Doctoral Fellowship

Doctoral Fellowship
- Multimodal portable units for biofilm monitoring and inhibition

Category: Academic Staff & Researchers

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- Working at the VUB

For more than 50 years, the Vrije Universiteit Brussel has stood for freedom, equality and solidarity, and this is very much alive on our campuses among students and staff alike.

At the VUB, you will find a diverse collection of personalities: innovators pur sang, but above all people who are 100% their authentic selves. With some 4,000 employees, we are the largest Dutch-speaking employer, in the private sector, in Brussels; an international city with which we are only too happy to connect and where (around) our 4 campuses are located.

Add to this our principle of free research
- in which self-reflection, a critical attitude and an open, creative mind around scientific and social issues are central
- and you have a university that is fundamentally groundbreaking and pioneering in education and research. In short: the VUB all over again.

Moreover, the VUB is a member of EUTOPIA, an alliance of like-minded European universities, all ready to reinvent themselves.

The Faculty of Engineering, Department Applied Physics and Photonics, Research Group Brussels Photonics Team,is looking for a PhD-student with a doctoral grant.

The work will focus on the development of a portable fluorescence/Raman sensing unit to monitor microbial colonisation on stained glass with the integration of a light-based pretreatment (e.g. UV-C) to inhibit biofilm formation.

Stained-glass panels represent iconic elements of European cultural heritage, reflecting the technological craftsmanship of different regions and historical periods. Despite advances in stained-glass conservation, research gaps remain in material characterisation, in understanding and mitigating the environmental and human factors driving glass deterioration and in implementing sustainable conservation strategies. The presence of stained glass extends beyond cathedrals, shaping the decoration of parish churches and private buildings. Comprehensive documentation of Europe’s stained-glass heritage remains fragmented and incomplete, leaving many artworks unrecorded and at risk of disappearing without trace.

Existing conservation approaches lack methods to non‑destructively monitor biofilm formation in situ and to effectively remove biofilms and alteration layers without compromising fragile surfaces. Moreover, traditional cleaning methods are often toxic and resource-intensive, highlighting the need for eco‑friendly alternatives.

The goal of this PhD project is to develop a portable fluorescence/Raman sensing unit to monitor microbial colonisation on stained glass and to integrate a light-based pretreatment to inhibit biofilm formation. The research aims to detect biofilm activity even under strong optical interference and inhibit biofilm formation by a spectrally tailored light distribution, ideally integrated within a single protocol.

This position is offered in the framework of the ITN DN Marie Sklodowska-Curie Doctoral Network with the project acronym ‘Glass-Care’ (DC09) ( https://glasscare.eu ).

We are looking for a highly motivated PhD candidate in photonics to join our team under the supervision of Prof. Wendy Meulebroeck. You are motivated to conduct scientific research and complete a PhD within four years aligning with the goals of the Glass-Care network. You will participate in network-wide training events, summer schools and workshops. You will work closely with researchers at B-PHOT and with international partners during research visits abroad (secondments), present your results at international conferences and build an international network in optics and spectroscopy. You will publish your research results in international peer-reviewed scientific journals. The position also includes, to a limited extent, coordinating and supervising exercises, practical sessions and projects (WPO) for courses offered by the B-PHOT department. The specific assignment will be determined annually in consultation with you and your colleagues. You will also contribute to outreach activities promoting science to the broad audience. You are open-minded, communicative and collegial towards your co-workers. You actively contribute to the department’s general operation and practical organisation. You will join a team that places a strong emphasis on collaboration, knowledge sharing and effective onboarding.

For this function, ourBrussels Humanities, Sciences & Engineering Campus (Elsene)will serve as your home base.

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- Profile

What do we expect from you?

You hold a master’s degree in engineering sciences (Photonics, Electronics and Information Technology) or (Applied) Physics, or a degree recognised as equiva