PhD Bio- carbon-sequestered multifunctional white coatings sustainable buildings

Job Details

Organisation/Company: KU LEUVEN;
Department:
Engineering Technology Research Field Engineering – Chemical Engineering – Materials Engineering;
Technology:
Chemical Technology, Materials Technology, Nanotechnology;
Profile:
First Stage Researcher (R1);
Final date to receive applications: 28 Feb 2026 23:59 (UTC);
Country:
Belgium;
Type of

Contract:

Temporary;
Status:
Full time;
Offer Starting Date: 1 Oct 2026;
Not funded by a EU programme;
Reference Number: BAP-2026-37;
Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure:
No

This PhD position is part of the FWO-funded project ECOSPHERE, which aims to develop novel sustainable building materials by directly converting CO2 into functional carbonates that function as carbon-negative, high-performance fillers in coatings and plasters.

This PhD will focus on the process-structure and structure-property relationships governing the synthesis of the functional carbonates and their application in white interior coatings. The work advances a completely new class of carbon sequestered pigments that may replace TiO2, one of the most energy-intensive, resource-critical, and costly components of white paint.

This research combines materials chemistry, colloidal and interface science, rheology, and coating technology, and offers collaboration with industrial partners.

• A European Master’s degree (or obtained before starting the PhD) in Engineering Technology, Materials Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Nanoscience, Sustainable Materials, or a closely related field, and ranks within the top 10% of his/her class.
• Strong interest in materials synthesis and characterization, colloid science, microscopy, coating formulations, and/or building materials.
• Motivation to work across disciplines and collaborate within a dynamic research team.
• Excellent communication skills in English, and willingness to present their research results at national and international conferences, on social media, and to write research papers for publication in international peer‑reviewed journals.
• Willingness to contribute in teaching activities and co‑supervision of undergraduate projects.
• Willingness to write a PhD fellowship proposal.
• Flexibility, good time management skills and self‑discipline, skills to work independently and in a team.
• A creative, critical, analytical and innovative mindset.
• Experience as a researcher or in industry is a plus.
• Hands‑on experience with any of the following is an advantage: SEM, TEM, XRD, FTIR, TGA;
  Rheology (plate‑plate rheometer, viscometry);
  Polymer or mineral particle synthesis;
  Coating formulation and characterization.
• Authored or co‑authored peer‑reviewed publications is a plus.
• Communication skills in Dutch is a major advantage.

The successful candidate will be hired as a PhD researcher at KU Leuven, one of Europe’s leading research universities. We offer a full‑time one year contract which can be prolonged to four years upon positive evaluation. Your main working place is the campus in Bruges with access to a large number of facilities. The candidate will have the possibility to contribute to high‑impact sustainable technologies with real industrial relevance, and work within a dynamic team of excellent researchers supported by a supervisory team providing structured PhD mentoring.

For more information please contact Prof. dr. Veerle Vandeginste, mail: ve