Postdoc In assessing the structural performance of polymers in an alkaline electrolyzer

Introduction
Does failure not faze you? Then you might be our next Post-Doc working on the development of accurate, long-term failure models to predict the durability of selected engineering thermoplastics in an high-demanding application that will pave the way for a renewable future.

Job Description
The global shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources, such as solar, wind, and hydrogen, is essential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and combat climate change. One promising technology in this transition is alkaline electrolysis, a method used to produce hydrogen gas from water using electricity. In this process, water is split into hydrogen and oxygen in an alkaline solution, typically potassium hydroxide (KOH). The hydrogen produced can be stored, transported, and used as a clean fuel in various sectors, including industry, transportation, and power generation. Alkaline electrolysis is one of the most mature and cost-effective electrolysis technologies, making it a very likely key player in the development of a green hydrogen economy.

Electrolysis is carried out at elevated temperatures and under pressurized conditions. To contain this pressure, circular cell frames, typically made of metal, are stacked and clamped together with endplates to form the reactor. Metals are commonly used for their strength and durability. Alternatively, polymers can be employed, offering advantages as reduced weight and suitability for large-scale production through injection moulding. However, these materials face significant challenges, including exposure to high temperatures, sustained mechanical stress, and chemical degradation caused by the alkaline environment of potassium hydroxide (KOH).

For an alkaline electrolyser system that is being developed by Alquion (www.alquion.com), polymers and their mechanical lifetime play a major role. It is of essence to understand their behaviour over the full lifetime (10-20 yrs), including potential failure modes.

In this project we will investigate the long-term performance of selected polymers and develop accurate models to predict their mechanical performance . The project is run in close collaboration with our industrial partner, has a strong experimental character, and is aimed at establishing reliable lifetime predictions for the polymers employed.

Job Requirements

• Ability to conduct high quality academic research, reflected in demonstratable outputs.
• A team player who enjoys coaching PhD and Master's students and working in a dynamic, interdisciplinary team.
• A proven ability to manage complex projects to completion on schedule.
• Excellent (written and verbal) proficiency in English, good communication and leadership skills.

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 1 year.
• Salary in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, scale 10, ranging from € 4,422 (step 4) to € 5,760 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 on general skills, didactics and topics related to research and valorization.
• 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.
• 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 Expat Scheme) and a compensation for moving expenses.

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 Tom Engels, Associate Professor, t.a.p.engels@tue.nl or +31 40 247 2377.

Visit our website for more information about the application process. You can also contact HR Services, hrservices.me@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.
• List of up to five self-selected ‘best publications’.

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 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 assessing the structural performance of polymers in an alkaline electrolyzer

The global shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources, such as solar, wind, and hydrogen, is essential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and combat climate change. One promising technology in this transition is alkaline electrolysis, a method used to produce hydrogen gas from water using electricity. In this process, water is split into hydrogen and oxygen in an alkaline solution, typically potassium hydroxide (KOH). The hydrogen produced can be stored, transported, and used as a clean fuel in various sectors, including industry, transportation, and power generation. Alkaline electrolysis is one of the most mature and cost-effective electrolysis technologies, making it a very likely key player in the development of a green hydrogen economy.

Electrolysis is carried out at elevated temperatures and under pressurized conditions. To contain this pressure, circular cell frames, typically made of metal, are stacked and clamped together with endplates to form the reactor. Metals are commonly used for their strength and durability. Alternatively, polymers can be employed, offering advantages as reduced weight and suitability for large-scale production through injection moulding. However, these materials face significant challenges, including exposure to high temperatures, sustained mechanical stress, and chemical degradation caused by the alkaline environment of potassium hydroxide (KOH).

For an alkaline electrolyser system that is being developed by Alquion (www.alquion.com), polymers and their mechanical lifetime play a major role. It is of essence to understand their behaviour over the full lifetime (10-20 yrs), including potential failure modes.

In this project we will investigate the long-term performance of selected polymers and develop accurate models to predict their mechanical performance . The project is run in close collaboration with our industrial partner, has a strong experimental character, and is aimed at establishing reliable lifetime predictions for the polymers employed.

PhD Position in Bidirectional Power Converter Design and Control for Data Centers

Introduction
Data centers are the backbone of the digital economy, but their exponential growth in energy consumption-driven by AI and machine learning workloads-demands transformative solutions. The next-generation of data centers will be based on Solid-State Transformer, which enables energy distribution with higher efficiency, grid-friendly data center operation and etc.

This PhD position offers a unique opportunity to work at the intersection of power electronics, control systems, and grid integration, with direct collaboration with Delta Energy System GmbH, a global leader in power conversion for data centers. Your research will focus on power electronics converters for SST, focusing on the DC-DC stage.

Job Description
As a PhD candidate in the Electromechanics and Power Electronics (EPE) group at TU/e, you will with solid-state transformers (SST) for datacenter, focusing on the DC-DC stage. Your research will address the critical challenges of power density, efficiency, and grid stability in modern data centers, focusing on the converter design and advanced control/modulation strategies to achieve high performance and high controllability. Additionally, the design should be validate with experimental results. Your work will directly contribute to the sustainability of AI infrastructure by enabling data centers to efficiently integrate renewable energy sources, support grid stability, and reduce their carbon footprint. With access to cutting-edge tools and industrial collaboration, you will have the opportunity to shape the future of power electronics for data centers.

Job Requirements

• A master's degree (or equivalent university degree) in Electrical Engineering, Power Electronics, Control Systems, or a related field.
• A research-oriented attitude with strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work in an interdisciplinary team and interest in collaborating with industrial partners.
• Motivated to develop your teaching skills and coach students.

Based on our candidate assessment, the following skills are valuable:

Required:

• Demonstrated knowledge in power converter topologies (e.g., DC-DC, AC-DC, multilevel converters).
• Familiarity with control theory (e.g., classical control, state-space methods, model predictive control).
• Experience with simulation tools (MATLAB/Simulink, PLECS, or similar).
• Understanding of grid integration challenges (e.g., power quality, stability, renewable energy interfacing).

Advantageous:

• Hands-on experience with prototyping and experimental validation of power converters.
• Affinity with embedded systems (DSP, FPGA) for real-time control implementation.

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, do not hesitate to apply directly through our web platform. For additional information please contact: dr. Levy Costa, l.costa@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.
• A factual, position-focused 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.

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 Data- and AI-based solutions to improve child health and outcomes through housing

Introduction
Are you a graduate in exact sciences, engineering or econometrics, passionate about using data and AI to improve people's lives?Eindhoven University of Technology is looking for a PhD candidate to develop innovative data-driven solutions that predict and optimise the impact of housing improvements on children's health and wellbeing.

Job Description
Millions of children, even in high-income countries, are born and grow up in homes with poor insulation, inadequate heating, or insufficient ventilation, affecting their health and development. While housing upgrades are often motivated by sustainability and affordability goals, we focus on their potential benefits for future generations. How does inadequate housing during pregnancy and early childhood affect children's health and development? Which housing upgrades offer the greatest benefits? And how can behavioural modelling, big data and AI help shape healthier, more equitable homes? These are the questions your PhD research will tackle.

You will join an interdisciplinary team of researchers and practitioners, working at the intersection of housing, public health, climate adaptation, and social equity. Combining medical and behavioural insights, large-scale data analysis, computer vision and advanced statistical methods, you will be tranforming complex unstructured housing and health data into predictive models. The results will feed into a digital tool to predict and optimise the impact of housing upgrades across different scenarios, helping housing providers and municipalities create healthier, more resilient homes for families.

This research is part of the NWO-funded research programme Homes for Upcoming Generations, which brings together social scientists, medical doctors, building engineers and industry partners.

As a PhD candidate, you will be part of the TU/e's internationally renowned Urban Systems and Real Estate group (Department of the Built Environment), conducting cutting-edge research at the intersection of urban systems, real estate, data science, and smart technologies. The four-year program combines advanced training with impactful research, offering strong support for professional development through courses, seminars, and international conferences. You will collaborate closely with scientific partners at Erasmus Medical Centre, Erasmus University Rotterdam, VU University Amsterdam, as well as societal partners including housing providers, municipalities and engineering bureaus.

Job Requirements
The candidates should have:

• An MSc degree in Exact or data sciences/ Quantitative economics/ Engineering.
• A strong educational track-record including at least several of the following subjects: calculus, linear algebra, computational modelling, microeconomics, econometrics, operations research, data science.
• A proven experience of programming in Python and working with (big) data.
• Having working experience at a European research institute or a European university is an advantage.
• Strong demonstrable analytical skills and proficiency in English (spoken and written).
• Affinity with collaboration with industry, ability to bring together fundamental and applied research.

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 Leo van Houten, e-mail: L.v.Houten@tue.nl, phone: 040 – 247 8269.

Visit our website for more information about the application process. You can also contact Ioulia Ossokina, Associate professor, i.v.ossokina@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.

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 Position in Bidirectional Power Converter Design and Control for Data Centers

As a PhD candidate in the Electromechanics and Power Electronics (EPE) group at TU/e, you will with solid-state transformers (SST) for datacenter, focusing on the DC-DC stage. Your research will address the critical challenges of power density, efficiency, and grid stability in modern data centers, focusing on the converter design and advanced control/modulation strategies to achieve high performance and high controllability. Additionally, the design should be validate with experimental results. Your work will directly contribute to the sustainability of AI infrastructure by enabling data centers to efficiently integrate renewable energy sources, support grid stability, and reduce their carbon footprint. With access to cutting-edge tools and industrial collaboration, you will have the opportunity to shape the future of power electronics for data centers.