative, qualitative, or mixed-method approaches.
• Develop or refine assessment instruments, observational frameworks, or analytic methodologies for capturing socio-emotional and regulatory processes in teams.
• Publish high-quality academic papers in international journals and present findings at leading conferences.
• Support and collaborate with PhD students and other researchers working on related topics.
• Contribute to the vibrant research community in educational innovation at TU/e.

The Department of Applied Physics and Science Education is a research-driven department housing high-quality educational programs, all featuring strong connections between research and education. Our research is clustered in three focal areas: Fluids, Bio and Soft Matter (FBSM); Plasmas and Beams (PB); and Nano, Quantum and Photonics (NQP). Our shared ambition is to equip the next generation of ‘engineers of the future’ with the knowledge and the skills they will need to impact science, innovation, and society, from regional to global scales.

Job Requirements

• A PhD degree in educational sciences, psychology, learning sciences, engineering education, or a related discipline.
• Demonstrated expertise in researching team learning, socio-emotional processes, regulation of learning, or related areas, evidenced by publications, dissertation work, or conference presentations.
• Strong methodological skills, such as experience with process-oriented or multimodal analyses, qualitative coding of interactions, mixed-methods research.
• Affinity with or interest in higher education innovation and/or engineering education.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team while contributing to a collaborative research environment.
• Strong academic writing and communication skills.
• Proactive, creative, and analytically strong mindset.
• Fluent in spoken and written English (C1 level).

Conditions of Employment
A meaningful job in a dynamic and ambitious university, in an interdisciplinary setting and within an international network. You will work on a beautiful, green campus within walking distance of the central train station. In addition, we offer you:

• Full-time employment for 2 years.
• Salary in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, scale 10 (min. € 4,241 max. € 5,538).
• A year-end bonus of 8.3% and annual vacation pay of 8%.
• High-quality training programs on general skills, didactics and topics related to research and valorization.
• An excellent technical infrastructure, on-campus children's day care and sports facilities.
• Partially paid parental leave and an allowance for commuting, working from home and internet costs.
• A TU/e Postdoc Association that helps you to build a stronger and broader academic and personal network, and offers tailored support, training and workshops.
• A Staff Immigration Team is available for international candidates, as are a tax compensation scheme (the 30% facility) and a compensation for moving expenses.

About us
Eindhoven University of Technology is a leading international university within the Brainport region where scientific curiosity meets a hands-on mindset. We work in an open and collaborative way with high-tech industries to tackle complex societal challenges. Our responsible and respectful approach ensures impact — today and in the future. TU/e is home to over 13,000 students and more than 7,000 staff, forming a diverse and vibrant academic community.

Information
Do you recognize yourself in this profile and would you like to know more? Please contact the hiring manager Dr Karolina Doulougeri, k.i.doulougeri@tue.nl.

Visit our website for more information about the application process or the conditions of employment. You can also contact HR Services, hrservices.apse@tue.nl.

Are you inspired and would like to know more about working at TU/e? Please visit our career page.

Application
We invite you to submit a complete application using the apply-button. The application should include a:

• Cover letter in which you describe your motivation and qualifications for the position.
• Curriculum vitae, including a list of your publications and the contact information of three references. Kindly note that we may reach out to references at any stage of the recruitment process. We recommend notifying your references upon submitting your application.
• A statement of research intent (500–800 words) in which you outline your envisioned contribution to the study of socio-emotional processes in team learning. This statement should describe the theoretical perspective you plan to build on, the central aims or direction of your proposed work, and the methodological approach you consider adopting. Applicants are encouraged to articulate their own focus and research trajectory within this broader theme.

Ensure that you submit all the requested application documents. We give priority to complete applications.

We look forward to receiving your application and will screen it as soon as possible. Deadline for applications 29th of December 2025. Selected applicants will be notified at the latest by 9th of January 2026. Interviews with selected candidates will be conducted on Friday 16th of January 2026.

Please note

• You can apply online. We will not process applications sent by email and/or post.
• A pre-employment screening (e.g. knowledge security check) can be part of the selection procedure. For more information on the knowledge security check, please consult the National Knowledge Security Guidelines.
• Please do not contact us for unsolicited services.