Anatomical phantoms and test environment - PhD Position (f​/m​/x

Transfers, Interfaces & Processes (TIPs) ()

Organisation/Company Transfers, Interfaces & Processes (TIPs) () Research Field Engineering Physics Medical sciences Technology Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Positions PhD Positions Final date to receive applications 31 Aug 2026 - 23:59 (Europe/Brussels) Country Belgium Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Hours Per Week 38 Offer Starting Date 15 Sep 2026 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?

Horizon Europe - MSCA Reference Number EU HORIZON-MSCA-2025-DN-01-01 #  Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

This project takes place within the Marie Curie Doctoral Network on Soft Active Matter Microrobots for Medicine (SAM3). This doctoral network of 12 PhD candidates aims at exploring the ear-nose-throat area from a microrobotics perspective. Thanks to active matter and small scale microrobotics engineering, three specific goals are targeted: (1) access the middle ear through the Eustachian tube; (2) access the olfactory clefts for mucosal biopsy;

(3) access the skull cavity through the nose and the cribble plate for cerebrospinal fluid biopsy.

This specific PhD proposalon the development of anatomical phantoms and test environment sis central in the doctoral network project. Different phantoms will be produced from patient specific anatomical data and instrumented to enable test and validation of the various proof-of-concepts developed by the other doctoral candidates of the network, including test of navigation, drug delivery, biopsies, imaging, force measurement.

The challenges include the multiscale manufacturing of these anatomical cavities including rigidity contrasts between different locations as artefacts of bones or soft tissues. Biological cells or artificial mucosa will be considered to coat the phantoms.

We are seeking talented and enthusiastic students to perform a PhD, with a solid background in in engineering and design, with a strong interest in polymers, manufacturing and cad-cam tools, medical applications, image processing, instrumentation. He/she will be registered within Doctoral School in Engineering Sciences and Technology at ULB with Prof. Pierre LAMBERT (ULB, Belgium) as supervisor) and Prof. Marc VANDER GHINST (ULB, Medicine Faculty and Academic Hospital Erasme, Belgium) as co-supervisor.

The candidate should have good command of spoken and written English, and French, German or Italian skills are of course an asset.

Candidates are invited to look at other positions and can apply to several positions.

Research Field Chemistry Education Level Master Degree or equivalent

Research Field Engineering Education Level Master Degree or equivalent

Research Field Physics Education Level Master Degree or equivalent

Research Field Medical sciences Education Level Master Degree or equivalent

Skills/Qualifications

• strong background in engineering or physics (modelling, design, understanding of fabrication constraints, image processing, instrumentation) and interest for medical applications
• strong motivation for research (curiosity, commitment, teamwork spirit and open to discussions with colleagues, science, modelling, experiments, writing and communication skills)

Specific Requirements

• Not having resided in Belgium for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately before the recruitment date and not having carried out main activity (work, studies, etc.) in Belgium this period.
• Less than 5 years career at the recruitment and not having doctoral degree;
• Research experience in the academic or in the industrial sector will be considered

Languages ENGLISH Level Excellent

Languages FRENCH Level Good

Languages ITALIAN Level Basic

Languages GERMAN Level Basic

Research Field Chemistry Physics Engineering Medical  sciences

Technology Years of Research Experience 1 - 4

The candidate will be employed as an Early Stage Researcher according to MSCA DN regulations, which offer excellent employment conditions including a high base salary and many additional benefits such as allowances for travel, mobility and family. The family allowance is…