PhD position: Real-time monitoring of the remaining useful life of an electronic system with a data-based approach

What you will do

Dr. Bart Vandevelde from VZW Interuniversitair Micro-Electronica Centrum (IMEC) in Leuven, Belgium, Dr. Onur Atak and Dr. Gwendal Jouan from Siemens Industry Software NV in Leuven, Belgium are looking for a PhD candidate to join a three-year research training within the EU-funded MCSA industrial doctorate MIRELAI. You will be enrolled in the PhD programme of Katholieke Universiteit Leuven and supervised by Dr. Bart Vandevelde (IMEC) and Prof. Mathias Verbeke (KU Leuven).
The aim of this PhD track is to develop an AI methodology, using machine learning (ML) approaches, to predict the remaining useful lifetime of electronic systems by fusing data obtained from both sensors and simulations. The idea is to use the ML-based approach to compensate for the limitations of an approach that relies solely on simulations (uncertainty on the material parameters etc.). The simulation data will be based on a model developed in a parallel PhD track with which close collaboration is expected. Experimental validation of the methodology will also be carried out.

What we do for you

As a PhD candidate, you will be employed for 18 months each by IMEC and Siemens. During the placement at Siemens, you will also undertake a 1-month placement at Polymer Competence Center Leoben GmbH (PCCL), supervised by Prof. Dieter Gruber and Dr. Peter Fuchs.

The successful candidate will benefit from an innovation-driven industrial environment. Personalised career development plans will be established to support the needs of the PhD candidate. The Phd candidate will receive an attractive salary in accordance with the MSCA regulations.

Expected start date: The individual PhD project is set to start between 01-12-2023 and 01-02-2024

Who you are

The requirements for this position are:

• Specific Eligibility Criteria on the Horizon Europe: Marie Skłodowska-Curie (MSCA) programme apply, including the mobility rule and PhD rules. Applicants of any nationality are welcome. 
• The candidate should have a strong background in modelling and data science, with a master’s degree in mechanical/electrical/mathematical engineering or related fields.
• An experience with statistics and machine learning is a strong plus.
• English proficiency.
• not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in Belgium for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before the recruitment date — unless as part of a compulsory national service or a procedure for obtaining refugee status under the Geneva Convention

Complete applications in English should include:

• CV* and Letter of motivation
• Letter of recommendation
• English language proficiency certificate(s) (not for native speakers)
  
  * The CV must be signed by the candidate and has to bear the following sentence concerning the management of candidate’s personal data: “The undersigned Name and Surname authorizes the management of his/her personal data contained in the application documents as foreseen by the European Regulation 2016/679 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data and declares to be aware of the rights of the data subject as listed in Chapter III of the aforementioned European Regulation”.