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Paid PhD Position at TU/e Netherlands 2026 — Security & Multi-Agent Systems

Faseeh Sultan

July 24, 2026
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Paid PhD Position at TU/e Netherlands 2026 — Security & Multi-Agent Systems

Eindhoven University of Technology — one of Europe’s leading technical universities — is recruiting a PhD candidate for a fully paid, four-year position in the Department of Electrical Engineering. This role sits at the intersection of control theory, formal methods, and cybersecurity, and it is open to international applicants with a background in engineering, automation, or applied mathematics. If you have ever wanted to work on how autonomous robots and connected systems protect sensitive information while collaborating on complex missions, this is a genuinely rare opportunity in one of Europe’s most dynamic tech ecosystems.

Detail	Information
University	Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e)
Country	Netherlands
Department	Electrical Engineering
Level	PhD (4 years, full-time)
Funding Type	Fully paid employment — not a scholarship
Gross Monthly Salary	€3,204 – €4,051 (Scale P, Collective Labour Agreement)
Deadline	13 September 2026
Open To	International applicants with a relevant Master’s degree
Official Link	TU/e PhD Vacancy — Security-Aware Multi-Agent Systems

💼 About This PhD Position

Eindhoven University of Technology — widely known as TU/e — is consistently ranked among Europe’s top technical universities and sits at the heart of Brainport Eindhoven, a region home to over 7,000 high-tech companies and some of the most concentrated R&D activity on the continent. Companies like ASML, DAF, NXP, and Philips have major presences here, and TU/e’s research is tightly woven into that industrial fabric.

This PhD position sits within the Control Systems group of the Electrical Engineering Department. The group combines expertise in systems and control, formal methods, autonomous systems, and data-driven modelling — and the candidate will have direct access to the Autonomous Motion Control Lab, which runs experiments on ground robots, drones, and autonomous racing vehicles.

What makes this position genuinely distinct from most PhD vacancies in Europe is its framing. Rather than bolting security on top of an already-designed control system, this project investigates secure-by-construction methods — designing planning and control algorithms where information-flow security is built in from the ground up. It is a foundational contribution to trustworthy autonomy, with real-world relevance in mobility, healthcare, logistics, manufacturing, and critical infrastructure.

The position is supervised by Dr. Siyuan Liu and supports you in developing as an independent researcher while contributing to the scientific community.

💼 Compensation and Benefits

This is not a scholarship — it is a salaried employment contract at one of the Netherlands’ leading universities. That distinction matters enormously.

Gross base salary: €3,204 – €4,051 per month (full-time, Scale P, Dutch Collective Labour Agreement for Universities)
8% holiday allowance added to your annual gross base salary
8.3% year-end bonus added to your annual gross base salary
ABP pension scheme — TU/e covers 70% of the premium, you pay 30%
Four-year full-time employment contract, with an intermediate review at nine months
Paid pregnancy and maternity leave, partially paid parental leave
Commuting, work-from-home, and internet cost allowance
Expat Scheme (tax compensation) available for eligible international staff
Relocation expense reimbursement (verify exact amount on official website)
Staff Immigration Team to assist with visas, permits, and relocation
Access to on-campus children’s day care, sports facilities, and modern infrastructure

The combination of a competitive monthly salary, holiday allowance, year-end bonus, and pension contributions makes this one of the more financially attractive PhD positions available in Europe for 2026.

💼 Eligibility Criteria

A Master’s degree (or equivalent university degree) in one of the following: Systems and Control, Automation Science, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or Applied Mathematics
If you are currently completing your MSc, you must state your expected graduation date clearly in your cover letter
Strong academic record — a complete list of grades from both BSc and MSc is required
Research-oriented mindset with genuine curiosity and motivation
Additional experience in Formal Methods and/or Robotics is an advantage but not required
Ability to collaborate in interdisciplinary teams and engage with industrial partners
Willingness to contribute to teaching and student coaching (10–15% of your time)
English language proficiency: C1 level (fluent spoken and written English) — there is no IELTS waiver listed; applicants must demonstrate C1-level fluency

💼 Who Should Apply / Who Shouldn’t

✅ Strong fit if you:

Have an MSc (or near-complete MSc) in control systems, electrical engineering, aerospace, or applied mathematics
Are genuinely interested in formal methods, multi-agent coordination, or cyber-physical systems security
Want a paid research position with a full employment contract in Europe — not just a stipend
Can work in an international, interdisciplinary team and are comfortable collaborating with industry partners
Are motivated to grow your teaching skills alongside your research

❌ Less suitable if you:

Have a background only in computer science or software engineering without exposure to control theory or formal methods (this is an engineering-focused research role)
Are looking for a traditional scholarship with waived tuition — this is an employment contract, structured differently
Are seeking a position with a 100% research focus and no teaching component whatsoever
Cannot demonstrate C1-level English proficiency

💼 Research Areas and Focus

The PhD project spans four interconnected themes:

1. Information-flow security in multi-agent systems — developing new formal frameworks to characterize and quantify what outside observers can infer from a system’s communication or physical behaviour.

2. Secure-by-construction planning and control — embedding security constraints directly into the design of planning algorithms rather than treating them as add-ons.

3. Scalable distributed design — ensuring that the secure coordination methods developed can scale across large networks of agents without becoming computationally intractable.

4. Experimental validation — testing algorithms in simulation and on physical platforms (ground robots, drones, autonomous vehicles) available in the Autonomous Motion Control Lab.

Application domains include mobility, smart manufacturing, healthcare systems, logistics, and critical infrastructure — areas where the stakes of information leakage are genuinely high.

💼 Required Documents

Cover letter — describing your motivation, qualifications, and (if applicable) expected MSc graduation date
Curriculum vitae (CV) — including a full publication list and contact details for three references
Complete academic transcript — all grades from BSc and MSc level (mandatory; incomplete applications will not be prioritised)

Note: References may be contacted at any stage of the selection process. TU/e recommends notifying your referees when you submit your application. Applications sent by email or post will not be processed — you must apply through the online portal.

💼 Step-by-Step Application Process

Read the full vacancy carefully at TU/e PhD Vacancy Page
Prepare your cover letter — be specific about your research interests and how your background fits the project; mention your MSc graduation date if still in progress
Prepare your CV with a publication list (even if it lists only conference papers or a thesis) and three academic/professional references
Collect all grade transcripts from both BSc and MSc programmes — official or scanned copies are typically accepted at this stage
Notify your three referees before submitting — TU/e may contact them at any point after you apply
Submit your complete application via the Apply Now portal — reference number 2026/456
Monitor your email — TU/e screens applications on a rolling basis, and the position may close before the official deadline if filled

Practical tip: The vacancy states it will remain open until the position is filled, which means early applications have a genuine advantage. A strong cover letter that directly addresses the secure-by-construction angle and mentions relevant experience in formal methods or robotics will stand out significantly.

💼 Important Dates

Milestone	Date
Application Deadline	13 September 2026
Applications screened	On a rolling basis from submission
Position close date	Could be earlier if filled

Bookmark this page and check back for updates.

💼 Why TU/e — Why Eindhoven

Here’s what sets this specific position apart from most PhD opportunities in Europe.

Brainport Eindhoven is not a marketing slogan — it is a legitimately world-class technology cluster. ASML, the company that makes the extreme ultraviolet lithography machines that manufacture virtually every advanced chip on the planet, is headquartered here. The density of high-tech manufacturing, semiconductor, and AI companies in this region means PhD graduates from TU/e step into a labour market that is directly adjacent to their research.

TU/e itself hosts over 13,000 students and 7,000 staff across a green, walkable campus within walking distance of Eindhoven’s main train station. The university has a strong culture of first-name basis interaction between students and faculty — it is notably less hierarchical than many European research institutions. Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Brussels, and Cologne are all within two hours by train, making the Netherlands an exceptionally well-connected base for research travel and collaboration.

For researchers working on autonomous systems and cyber-physical security specifically, TU/e’s existing infrastructure — including the Autonomous Motion Control Lab’s robots and drones — provides a ready-made experimental environment that most European universities simply do not have at this scale.

💼 Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is this position open to candidates from outside the EU? A: Yes. TU/e explicitly states that a Staff Immigration Team is available for international candidates, and the Expat Scheme provides tax compensation for eligible non-Dutch staff. There is no nationality restriction mentioned in the vacancy.

Q: What English language level is required — do I need IELTS? A: The vacancy requires C1-level English (fluent spoken and written). No specific IELTS or TOEFL score is stated — TU/e typically assesses language proficiency through the application and interview process. Check the official application portal or contact HR Services for confirmation.

Q: Can I apply if I have not yet completed my Master’s degree? A: Yes, but you must state your expected graduation date in your cover letter. A complete grade transcript of your coursework to date is still required.

Q: Is this a scholarship or a paid job? A: It is paid employment. You receive a gross monthly salary of €3,204–€4,051, plus an 8% holiday allowance, an 8.3% year-end bonus, and pension contributions — under the Dutch Collective Labour Agreement for Universities.

Q: How much teaching is involved? A: A minimum of 10% of your four-year employment will be devoted to teaching tasks, with a maximum of 15% per year. This is standard for TU/e PhD contracts.

Q: Who is the supervisor and how can I contact them before applying? A: The hiring manager is Dr. Siyuan Liu. You can reach her at s.liu5@tue.nl. For HR queries, contact HRServices.EE@tue.nl.

💼 Official Source

Full vacancy listing: TU/e PhD — Security-Aware Multi-Agent Systems
Online application portal: Apply Now — Reference 2026/456
Hiring manager: s.liu5@tue.nl
HR Services (EE Department): HRServices.EE@tue.nl
Conditions of employment: TU/e Employment Conditions
Address: De Zaale, Eindhoven / PO Box 513, 5600 MB Eindhoven, Netherlands

💼 Summary

Detail	Information
University	Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e)
Country	Netherlands
Department	Electrical Engineering — Control Systems Group
Level	PhD (4 years, full-time, 1.0 FTE)
Funding Type	Salaried employment contract
Gross Monthly Salary	€3,204 – €4,051
Holiday Allowance	8% of annual gross salary
Year-End Bonus	8.3% of annual gross salary
Teaching Commitment	10–15% of total employment duration
English Requirement	C1 level (fluent spoken and written)
Application Deadline	13 September 2026
Reference Number	2026/456
Open To	International applicants
Official Link	Apply Here