PhD position on Neuromorphic Quantum-Inspired Optimisation and Simulation

This position is part of the European EIC Pathfinder Open project Neuromorphic Quantum-Inspired Optimisation and Simulation (NEQIOS) together with companies IBM and Enlightra and universities Oxford, Heidelberg and Radboud. NEQIOS aims to create a new class of brain-inspired (or “neuromorphic”) computing platforms capable of efficiently tackling some of the most challenging computational problems in science and industry, underpinning applications ranging from materials discovery and quantum chemistry to logistics, energy systems, and AI-driven optimization. These problems are widely regarded as the natural domain of quantum computers, yet they remain extremely demanding for both classical digital computers and current quantum technologies, motivating the need for a powerful and practical alternative.

In 2020 we introduced the concept of reconfigurable nonlinear processing units: RNPUs, Nature 577, 341-345, 2020. In this PhD project you will work on applying RNPU networks for solving computational problems that are considered hard.

PhD position in project "Mechanisms of non-invasive functional connectivity modulation (COMO)"

We look for a researcher with a passion for studying the function of the brain in motor control by computational modelling and non-invasive brain stimulation. The focus of this project will be on advanced versions of transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS), targeting multiple brain areas in an optimised way. This may include neural network and neural mass modelling of large-scale brain activity during and after stimulation, and experimental tACS in healthy participants.

The successful applicant will join the lab of Bettina Schwab within the Biomedical Signals and Systems group of the department of Electrical Engineering at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science at the University of Twente (UT), Netherlands.

About the project:
Transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) is a non-invasive technique to modulate neural activity in the human brain. While its effects on neurophysiology and behavior are typically small in size, the technique has the advantage to be very flexible in terms of application sites and time courses of the applied currents, leading to large parameter spaces for applications. To optimize tACS towards a technique of network stimulation in the human brain, we use computational modeling at the population level (neural mass models) as well as at the neuron level (neural network models) including plasticity. Electric fields will be estimated based on finite-element method models. The project can be partly adapted to your specific interests and your background.

This is an M-1 Open Competition Domain Science project funded by the Dutch Research Council (NWO). M-grants are intended for innovative, high-quality, fundamental research and/or studies involving matters of scientific urgency.

Hoofd Finance

Eqib is namens de Universiteit Twente verantwoordelijk voor de werving en selectie van deze functie.

Als Hoofd Finance geef je leiding aan het financiële team van de faculteit Engineering Technology (ET). In deze rol ben je eindverantwoordelijk voor een betrouwbare, volledige en tijdige financiële- en projectadministratie. De nadruk ligt op operationele en administratieve aansturing: het aansturen van processen, het borgen van compliance en ervoor zorgen dat de administratieve basis op orde is. Dit is namelijk essentiële input voor de totstandkoming van betrouwbare managementinformatie, strategische analyses, prognoses en advisering bij besluitvorming door de business controllers.

Concreet zijn jouw taken en verantwoordelijkheden o.a.:

• Aansturen, begeleiden, structureren en ontwikkelen van het Finance team ET (10 finance professionals)
• Zorgen voor een betrouwbare en volledige financiële verslaglegging en projectadministratie (2e en 3e geldstroom), inclusief naleving van UT-brede afspraken, interne procedures en externe regelgeving
• Je borgt dat cijfers juist en volledig zijn en tijdig worden aangeleverd zodat zij een basis kunnen vormen voor prognoses, begrotingen en besluitvorming
• Je bent sparringpartner voor de business controllers en dienst Finance en draagt bij aan de vertaling van strategie naar financiële kaders
• Je draagt bij aan de professionalisering van de faculteit en eenheid, samenwerking en uniforme werkwijze binnen de financiële kolom van de Universiteit Twente

Over jouw nieuwe werkgever & collega’s
De Universiteit Twente is een toonaangevende technische universiteit waar onderwijs, onderzoek en innovatie hand in hand gaan. De faculteit ET richt zich op engineering en technologie, Je werkt in een academische omgeving met bevlogen collega’s, waarin het belang van een stevige financiële basis groot is.

Deze functies betreffen vaste formatieplaatsen binnen de UT. Je bouwt dus aan de toekomst van een organisatie die continu in beweging is.

Een geschiktheidsassessment maakt onderdeel uit van de procedure.

Technician Electromechanical Laboratory – Reactor Systems

We are seeking a skilled electromechanical technician to support our research in chemical reactor technologies. The role focuses on the design, assembly, and maintenance of complex laboratory set-ups, requiring strong expertise in electronics, instrumentation, and mechatronics.

Responsibilities:

• Build, install, and maintain experimental reactor systems and supporting equipment.
• Assemble and operate Swagelok connections, oven controllers, and mass flow controllers.
• Perform electrical wiring, electronic troubleshooting, calibration, and repairs.
• Integrate and maintain instrumentation and control systems (sensors, controllers, power supplies).
• Support researchers with technical troubleshooting during experiments.
• Ensure compliance with laboratory safety protocols (chemical and electrical).
• Document set-ups, wiring schemes, and operating procedures

This position is directly supported by an external research contract.

PhD Position in Predictive Planning & Hybrid AI for High-Mix, Low-Volume Manufacturing (Industrial Doctorate with Thales)

We are looking for a highly motivated PhD candidate to advance predictive, data-driven production and materials planning incorporating the high variability in high-mix, low-volume (HMLV) manufacturing environments. This position is part of an Industrial Doctorate, meaning the candidate will spend part of the PhD physically at Thales, working directly with planners, engineers, and data teams on real production challenges.

The PhD will be hosted by the Industrial Engineering and Management Sciences (IEMS) section in the High-tech Business & Entrepreneurship (HBE) department of the University of Twente.

This PhD position, designed with Thales NL, as an industrial doctorate position is part of the Predictive Plan programme, aimed as a flagship project for changing planning and scheduling in high mix low volume (HMLV) production by leveraging hybrid AI, data-driven workload estimation, intelligent release planning, and explainable decision support.

The PhD will operate across two worlds:

• The University of Twente — advancing scientific models, algorithms, and hybrid AI methodologies;
• Thales (the industrial partner) — applying these methods to real planning processes, data systems, and production settings.

The successful candidate will be co-supervised by Dr. Engin Topan.

In high-mix, low-volume manufacturing, traditional planning often fails to capture workload variability, uncertainty, and the complex interaction between product features, labor availability, and machine capacity.

Your PhD will address these challenges by:

• Developing predictive workload, lead-time estimation, material planning models to capture the high variability in HMLV environments using hybrid AI (combining machine learning, feature-based modelling, and classical OR);
• Designing intelligent release, workload control and material planning methods that stabilize flow, improve on-time delivery, and reduce firefighting;
• Integrating uncertainty modelling and dynamic material planning and production and scheduling into an actionable decision-support toolkit;
• Embedding explainable AI to ensure planners and engineers understand, trust, and use the models;
• Developed hybrid AI solutions need to be developed and implemented locally as cloud-based solutions are not an option for Thales NL;
• Working on-site at Thales to:
• analyse real data,
• observe current planning practices,
• validate models in industrial settings,
• co-create practical tools with planners and engineers.

This close industrial involvement is a unique feature of this position.

Industrial Doctorate structure

As part of the Industrial Doctorate:

• You will spend 2 days per week at Thales (Hengelo).
• You will work closely with:
• production planning teams,
• operations engineering,
• data & analytics departments.
• You will help translate academic insights into real tools, workflows, and prototypes.
• You will maintain strong academic ties through weekly interactions at the University of Twente with your supervisors and research group.

This dual setting ensures that the PhD outcomes have both high scientific value and direct industrial impact.