Postdoctoral Position in Electronics Engineering (University of Antwerp)

Let’s shape the future – University of Antwerp The University of Antwerp is a dynamic, forward-thinking European university. We offer innovative academic education to more than 20,000 students, conduct pioneering scientific research, and play an important service-providing role in society. We are one of the largest, most international, and most innovative employers in the region. With more than 6,000 employees from 100 different countries, we are helping to build tomorrow’s world every day. Through top scientific research, we push back boundaries and set a course for the future – a future that you can help shape. The Department of Electrical and ICT Engineering Technology in the Faculty of Applied Engineering is looking for a full-time (100%) Doctoral scholarship holder in in-air acoustic sensing and applied machine learning for intelligent robotic systems This position is embedded in the Cosys-lab research group, under the supervision of Prof. Jan Steckel and Prof. Walter Daems. Position You will work actively on the preparation and defence of a PhD thesis at the crossroads of robotics, signal processing, and machine learning. You will investigate how graph-based representations of acoustic scene information can be leveraged to model and interpret complex environments. By combining these representations with predictive processing frameworks, the project aims to enable robots to anticipate and adapt to sensory input rather than merely react to it. Special emphasis will be placed on ultrasound-based sensing in air, advancing perception capabilities for intelligent robotic systems capable of navigating and interacting with their surroundings in a more human-like, cognitive manner. You will publish scientific articles related to your research. You will contribute to a limited number of teaching and research support tasks for courses related to cyber-physical systems and applied image/data processing. Profile You hold a Master’s degree in Computer Science, Electronics Engineering, or an equivalent field (or will have obtained it by the time you start work). You can demonstrate strong academic results. Your teaching competences align with the University of Antwerp’s educational vision. Your research qualities are in line with the faculty and university research policies. You act with attention to quality, integrity, creativity, and cooperation. You have experience with, or are motivated to learn about, robotics frameworks such as ROS2. You have hands-on experience with machine learning frameworks and scientific computing environments such as PyTorch and Matlab. You are eager to broaden your expertise with a curious, scientific mindset. What we offer A doctoral scholarship for a period of two years. Following a positive evaluation and subject to available funding, the scholarship can be renewed for another two years. You will be expected to submit an application to the Flemish Science Fund (FWO) for a full doctoral scholarship during the first year of your appointment. The planned start date is 1 January 2026 or as soon as possible thereafter. Your monthly scholarship amount is calculated according to the standard amounts for doctoral scholarship holders. In addition, you will receive ecocheques, an Internet-connectivity allowance, and either a bicycle allowance or a full reimbursement of public transport costs for commuting. You will carry out most of your work at Campus Groenenborger in a dynamic and stimulating working environment. Learn more about working at the University of Antwerp here. Want to apply? Apply for this vacancy through the University of Antwerp’s online job application platform until 30 October 2025 (midnight Brussels time). Click on the Apply button, complete the online form, and upload the following documents: a motivation letter your academic CV a short text explaining how your research interests align with the topics in ultrasound/robotics/ML pursued by Prof. Jan Steckel and Prof. Walter Daems. The selection committee will review applications shortly after the deadline. Candidates will be notified as soon as a decision is made. If you are shortlisted after pre-selection, you will be informed about the next steps in the selection procedure. Questions about the online application? Check the FAQ or contact jobs@uantwerpen.be. Questions about the job itself? Contact Prof. Jan Steckel (jan.steckel@uantwerpen.be). The University of Antwerp received the European Commission’s HR Excellence in Research Award for its HR policy. We are a sustainable, family-friendly organisation that invests in employee growth. We encourage diversity and attach great importance to an inclusive working environment and equal opportunities, regardless of gender identity, disability, race, ethnicity, religion or belief, sexual orientation or age. We welcome applications from candidates with diverse backgrounds and characteristics. If you apply for this position please say you saw it on Engineeroxy

Let’s shape the future – University of Antwerp

The University of Antwerp is a dynamic, forward-thinking European university. We offer innovative academic education to more than 20,000 students, conduct pioneering scientific research, and play an important service-providing role in society. We are one of the largest, most international, and most innovative employers in the region. With more than 6,000 employees from 100 different countries, we are helping to build tomorrow’s world every day. Through top scientific research, we push back boundaries and set a course for the future – a future that you can help shape.

The Department of Electrical and ICT Engineering Technology in the Faculty of Applied Engineering is looking for a full-time (100%)

Doctoral scholarship holder in in-air acoustic sensing and applied machine learning for intelligent robotic systems

This position is embedded in the Cosys-lab research group, under the supervision of Prof. Jan Steckel and Prof. Walter Daems.

Position

You will work actively on the preparation and defence of a PhD thesis at the crossroads of robotics, signal processing, and machine learning.
You will investigate how graph-based representations of acoustic scene information can be leveraged to model and interpret complex environments. By combining these representations with predictive processing frameworks, the project aims to enable robots to anticipate and adapt to sensory input rather than merely react to it.
Special emphasis will be placed on ultrasound-based sensing in air, advancing perception capabilities for intelligent robotic systems capable of navigating and interacting with their surroundings in a more human-like, cognitive manner.
You will publish scientific articles related to your research.
You will contribute to a limited number of teaching and research support tasks for courses related to cyber-physical systems and applied image/data processing.

Profile

You hold a Master’s degree in Computer Science, Electronics Engineering, or an equivalent field (or will have obtained it by the time you start work).
You can demonstrate strong academic results.
Your teaching competences align with the University of Antwerp’s educational vision.
Your research qualities are in line with the faculty and university research policies.
You act with attention to quality, integrity, creativity, and cooperation.
You have experience with, or are motivated to learn about, robotics frameworks such as ROS2.
You have hands-on experience with machine learning frameworks and scientific computing environments such as PyTorch and Matlab.
You are eager to broaden your expertise with a curious, scientific mindset.

What we offer

A doctoral scholarship for a period of two years. Following a positive evaluation and subject to available funding, the scholarship can be renewed for another two years.
You will be expected to submit an application to the Flemish Science Fund (FWO) for a full doctoral scholarship during the first year of your appointment.
The planned start date is 1 January 2026 or as soon as possible thereafter.
Your monthly scholarship amount is calculated according to the standard amounts for doctoral scholarship holders.
In addition, you will receive ecocheques, an Internet-connectivity allowance, and either a bicycle allowance or a full reimbursement of public transport costs for commuting.
You will carry out most of your work at Campus Groenenborger in a dynamic and stimulating working environment.
Learn more about working at the University of Antwerp here.

Want to apply?

Apply for this vacancy through the University of Antwerp’s online job application platform until 30 October 2025 (midnight Brussels time).
Click on the Apply button, complete the online form, and upload the following documents:
- a motivation letter
- your academic CV
- a short text explaining how your research interests align with the topics in ultrasound/robotics/ML pursued by Prof. Jan Steckel and Prof. Walter Daems.
The selection committee will review applications shortly after the deadline. Candidates will be notified as soon as a decision is made. If you are shortlisted after pre-selection, you will be informed about the next steps in the selection procedure.
Questions about the online application? Check the FAQ or contact jobs@uantwerpen.be.
Questions about the job itself? Contact Prof. Jan Steckel (jan.steckel@uantwerpen.be).

The University of Antwerp received the European Commission’s HR Excellence in Research Award for its HR policy. We are a sustainable, family-friendly organisation that invests in employee growth. We encourage diversity and attach great importance to an inclusive working environment and equal opportunities, regardless of gender identity, disability, race, ethnicity, religion or belief, sexual orientation or age. We welcome applications from candidates with diverse backgrounds and characteristics.

If you apply for this position please say you saw it on Engineeroxy

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