Laser-printed flexible sustainable thermoelectrics (Postdoc position)

• Degree: PhD in one of the following fields (or similar): Materials Science and Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Nanoscience and Nanoengineering, or Applied Physics.
• Research experience: Lab experience in materials processing, material characterization, electrical instrumentation, or microfabrication.
• Interests and research profile: The research topic is 80% experimental and 20% theoretical, and it bridges the fields of physics, materials science, electrical, and chemical engineering. Hence, the applicants are required to have an excellent proven background in engineering sciences, with good knowledge of fundamental concepts, and a strong hands-on attitude toward interdisciplinary experimental research. In particular, the candidates must:
• Have an experimental mindset and enthusiasm for laboratory work.
• Show a strong interest in the characterization and understanding of inorganic electronic materials and the link between experiments and fundamental concepts.
• Be willing to work in close collaboration with the rest of the team and with other departments at KU Leuven (Electrical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Physics…).
• Publication record: Demonstrated research excellence through a strong publication record in leading peer-reviewed journals (Q1) in materials science, energy materials, engineering, physics, or related fields; experience presenting research at international conferences is highly valued; participation in patent writing is a plus; proven track record of teamwork, demonstrated through participation in joint papers or consortium-based projects.
• We particularly welcome candidates with an international research profile and experience working in diverse academic environments.
• Communication skills: Ability to work both independently and in a team, direct communication style. Fluency in spoken and written English.
• Attitude: We are looking for a highly motivated researcher who thrives in an ambitious, collaborative, and dynamic research environment and is excited to contribute to a challenging interdisciplinary project. The successful candidate will be encouraged to develop independent research ideas, write a postdoc fellowship proposal (FWO or MSCA), contribute to proposals led by the PI, supervise junior researchers, and build an international scientific network.

Thermoelectric (TE) materials can convert waste heat into electrical energy and vice versa; they use electricity to provide active heating/cooling. However, the current fabrication process of TEs is complicated and expensive. Also, current TEs are small and rigid. Finding a way to integrate high-performance thermoelectric materials into flexible devices could unlock new opportunities for waste heat harvesting from sources such as the human body and enable thermoregulating garments with reduced energy consumption.This project explores the use of laser-printed metal chalcogenides on flexible substrates to develop high-performance thermoelectric harvesters and coolers for wearable applications. In this project, the postdoc candidate is expected to:

• Develop thermoelectric alloy powders, formulate printable inks, and develop a sintering and patterning process on a flexible substrate based on selective laser exposure. Alternatively, direct ink writing of the same material can be investigated for 3D building.
• Investigate the concepts of mobility, charge carrier concentration, Seebeck coefficient, and thermal conductivity. The candidate will be required to master the use of commercial tools to measure these properties and, in some cases, to develop specialized setups.
• Characterize the morphology and elemental composition of the produced powders and films: SEM/EDS, TEM, XRD, ICP-OES, EBSD, etc.
• Correlate material morphology and composition with final TE material and device performance.
• Develop TE devices optimized for both energy harvesting and cooling.

This work will be performed in the FMolina-Lopez group within the “FunMat” unit of the Department of Materials Engineering at KU Leuven. We are an international and interdisciplinary team working on next-generation hybrid organic-inorganic soft materials and manufacturing technologies for energy and sensing. We offer a fully funded 18-month postdoctoral position at KU Leuven, including a competitive salary and benefits package in accordance with university regulations, access to world-class research facilities for materials processing, characterization, and device fabrication, and support for conference participation and international collaborations.KU Leuven is one of the top 50 universities in the world (top 11 in Europe) according to the Times Higher Education ranking 2026. It offers an exciting multi-disciplinary research environment and a broad range of training courses for researchers. Located in Belgium, at the heart of Europe, and less than 3 hours by train from cities such as Paris, London, and Amsterdam, Leuven is a cultural and historical city with a vibrant international student scene.