Pieter Bauwens

Ghent University is offering a full-time doctoral fellow position within the Department of Electronics and Information Systems. The project focuses on the design of flexible integrated circuits (FlexICs) for multimodal tactile sensing systems, with a clear application in next-generation robotic manipulation. The successful candidate will work on analog and mixed-signal circuit design for flexible electronics platforms, including sensor interfaces, amplification stages, multiplexing circuits, and data acquisition architectures. A major part of the research involves designing readout circuits for multiple sensing modalities such as magnetic, capacitive, piezoresistive, optical, RF, and temperature sensors integrated into robotic fingertips. The project also includes low-noise and low-power circuit techniques, ADC architecture development, and calibration/compensation strategies to address process variation, drift, and sensor cross-talk. In addition to circuit-level research, the position covers co-design of multimodal sensor systems and integrated electronics, integration of fabricated FlexICs on flexible substrates, and development of a reliable experimental evaluation setup. The work will be validated through simulation, fabrication, and experimental characterization, and the resulting demonstrators will target robotic manipulation applications where tactile fingertips can perceive force, slip, texture, temperature, proximity, and material properties. The position is hosted by Ghent University, a major research-intensive institution in Belgium with strong activity across engineering and science. The project environment includes collaboration with researchers in flexible electronics, sensing systems, machine learning, and robotics, and the work is expected to lead to publications in scientific journals and presentations at international conferences. Eligibility highlights include a Master's degree in Electronics Engineering, Physics Engineering, Computer Engineering, Microsystems Engineering, or a related field, along with strong interest in integrated circuit design and flexible electronics. Experience with analog circuit design, ADCs, sensor readout electronics, EDA tools, PCB design, embedded electronics, or laboratory characterization is valued. The position requires fluency in English and a motivation for independent scientific research. The fellowship is initially awarded for 12 months and may be extended after positive evaluation up to a total of 48 months. Funding is provided as a doctoral fellowship corresponding to 100% of the net salary of an AAP member in equal family circumstances, and the grant is described as tax-free when it meets the conditions of doctoral fellowship regulations. The application deadline is 23 August 2026 at 23:59 Brussels time. To apply, candidates should email their CV, motivation letter, and copy of diploma if available to the listed supervisors before the deadline.