University of Twente, Netherlands invites online Application for number of Funded PhD Opportunities in various Departments. We are providing a list of Fully Funded Doctoral Research Positions available at University of Twente, Netherlands.
Eligible candidate may Apply as soon as possible.
(01) Funded PhD Opportunities
Summary/title: PhD Position in Real-Time Multimodal Construction Transport Optimization & AI-Driven Decision Support (MULTIPLIER Project)
In this PhD project, you will:
- Develop real-time optimization and hybrid AI models for end-to-end multimodal transport planning under uncertainty.
- Design synchronization, consolidation, and matchmaking algorithms that align prefab factory production schedules with IWT capacity, terminals, and urban delivery windows.
- Model multi-level planning decisions, connecting early feasibility assessment and quotation with tactical release planning and real-time operational dispatching.
- Incorporate urban and site-specific constraints, such as quay availability, zero-emission zones, access windows, and reverse logistics flows.
- Build explainable, scenario-based decision support that helps planners decide when and how IWT can be applied effectively.
- Work closely with a large multi-actor consortium, including factories, logistics providers, ports, and municipalities.
- Contribute to Living Lab pilots that demonstrate real-world applicability and scalable logistics impact.
Closing date : 24 Jan 2026
(02) Funded PhD Opportunities
Summary/title: PhD Position in Predictive Planning & Hybrid AI for High-Mix, Low-Volume Manufacturing (Industrial Doctorate with Thales)
We are looking for a highly motivated PhD candidate to advance predictive, data-driven production and materials planning incorporating the high variability in high-mix, low-volume (HMLV) manufacturing environments. This position is part of an Industrial Doctorate, meaning the candidate will spend part of the PhD physically at Thales, working directly with planners, engineers, and data teams on real production challenges.
The PhD will be hosted by the Industrial Engineering and Management Sciences (IEMS) section in the High-tech Business & Entrepreneurship (HBE) department of the University of Twente.
This PhD position, designed with Thales NL, as an industrial doctorate position is part of the Predictive Plan programme, aimed as a flagship project for changing planning and scheduling in high mix low volume (HMLV) production by leveraging hybrid AI, data-driven workload estimation, intelligent release planning, and explainable decision support.
Closing date : 24 Jan 2026
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(03) Funded PhD Opportunities
Summary/title: PhD position on Real-Time Detection of DNS Abuse, from Reactive to Proactive
Malicious actors increasingly abuse the Domain Name System (DNS) by registering new domains for phishing, malware distribution, and other cybercriminal activities.
The speed and volume of these registrations pose a persistent challenge for defenders, who are often forced into a reactive cycle, not to mention that they cause a large waste of resources
that impact the sustainability of the DNS. By the time a malicious domain is flagged by threat intelligence feeds, damage has often already occurred, exposing the limitations of current
detection timelines.
This reactive posture is worsened by a visibility gap in the DNS ecosystem. A lack of transparency in registration data, coupled with the short-lived nature of many malicious domains,
leaves defenders blind to early-stage abuse. Adversaries exploit this opacity to avoid attribution and disrupt detection workflows, often discarding domains within hours of activation.
This project aims to close this gap by developing methods to identify malicious domains closer to their inception, as soon as indicators of compromise surface. Building on our prior work using public data sources such as Certificate Transparency (CT) logs, the Ph.D. candidate will design and implement techniques to flag suspicious registrations in near real-time, helping shift the response model from reactive to proactive. The goal is to increase transparency and
trust in the DNS namespace.
Closing date : 15 Feb 2026
(04) Funded PhD Opportunities
Summary/title: 2x PhD positions in the Mathematical Foundations of Machine Learning on Graphs and Networks
The Discrete Mathematics and Mathematical Programming (DMMP) group at the University of Twente is looking for two PhD candidates to join the research team of Dr. Gaurav Rattan. The positions are funded by the NWO VIDI project Learning on Graphs: Symmetry Meets Structure (LOGSMS).
The field of Machine Learning on Graphs aims to extract knowledge from graph-structured and network data through powerful machine learning models. Designing provably powerful learning models for graphs will require new mathematical machinery.
LOGSMS will combine diverse tools from discrete mathematics, learning theory and machine learning, thus facilitating the design and analysis of such models.
PhD position 1 will focus on developing new graph-theoretic frameworks for analyzing graph learning models, such as Graph Neural Networks or Graph Transformers.
PhD position 2 will focus on designing scalable graph learning models, primarily geared towards assisting combinatorial solvers for practical graph algorithm benchmarks.
Closing date : 15 Jan 2026
(05) Funded PhD Opportunities
Summary/title: PhD position on Interaction Design of Simulation Games and Geospatial Digital Twins
Are you passionate about interaction design and understanding how groups work with geospatial data and simulations? Are you interested in advancing interaction and visualization techniques for simulation games and geospatial digital twins? Do you want to understand how these are used by diverse groups of stakeholders to gain understanding of an environmental system’s complexity? Join us as a PhD researcher!
Closing date : 31 Jan 2026
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(06) Funded PhD Opportunities
Summary/title: PhD/Postdoc positie: Inkoop in Publiek-Private Infrastructuur Ecosystemen
De samenleving staat voor grote uitdagingen waar de schaarste van arbeid en materialen, het implementeren van digitale technologieën en klimaatadaptatie onderdeel van zijn. Dit wordt versterkt doordat een groot deel van onze huidige fysieke infrastructuur (zoals bruggen, wegen, spoor, waterleidingen) aan vernieuwing toe is zodat Nederland voor iedereen en altijd veilig, leefbaar en bereikbaar blijft. Vanuit de Universiteit Twente doen we onderzoek naar hoe het denken in ecosystemen de samenwerking tussen overheden, ondernemingen en kennisinstellingen kan verrijken. Centraal hierin staat het werken vanuit specifieke waardeproposities in project-overstijgende samenwerkingen en het leren en innoveren binnen portfolio’s en programma’s centraal.
De onderzoekspositie ‘Inkoop in Publiek-Private Ecosystemen’ heeft tot doel te verkennen hoe de inkoopfunctie en relationele governance tussen de verschillende partijen vormgegeven dient te worden voor het unieke publiek-private ecosysteem dat verantwoordelijk is voor de infrastructuur dat in beheer is bij Rijkswaterstaat. Doel van het onderzoek is het samen ontwikkelen van de inkoopstrategie en het vormgeven van de rol van Rijkswaterstaat in het toekomstige ecosysteem van publieke en private partijen. Als onderdeel van het wetenschappelijke veranderspiegelteam kijk je samen met medewerkers van Rijkswaterstaat en andere onderzoekers naar hoe geleerde (inkoop)lessen omgezet kunnen worden naar de invulling van nieuwe inter-organisatorische routines met marktpartijen en andere actoren in het ecosysteem
Closing date : 8 Feb 2026
(07) Funded PhD Opportunities
Summary/title: 2x PhD position on the design and fabrication of MEMS flow sensors and microphones
In the Integrated Devices and Systems (IDS) group, we will start two new research projects on the design, fabrication, and characterisation of MEMS devices.
The first project will focus on a new type of gas flow sensor that is based on the deformation of integrated mechanical structures due to the forces exerted by the gas flow through the silicon chip. By combining such sensors with thermal flow sensors on a single chip, we expect that, besides mass flow, many relevant gas parameters can be measured like thermal conductivity, density, specific heat, and dynamic viscosity.
The second project will focus on a new type of MEMS microphones, specifically aiming at acoustic monitoring applications that require ultra low power operation.
In both projects we will work closely together with experts in electronic circuit design to realize the electronic interfacing for the sensors, in case of the flow sensors with the Electronic Instrumentation Lab at the TU Delft, and in case of the microphones with the IC Design group at the University of Twente.
Closing date : 11 Jan 2026
(08) Funded PhD Opportunities
Summary/title: 2 PhD positions on Data-Efficient Foundation Models for Vision
Foundation models in computer vision currently rely on massive datasets and brute-force scaling. This leads to high data requirements, hidden biases, limited accessibility, and dependency on corporate-controlled resources. ReVision aims to develop data-efficient and reliable training strategies for vision foundation models, reducing the need for large datasets and improving robustness.
The project will explore strategies related to 1) Object-attribute compositionality to replace exhaustive data requirements with structured concept learning, 2) Bias detection and machine unlearning to identify and mitigate bias and shortcuts early in training, and 3) Perceptual and conceptual priors to design self-supervised objectives that capture continuous similarity rather than binary contrastive notions.
By embedding structure and prior knowledge into the training process, ReVision aims to break the dependency on uncontrolled large-scale datasets and enable broader, more transparent development of vision foundation models.
Closing date : 6 Jan 2026
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(09) Funded PhD Opportunities
Summary/title: PhD-student position on mass production of pancreatic organoids using microfluidic micromaterials
Are you passionate about combining material science, microfluidic technology and biofabrication strategies towards real-world applications ? We offer an impactful PhD-student position in the Leijten Laboratory within the Department of BioEngineering Technologies as part of a recently funded National consortium (ENW-XL, PanCreaTE). In this consortium, we will engineer functional Pancreata by combining iPSCs, organoid-forming micromaterials, and volumetric 3D bioprinting. This approach represents a beyond-state-of-the-art solution to engineer living functional tissues with function-endowing architectures to treat patients suffering from type-2 diabetes.
You will use highly advanced microfluidic devices to produce immunoprotective hollow hydrogel microcapsules that will form iPSC-derived pancreatic organoids. You will explore different strategies to improve the functional performances the in-capsule organoids formation. Moreover, you will pioneer the annealing of the organoid-forming microgels into large microporous living materials that contain perfusable capillary-like networks. Furthermore, you will combine these fabrication strategies with light-based volumetric biofabrication to create implantable engineered pancreata. You will therefore work on the multidisciplinary interface of microtechnology, materials science, (stem)cell biology, and additive manufacturing. You will thereby be trained to develop a wide skill set, which will include tissue engineering, 3D bioprinting, bioink development, advanced photopolymerization, materials characterization, induced pluripotent cell culture and differentiation, and writing high impact scientific publications.
Closing date : 31 Jan 2026
(10) Funded PhD Opportunities
Summary/title: PhD opening: Intra-wave modeling of coastal nourishment morphodynamics
This research position is part of the NWO-funded SOURCE program: Sand nOURisment strategies for sustainable Coastal Ecosystems. The SOURCE philosophy is that carefully planned sand nourishments in the present will create the required and desired resilient and dynamic multifunctional coastal landscapes of the future.
SOURCE will deliver the scientific knowledge, models and design tools to develop and evaluate nourishment strategies in a multi-stakeholder co-creation process. Our Living Labs are two sand nourishments along the Dutch coast. These will be co-designed, monitored and evaluated by the SOURCE consortium. There are in total 12 positions – PhD, Post-Doc and other researchers – at 8 academic institutes. They will collaborate closely with 25 partners from government organizations, research institutes, nature organizations and industry.
Within the SOURCE program, your project aims to unravel controlling cross-shore sand transport processes at various scales, such as bottom boundary layer processes, vertical turbulence and sand mixing, and effects of wave breaking. To do so you will develop a detailed research model to describe intra-wave cross-shore sand transport and morphodynamics (e.g. OpenFoam). The model will be validated using lab and field data. Finally, the research model will be used to inform the development of a more practical numerical model (e.g. Delft3D) that will be developed within another SOURCE PhD project to predict nourishments’ lifetime, spreading and impacts on coastal state indicators.
Closing date : 20 Jan 2026
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(11) Funded PhD Opportunities
Summary/title: PhD Position – Project “SYNERGY: Mechanisms of Neuronal Stress and Recovery”
The SYNERGY project aims to unravel the mechanisms of neuronal stress and recovery in the ischemic penumbra — the zone of partially injured but potentially recoverable neurons surrounding a brain infarct. Using advanced in-vitro models, we study how metabolic stress affects neuronal network function and how recovery can be enhanced, with the eventual goal to translate findings to the clinic.
We are currently developing a stable, long-term, high-throughput experimental system to study neuronal network activity under controlled metabolic stress. This platform enables systematic investigation of how neurons transition between reversible and irreversible dysfunction and allows testing of candidate interventions — such as metabolic support strategies, neuromodulation protocols, or electrical stimulation — to enhance resilience and promote recovery. These findings will inform the development of clinically relevant neuroprotective and recovery-oriented strategies.
Overall, SYNERGY bridges experimental neurobiology, biophysics, and computational analysis to provide mechanistic insight into neuronal survival pathways and guide future translational approaches for patients with hypoxic-ischemic brain injury.
Closing date : 14 Jan 2026
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(12) Funded PhD Opportunities
Summary/title: PhD position Social dynamics of energy communities in the Dutch energy transition
This PhD position is about research into social dynamics of energy communities and their stakeholder ecosystem. Research involves case studies and participatory action research (PAR) in selected use cases. The PhD position also includes one day per week of work for the department, for example providing teaching support.
Closing date : 12 Jan 2026
(13) Funded PhD Opportunities
Summary/title: PhD Position on Neural Engineering/Computational Neuroscience/Biomedical Engineering
We are seeking a highly motivated PhD candidate to join a multidisciplinary team working at the intersection of neural engineering, computational neuroscience, biomedical signal processing, and embedded systems design. The project aims to develop a novel electrical nerve-stimulation interface that leverages a biomimetic muscle-stretch feedback model implemented on a low-power, real-time FPGA-based system.
If you are eager to combine fundamental sensorimotor research with advanced embedded system design to drive neuroprosthetic innovation, we encourage you to apply.
Stretch feedback plays a key role in motor control, and its disruption—such as after stroke, spinal cord injury, or in multiple sclerosis—leads to impaired movement, unstable gait, and reduced quality of life.
This project will develop an adaptive stimulation interface that uses real-time position-sensor data to estimate muscle length and desired stretch-receptor activity. These estimates will be translated into physiologically informed stimulation patterns to activate sensory nerves in vivo.
Closing date : 14 Jan 2026
(14) Funded PhD Opportunities
Summary/title: PhD Position: Sustainable Additive Systems for Enhanced Rubber Durability
This position requires a scientist capable of bridging advanced polymer design with industrial material application. The PhD candidate will be responsible for creating and validating a novel system that integrates smart carriers into complex rubber matrices.
Your main research activities will revolve around:
1. System Formulation and Design: Developing novel protective systems using sustainable precursor materials. This includes precise control over the carrier morphology and the mechanisms that dictate functional additive delivery.
2. Materials Integration: Applying knowledge of polymer chemistry and rubber compounding to effectively incorporate the new protective systems into various elastomer formulations. The researcher will test these materials under challenging industrial-relevant processing conditions.
3. Performance and Lifetime Analysis: Conducting comprehensive mechanical, chemical, and aging tests on the resulting rubber composites to quantitatively demonstrate the significant improvements in durability, functionality, and overall product lifetime enabled by the smart additive systems.
Closing date : 18 Jan 2026
(15) Funded PhD Opportunities
Summary/title: PhD position on single-molecule protein nano dielectrophoresis
We are developing a platform for studying protein dielectrophoresis at the single-molecule level. Your research will be focused on using nanogap dielectrophoresis for trapping single protein molecules and building an understanding of this trapping phenomenon. Are you passionate about single-molecule biophysics and this research? The PhD will involve a lot of complex optical measurements with advanced custom-built microscopy, handling protein samples, surface chemistry and working with electric signals to trap and study the protein dielectrophoresis. These activities must be something that you are eager to master and to spend time on, please elaborate on this in the motivation letter. We have all you need to execute your ambitious research: cleanroom facilities, optical, electronic and chemical labs and most importantly lots of fun people to work with.
Competences you will develop during your PhD with us:
- Advanced optics; we will study the molecules in our traps using custom-made light scattering microscope.
- Electrodynamics; for engineering of the electric tweezers and understanding the behavior of the analyte molecules.
- Surface chemistry (basics)
- Data analysis
- Measurement automation
- Scientific writing
- Soft skills (presentation skills, time management, teamwork)
- Supervision of students and teaching skills
Closing date : 14 Jan 2026
(16) Funded PhD Opportunities
Summary/title: PhD position PRE-MADONA: Governance Structures for the Digital Transformation of Mass-Scale Renovation Processes
As a PhD candidate responsible for developing a multi-layered governance framework for digitally transforming renovation processes, you will design governance structures to guide the implementation and scaling up of PRE-MADONA’s envisioned digital ecosystem. As part of your project, you will address issues such as data privacy and ownership, distribution of responsibilities and accountability, and access to technology at organisational, project, and district levels. You will also explore how digital technologies impact stakeholders’ perceptions of and interactions in renovation workflows under organisational, local, and national regulatory constraints.
Closing date : 7 Jan 2026
About The University of Twente, Netherlands – Official Website
The University of Twente (Dutch: Universiteit Twente [ynivɛrsiˌtɛi(t) ˈtʋɛntə]; abbr. UT) is a public technical university located in Enschede, Netherlands. The university has been placed in the top 170 universities in the world by multiple central ranking tables. In addition, the UT was ranked the best technical university in the Netherlands by Keuzegids Universiteiten, the most significant national university ranking. The UT collaborates with Delft University of Technology, Eindhoven University of Technology and the Wageningen University and Research Centre under the umbrella of 4TU and is also a partner in the European Consortium of Innovative Universities (ECIU).
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