PhD in Acoustic Performance of Timber Structure Connections

Introduction
Are you fascinated by improving the acoustic performance of timber buildings? Help develop advanced numerical models that predict sound transmission and bridge the gap between sustainable construction and high acoustic performance. Join this joint PhD project between TU/e and DTU!

Job Description
Buildings made from timber and other biobased materials generally have a significantly lower carbon footprint than conventional concrete or masonry constructions. However, lightweight timber structures often exhibit high variability in sound insulation, and poor acoustic performance remains a barrier to their wider adoption in the construction industry.

A still poorly understood source of this variability lies in the connections between structural components, such as screws, nails, steel brackets, and adhesive joints. Whether a floor is screwed or glued together, and how widely spaced the fasteners are, can significantly affect how sound travels through a building. Current prediction methods largely ignore these details, while more detailed models are often too computationally expensive for practical use. Developing methods that are both physically accurate and computationally efficient is therefore the central challenge of this project.

We offer a PhD position (4-year contract) within the QUIET-ARC project, a collaboration between Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) and the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) as part of the EuroTech Universities PhD programme.

As a PhD candidate in the QUIET-ARC project, you will investigate how different connection types and layouts influence sound transmission in timber buildings, develop efficient numerical simulation methods to model these effects, and quantify the uncertainty introduced by construction variability into acoustic predictions.

Noise is recognised by the World Health Organisation as a major public health concern. By improving the predictive capability of computational models for timber buildings, this research supports more reliable prediction tools for sustainable constructions and contributes to the wider adoption of low-carbon building materials.

The project will take place under joint supervision of dr.ir. Cédric Van hoorickx (TU/e, specializing in numerical modelling of sound transmission) and dr.ir. Jonas Brunskog (DTU, with expertise in the acoustics of lightweight structures). You will be based in the Building Acoustics research group (https://building-acoustics.net/) in the Department of the Built Environment at TU/e, and will spend approximately six months at DTU’s Acoustic Technology group in Denmark.

Job Requirements

• A master’s degree (or an equivalent university degree) in acoustics, building physics, civil engineering, mechanical engineering, or related disciplines.
• A research-oriented attitude.
• Motivated to develop your teaching skills and coach students.
• Fluent in spoken and written English (C1 level).

The following experience could be considered an advantage and may be highlighted in your motivation letter:

• Affinity for building acoustics, vibro-acoustics, or structural dynamics
• Previous experience with/affinity for computational methods
• Previous publications and scientific communications

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. € 3,204 - max. € 4,051 gross base salary per month (full-time)).
• In addition to your base salary, you will receive an 8% holiday allowance and an 8.3% year-end bonus, both calculated based on your annual gross base salary.
• Generous leave options: a standard 29 days (based on a 38 hour working week) per year that you can increase to 41 days by working two hours more per week (flexible working hours). This is prorated if you work part-time.
• As a TU/e employee, you participate in the ABP pension scheme, providing retirement pension and pension benefits for surviving dependents and occupational disability. TU/e pays 70% of the pension premium, while employees contribute the remaining 30%.
• 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, and on-campus children's day care.
• Unlimited access to the modern on‑campus TU/e Student Sports Center at an exceptionally affordable rate.
• We support your wellbeing with free 24/7 access to OpenUp, providing you and your family with mental health support, expert guidance, and online training.
• An allowance for commuting, working from home and internet costs.
• A Staff Immigration Team and a tax compensation scheme (the Expat Scheme) for international candidates.

On our website you can discover even more information about our conditions of employment. Build on your career at TU/e!

About us
We are a leading international university 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. Discover what Light Up means to TU/e in our short company video.

Our university is located in Brainport Eindhoven — a world‑leading tech region with more than 7,000 high‑tech companies and strong R&D activity. Known for breakthroughs in AI, photonics, semiconductors and advanced manufacturing, Brainport is a place where technology serves people and society. Learn more about the Brainport region here.

Information
Do you recognize yourself in this profile and would you like to know more? Please contact the hiring manager dr.ir. Cédric Van hoorickx, assistant professor, c.m.l.van.hoorickx@tue.nl.

Visit our website for more information about the application process. You can also contact Yvette Maass, HR-Advisor, HRadviceBE@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.
• Copies of relevant BSc and MSc diplomas and grade transcripts.

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. 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 Acoustic Performance of Timber Structure Connections

Buildings made from timber and other biobased materials generally have a significantly lower carbon footprint than conventional concrete or masonry constructions. However, lightweight timber structures often exhibit high variability in sound insulation, and poor acoustic performance remains a barrier to their wider adoption in the construction industry.

A still poorly understood source of this variability lies in the connections between structural components, such as screws, nails, steel brackets, and adhesive joints. Whether a floor is screwed or glued together, and how widely spaced the fasteners are, can significantly affect how sound travels through a building. Current prediction methods largely ignore these details, while more detailed models are often too computationally expensive for practical use. Developing methods that are both physically accurate and computationally efficient is therefore the central challenge of this project.

We offer a PhD position (4-year contract) within the QUIET-ARC project, a collaboration between Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) and the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) as part of the EuroTech Universities PhD programme.

As a PhD candidate in the QUIET-ARC project, you will investigate how different connection types and layouts influence sound transmission in timber buildings, develop efficient numerical simulation methods to model these effects, and quantify the uncertainty introduced by construction variability into acoustic predictions.

Noise is recognised by the World Health Organisation as a major public health concern. By improving the predictive capability of computational models for timber buildings, this research supports more reliable prediction tools for sustainable constructions and contributes to the wider adoption of low-carbon building materials.

The project will take place under joint supervision of dr.ir. Cédric Van hoorickx (TU/e, specializing in numerical modelling of sound transmission) and dr.ir. Jonas Brunskog (DTU, with expertise in the acoustics of lightweight structures). You will be based in the Building Acoustics research group (https://building-acoustics.net/) in the Department of the Built Environment at TU/e, and will spend approximately six months at DTU’s Acoustic Technology group in Denmark.

Two Assistant Professors in Operations Management

The Industrial Engineering & Innovation Sciences (IE&IS) department combines disciplinary knowledge from the humanities, social sciences and technical sciences to solve the complex problems of industries and society. We collaboratively focus on and create responsible and effective innovations for the research themes: Humans and Technology, Supply Chain Management, Sustainability and Circularity, and Value of Data-Driven Intelligence.

Within the Assistant Professor position, you will become a member of the Operations, Planning, Accounting and Control (OPAC) group. The OPAC group has a worldwide reputation for strong interdisciplinary research with impact in practice and for excellent educational programs. The OPAC group helps stakeholders across sectors to make smart, informed decisions, thereby contributing to more efficiency, enhanced (environmental) sustainability, better use of resources and reduced costs. The research of the group deals with the control of operational processes, which can be related to supply chains, manufacturing systems, high-tech equipment, distribution, transportation, warehousing, retail, and service processes such as equipment maintenance.

We are looking for two Assistant Professors in Operations Management. For one of the two positions, we are particularly interested in candidates with a focus on transportation and mobility.

As an Assistant Professor you will perform and publish top quality research, partly with PhD candidates that you co-supervise. Additionally, you will design and teach courses in the areas of operations management, supply chain management and/or transportation. Some of your teaching time is spent supervising Bachelor end projects and Master thesis projects.

With our embedding in the Brainport Eindhoven region, there are plenty of opportunities to collaborate with industry, learn from their problems, and make impact, both directly, with your PhD candidates, and through the Bachelor and Master students you supervise.

Two Assistant Professors in Operations Management

Are you fascinated by complex problems in operations management, supply chain management or transportation? Do you have the passion to perform top quality research in this area and teach courses that prepare students for a successful career? Then you could be our new colleague.

Job Description
The Industrial Engineering & Innovation Sciences (IE&IS) department combines disciplinary knowledge from the humanities, social sciences and technical sciences to solve the complex problems of industries and society. We collaboratively focus on and create responsible and effective innovations for the research themes: Humans and Technology, Supply Chain Management, Sustainability and Circularity, and Value of Data-Driven Intelligence.

Within the Assistant Professor position, you will become a member of the Operations, Planning, Accounting and Control (OPAC) group. The OPAC group has a worldwide reputation for strong interdisciplinary research with impact in practice and for excellent educational programs. The OPAC group helps stakeholders across sectors to make smart, informed decisions, thereby contributing to more efficiency, enhanced (environmental) sustainability, better use of resources and reduced costs. The research of the group deals with the control of operational processes, which can be related to supply chains, manufacturing systems, high-tech equipment, distribution, transportation, warehousing, retail, and service processes such as equipment maintenance.

We are looking for two Assistant Professors in Operations Management. For one of the two positions, we are particularly interested in candidates with a focus on transportation and mobility.

As an Assistant Professor you will perform and publish top quality research, partly with PhD candidates that you co-supervise. Additionally, you will design and teach courses in the areas of operations management, supply chain management and/or transportation. Some of your teaching time is spent supervising Bachelor end projects and Master thesis projects.

With our embedding in the Brainport Eindhoven region, there are plenty of opportunities to collaborate with industry, learn from their problems, and make impact, both directly, with your PhD candidates, and through the Bachelor and Master students you supervise.

Job Requirements

• You are a motivated researcher, with a PhD in operations management, operations research, (applied) mathematics, econometrics or a comparable domain.
• Ability to conduct high-quality academic research, reflected in demonstratable outputs.
• Motivation to teach, contribute to teaching processes, and to develop excellent teaching skills.
• Strong cooperation skills and ability to work in an interdisciplinary team.
• Effective communication and leadership skills, including coaching and mentoring of students and staff, leading a project or chairing a group.
• Excellent (written and verbal) proficiency in English.

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:

• Salary in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities. For a starting/junior Assistant Professor, the gross base salary is in scale 11 and ranges from €4,925 to €6,682 per month (based on full-time employment).
• In addition to your base salary, you will receive an 8% holiday allowance and an 8.3% year-end bonus, both calculated based on your annual gross base salary.
• The possibility of an immediate tenured position for candidates who present a demonstrably qualified profile and possess at least two years of relevant experience following their PhD.
• Generous leave options: a standard 29 days (based on a 38 hour working week) per year that you can increase to 41 days by working two hours more per week (flexible working hours). This is prorated if you work part-time.
• As a TU/e employee, you participate in the ABP pension scheme, providing retirement pension and pension benefits for surviving dependents and occupational disability. TU/e pays 70% of the pension premium, while employees contribute the remaining 30%.
• A dedicated mentoring program to help you get to know the university and the Dutch (research) environment.
• A Development Track with the prospect of becoming an Associate Professor. If you have a more senior profile, a tailor-made career proposal will be considered.
• High-quality training programs for academic leadership and teaching.
• An excellent technical infrastructure, on-campus children's day care.
• Unlimited access to the modern on‑campus TU/e Student Sports Center at an exceptionally affordable rate.
• We support your wellbeing with free 24/7 access to OpenUp, providing you and your family with mental health support, expert guidance, and online training.
• Partially paid parental leave and an allowance for commuting, working from home and internet costs.
• A Staff Immigration Team is available for international candidates, as are a tax compensation scheme (the Expat Scheme) and partner career support.

On our website you can discover even more information about our conditions of employment. Build on your career at TU/e!

About us
We are a leading international university 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. Discover what Light Up means to TU/e in our short company video.

Our university is located in Brainport Eindhoven — a world‑leading tech region with more than 7,000 high‑tech companies and strong R&D activity. Known for breakthroughs in AI, photonics, semiconductors and advanced manufacturing, Brainport is a place where technology serves people and society. Learn more about the Brainport region here.

Information
Do you recognize yourself in this profile and would you like to know more? Please contact the hiring manager, prof.dr. Zümbül Atan, Full professor and chair of the OPAC group, z.atan@tue.nl.

Visit our website for more information about the application process. You can also contact Josje van Oudenaarden, Senior Recruiter, via j.e.v.oudenaarden@tue.nl or +31 643559575.

Curious to hear more about what it's like as a professor at TU/e? Please watch 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. 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.
• Description of your scientific interests and plans (1-2 pages).
• Statement of your teaching goals and experience (1-2 pages).

Ensure that you submit all the requested application documents. Please note that incomplete applications may not be considered and could be rejected.

We look forward to receiving your application no later than December 31, 2026, at 23:59 CET.

The recruitment process will typically include the following sequential selection rounds:

• Following an initial screening, selected candidates will be invited to online interviews with a selection committee in January 2027.
• Based on these interviews, shortlisted candidates will be invited to a campus visit, including an introduction to the group, department, and university, and a formal interview with the Recruitment Advisory Committee, including a presentation and mini lecture, to assess their suitability for the position.

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 Advanced Epitaxial Growth for InP-Based Photonic Integrated Circuits

Photonic integrated circuits - or optical chips - have evolved into a mature technology with a broad spectrum of use cases and a diversity of building blocks. For Indium Phosphide (InP) platforms, active components like lasers and semiconductor optical amplifiers (SOAs) are the engines of these circuits. The foundation of the performance of these devices lies in the precision of the underlying material. As the industry pushes towards large-scale integration, mastering the material growth, understanding the limits of the process, and understanding the science underpinning yield learning and manufacturability becomes of crucial importance.

We are seeking a PhD researcher to develop a deep understanding of the epitaxial growth of InP and its related compounds, specifically InGaAsP and InAlGaAs. Utilizing our state-of-the-art, newest-generation Aixtron epi reactor, you will explore the fundamental limits of the growth process. Your research will focus on optimizing material uniformity and directly correlating these foundational epitaxial properties to the final performance of (active and passive) photonic components. By mastering the growth phase, you will lay the groundwork for next-generation optical generation and amplification.

Furthermore, a significant pillar of this project is the science behind yield. You will conduct rigorous data analysis to gain insights into device yield, developing a deep understanding of failure mechanisms and sources of defects to improve long-term reliability. By establishing predictive models and novel process methods, you will aim to increase the accuracy and repeatability of manufacturing. To achieve this, you will collaborate closely with commercial foundry partners, leveraging real-life fab data to support and validate your models.

The position builds on the pioneering work in the foundry production of complex photonic integrated circuits in the JePPIX Pilot Line. The appointed person will work closely with a team of InP PIC technology experts inside the Photonic Integration Group and externally with integrated photonics researchers at our foundry partners.