ABOUT GHENT UNIVERSITY
Ghent University is a world of its own. Employing more than 15,000 people, it is actively involved in education and research, management and administration, as well as technical and social service provision on a daily basis. It is one of the largest and most exciting employers in the area and offers great career opportunities.
With its 11 faculties and more than 85 departments offering state-of-the-art study programmes grounded in research across a wide range of academic fields, Ghent University is a logical choice for its staff and students.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
Join an exciting interdisciplinary PhD project at the frontier of Earth science, physics, and bio-science.
Biofilms are communities of microorganisms embedded in a slimy polymer-based material that is secreted to protect against mechanical and chemical stresses. A sizeable part of Earth's biomass exists in biofilms within and on porous Earth materials such as rocks and sediments.
These biofilms interact with groundwater, air, and other fluids flowing through porous materials. As a result, they influence soil health, groundwater flow, pollutant transport and remediation, weathering of building stone, and fouling of underground natural gas or hydrogen storage.
Although recent research has shown that biofilm behaviour in porous materials is closely linked to fluid flow, the underlying physical mechanisms remain poorly understood.
Biofilms form a living composite with their host rock, where pore architecture and fluid flow continuously influence one another. Understanding these coupled physical dynamics is currently limited by the extreme opacity of three-dimensional geo-materials and the structural variability of living microbial communities.
As a PhD researcher in the Department of Geology at Ghent University, you will work toward a PhD degree by developing innovative experimental platforms for tunable artificial biofilms within both 2D and 3D porous media.
The project combines advanced optical imaging, X-ray imaging techniques, systematic variation of material properties, and controlled fluid flow experiments.
The research aims to map the hydromechanical behaviour of biofilms and develop a comprehensive physical framework describing biofilm evolution.
The results will provide fundamental insights into biofilm-environment interactions and improve predictions of microbial activity, flow behaviour in porous rocks, subsurface systems, and stone buildings and monuments.
These advances are essential for addressing major challenges in energy, water resources, and environmental sustainability.
The successful candidate will join the PProGRess Research Team under the supervision of Prof. Tom Bultreys and Prof. Veerle Cnudde.
REQUIREMENTS AND QUALIFICATIONS
Applicants should have a Master’s degree, preferably in Geology, Physics, Bio-engineering, Chemical Engineering, Environmental Engineering, or a related discipline. Candidates with an equivalent background or relevant experience are also encouraged to apply.
Applicants should demonstrate a passion for scientific research and interest in experimental laboratory research.
Experience in one or more of the following areas is considered an advantage: wet laboratory work with hydrogels or complex fluids, advanced optical imaging, X-ray imaging methods such as micro-CT, microfluidics, rheometry.
Applicants should have, or be willing to develop, a basic understanding of fluid mechanics and knowledge of fluid flow in porous media.
An interest in soft matter physics, rheology, mechanical behaviour of Earth materials, complex fluids, hydrogels, and biological materials is also desirable.
The successful candidate should enjoy interdisciplinary research, be eager to learn new experimental methods, and communicate effectively with colleagues from different scientific backgrounds.
Ghent University values diverse perspectives and strongly encourages applications from candidates of all genders and backgrounds.
WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU
Ghent University offers a full-time doctoral fellow position. An initial appointment of 12 months, extendable after a positive evaluation to a maximum of 48 months. An earliest possible starting date of 01/10/2026.
The fellowship includes a fellowship equal to 100% of the net salary of an AAP member with equivalent family circumstances. Additional benefits include extensive training and education opportunities, 36 days of annual leave, annual bridge days, bicycle allowance, and eco vouchers.
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