PhD Position Sensing Viscosity with Ultrasound (Delft, NL, 2628 CD)

Develop innovative ultrasound technology to measure the viscosity of flowing fluids in real time. Work closely with the University of Twente and leading industry partners to advance more efficient industrial processes, reduce waste and enable more precise medical applications.

• You have a master's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Physics, Materials Science or a related discipline.
• You have experience with modelling, experimental research and design. Preferably you have a background in fluid dynamics and/or acoustics.
• You enjoy working collaboratively and communicate effectively with colleagues and research partners.
• You are creative, curious and able to approach complex research challenges independently.
• You are self-motivated and take initiative in setting up, organising and carrying out research. 
• You have excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.

Many industrial and medical processes rely on accurate, continuous measurements of fluid properties, such as flow rate and viscosity. These measurements are essential in the production of food, medicines and semiconductor products, as well as in environmental monitoring and medical infusion systems for neonatal care. Reliable, real-time measurements provide immediate insight into processes, helping manufacturers maintain product quality, detect deviations and prevent waste caused by production errors. In this way, better fluid measurement contributes to more efficient manufacturing, improved healthcare and sustainable food production.

In this PhD project, you will develop innovative, modular and scalable flowmeters that measure both flow rate and viscosity using ultrasonic surface acoustic wave (SAW) sensing. Although SAW-based sensing principles are already known, the mechanisms behind viscosity measurements are not yet fully understood or commercially applied in ultrasonic flowmeters. Your research will help establish the principles needed for accurate, quantitative measurements.

You will work at TU Delft in close collaboration with the University of Twente and leading companies in flow sensing. Combining theoretical modelling with experimental research, you will investigate how ultrasonic waves interact with flowing fluids and translate your findings into new measurement strategies and sensor designs.

Your responsibilities

As a PhD-researcher you will:

• Investigating ultrasonic sensing principles and the relationship between fluid flow, viscosity and surface acoustic waves.
• Developing novel measurement strategies for quantitatively determining the viscosity of flowing fluids.
• Building a model of the sensing principles and validating it through experiments.
• Designing and developing an experimental platform for ultrasound-based sensing.
• Characterising propagation losses, quality factors, wave travel speeds and resonance behaviour.
• Identifying optimal excitation frequencies to improve measurement accuracy and signal-to-noise ratio.
• Publishing your findings in peer-reviewed journals, presenting at international conferences and writing your PhD thesis.
• Contributing to education, for example by supervising MSc students.

Your work environment

You’ll be part of the Dynamics of Micro and Nanosystems (DMN) section within department of Precision and Microsystems Engineering (PME) of the faculty of Mechanical Engineering. The section studies and develops small-scale systems that move, aiming to better understand their physical properties and use this knowledge to drive future innovations. Its research combines fundamental scientific investigation with close collaboration with industry. You’ll have access to several research facilities that will support your research.

At DMN, you'll find an open and friendly environment, with opportunities for professional development and training to successfully develop your academic skills. We do not distinguish between hierarchical levels, and we have a strong collaborative culture. We interact daily and share a drive to strengthen the position of the group as a whole thanks to the growth of each member.

From chip to ship. From machine to human being. From idea to solution. Driven by a deep-rooted desire to understand our environment and discover its underlying mechanisms, research and education at the ME faculty focusses on fundamental understanding, design, production including application and product improvement, materials, processes and (mechanical) systems. 

ME is a dynamic and innovative faculty with high-tech lab facilities and international reach. It’s a large faculty but also versatile, so we can often make unique connections by combining different disciplines. This is reflected in ME’s outstanding, state-of-the-art education, which trains students to become responsible and socially engaged engineers and scientists. We translate our knowledge and insights into solutions to societal issues, contributing to a sustainable society and to the development of prosperity and well-being. That is what unites us in pioneering research, inspiring education and (inter)national cooperation. 

Click here to go to the website of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering. Do you want to experience working at our faculty? These videos will introduce you to some of our researchers and their work.

Conditions of employment 
Doctoral candidates will be offered a 4-year period of employment in principle, but in the form of 2 employment contracts. An initial 1,5 year contract with an official go/no go progress assessment within 15 months. Followed by an additional contract for the remaining 2,5 years assuming everything goes well and performance requirements are met.

Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, increasing from €3204- €4051 gross per month, from the first year to the fourth year based on a fulltime contract (38 hours), plus 8% holiday allowance and an end-of-year bonus of 8.3%.  

As a PhD candidate you will be enrolled in the TU Delft Graduate School. The TU Delft Graduate School provides an inspiring research environment with an excellent team of supervisors, academic staff and a mentor. The Doctoral Education Programme is aimed at developing your transferable, discipline-related and research skills. 

The TU Delft offers a customisable compensation package, discounts on health insurance, and a monthly work costs contribution. Flexible work schedules can be arranged.  

Will you need to relocate to the Netherlands for this job? TU Delft is committed to make your move as smooth as possible! The HR unit, Coming to Delft Service, offers information on their website to help you prepare your relocation. In addition, Coming to Delft Service organises events to help you settle in the Netherlands, and expand your (social) network in Delft. A Dual Career Programme is available, to support your accompanying partner with their job search in the Netherlands.  

Additional information

For more information about this vacancy, please contact Dr. G.J. (Gerard) Verbiest ([email protected]).

Application procedure

Are you interested in this vacancy? Please apply no later than 29th of November 2026 via the application button and upload the following documents:

• A cover letter in which you describe your motivation and specific qualifications for this position (max 1 page).
• Your CV
• Copies of any journal/conference publications (if any).

You can address your application to Dr. G.J. Verbiest.

Doing a PhD at TU Delft requires English proficiency at a certain level to ensure that the candidate is able to communicate and interact well, participate in English-taught Doctoral Education courses, and write scientific articles and a final thesis. For more details please check the Graduate Schools Admission Requirements. 

Please note:

• You can apply online. We will not process applications sent by email and/or post. 
• As part of knowledge security, TU Delft conducts a risk assessment during the recruitment of personnel. We do this, among other things, to prevent the unwanted transfer of sensitive knowledge and technology. The assessment is based on information provided by the candidates themselves, such as their motivation letter and CV, and takes place at the final stages of the selection process. When the outcome of the assessment is negative, the candidate will be informed. The processing of personal data in the context of the risk assessment is carried out on the legal basis of the GDPR: performing a public task in the public interest. You can find more information about this assessment on our website about knowledge security.
• Applying for an exemption for specific research and educational areas is an obligatory part of the selection procedure for this vacancy. This exemption must be obtained from the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science (OCW) before an employment contract is agreed upon. Click here for more information.
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