Senior academic 'Cyber-Physical Intelligence en Embedded Systems

Organisation/Company Hasselt University Research Field Engineering Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Recognised Researcher (R2) Positions PhD Positions Final date to receive applications 16 Mar 2026 - 23:59 (Europe/Brussels) Country Belgium Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Hours Per Week 38 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme Reference Number 256/ZAP/008 Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?

No

Teaching assignment

You will take on teaching assignments within the joint bachelor's and master's programs in engineering technology at Hasselt University and KU Leuven on the Diepenbeek Campus. You will teach and coordinate courses within your area of expertise, familiarizing students with the development of intelligent and embedded systems, edge computing, and data-driven decision-making, with the aim of training engineers who can thoughtfully combine software and hardware into reliable, secure, and future-oriented cyber-physical applications.
You will develop new educational initiatives in line with technological and scientific developments, actively contribute to curriculum renewal, and supervise bachelor's and master's theses. You will employ an activating teaching approach with intensive guidance, constructive feedback, and close interaction with students, in line with the educational vision of Hasselt University and our program.

Research assignment

You will develop an internationally competitive research program on cyber-physical intelligence , focusing on AI-driven engineering and embedded systems. You will combine fundamental and applied research, working on topics such as scalable embedded systems, energy-efficient AI models, reliable and secure control mechanisms, sensor-actuator architectures, and hardware-software co-design .

You will secure external research funding, supervise doctoral students, and actively collaborate with national and international academic partners, companies, and societal stakeholders. You will contribute to scientific breakthroughs and stimulate applications in areas such as smart manufacturing, automation, robotics, intelligent instrumentation, and digital twins .

You will strengthen the Digital Future Lab and position UHasselt as a reference in cyber-physical intelligence, with an eye for valorization, industrial collaboration, spin-offs, and societal impact.

• You have a PhD in engineering or science (computer science) or an equivalent relevant field, with demonstrable expertise within the research domain of this position.
• You have expertise in embedded software engineering and edge computing, with a clear link to AI integration in cyber-physical applications. You can translate (algorithmic) concepts related to topics such as machine learning, real-time inference, and adaptive control into robust, energy-efficient, and secure processes, architectures, and implementations.
• You have experience in developing cyber-physical systems in complex, dynamic, or industrial environments.
  
  You have insight into hardware-software co-design, sensor-actuator architectures, digital signal processing, and industrial communication protocols and can integrate these into AI-driven systems.
• You have a strong vision of the role of AI in industrial digitization, such as smart manufacturing, robotics, digital twins, and related domains in which cyber-physical systems are key technologies.
• You have a solid scientific track record with publications in leading journals, contributions to conferences, and participation in or leadership of (interdisciplinary) research projects. You are able to develop an innovative line of research within an international context and secure external funding.
• You are an inspiring mentor who derives energy from coaching and supervising master's and doctoral students,and actively contribute to their academic development. You can develop sustainable partnerships with companies, governments, and social actors, with a focus on valorization, service provision, and knowledge exchange.
• You preferably have teaching experience in an academic context,…