PHD POSITION: NANO-PHOTOCATALYSTS FOR DEGRADATION OF CECS USING MACHINE LEARNING

(ref. BAP-2025-177)
Laatst aangepast: 03/04/25
The current position will be embedded in the CREaS division of the Chemical Engineering Department at KU Leuven. The team lead by Prof. Raf Dewil will be the main host and focuses on innovative wastewater treatment, advanced oxidation processes, nanomaterial-based water purification, and resource recovery. We develop sustainable, high-performance chemical and electrochemical treatment technologies, with applications in contaminant removal, circular economy strategies, and industrial process optimization. Using advanced spectroscopy, chromatography, and pilot-scale testing, we aim to bridge the gap between fundamental research and real-world environmental challenges. We collaborate with industrial partners and international institutions to develop scalable, energy-efficient solutions for wastewater treatment and pollutant degradation. To cover artificial intelligence (AI) aspects included in this PhD topic, the work will be co-supervised by Prof. Florence Vermeire, who specializes in machine learning-driven process optimization and data analysis. Her expertise ensures that modeling and computational techniques complement the experimental work in nanophotocatalysis, leading to optimized performance and predictive modeling of treatment processes.
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PROFILE

We are looking for a highly motivated and ambitious candidate with a strong background in chemical engineering, environmental engineering, materials science, or a related field, combined with experience in nanomaterials, catalysis, and computational modeling.
The ideal candidate should have a passion for experimental and computational research in sustainable wastewater treatment and environmental nanotechnology.

Qualifications & Skills:

• A Master’s degree in Chemical Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Materials Science, or a related field.
• Experience in catalysis and photocatalysis, with a solid understanding of wastewater treatment processes and advanced oxidation techniques.
• Knowledge of photocatalytic heterojunction materials.
• Interest in computational approaches and machine learning. Preliminary expertise with python or similar languages is required, expertise in advanced machine learning is an added value.
• Proficiency in English, both written and spoken.

Candidates with experience in both experimental and computational research are strongly encouraged to apply.
This position offers a unique opportunity to work at the intersection of nanomaterials, photochemistry, and artificial intelligence, contributing to the advancement of next-generation water treatment technologies.

Please refer the Job description for details