PhD Position Sensing Viscosity with Ultrasound

Job description
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.

Job description
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.
Job requirements
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.
TU Delft (Delft University of Technology)