PhD Position in Virtual Knowledge Graphs, Edge Computing and Artificial Intelligence

The PhD researcher will be part of the Stream Intelligence Lab under the supervision of Prof. Pieter Bonte. This vacancy is situated within the Science and Technology group at campus Kulak in Kortrijk which provides education in a wide range of bachelor's programs in sciences, including computer science, informatics, mathematics, and physics, as well as the pathway to engineering.

Project The PhD research investigates how knowledge graphs can shift from the cloud to the edge, enabling devices such as network routers and home care gateways to integrate and reason over their own data streams. Two strategies exist. Materialisation explicitly computes and stores every inferred fact; it supports powerful reasoning but is expensive and quickly overwhelms resource-constrained devices. Virtualisation leaves the data in its original form and translates queries on the fly, creating the illusion of a knowledge graph; it is lightweight but limits reasoning. The central question is how to combine both: which inferences must be materialised, when, and where (edge, fog or cloud), and which can remain virtual. Blending knowledge graphs, stream processing, logic, database theory, and edge and cloud computing, this research will pave the way for a new reasoning paradigm that unites the expressiveness of materialisation with the efficiency of virtualisation.

Profile

• You have a master's degree in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Mathematics or similar.
• You are interested in Logic, Machine Learning, Knowledge Graphs, Stream Processing, Database Theory, Edge processing and efficient implementation of algorithms.
• You are interested in both theoretical investigation and practical implementation of prototypes.
• You can work independently and collaborate well in a team.
• You have an interest in cutting-edge research, initiative, and enjoy presenting about the research that interests you.
• You can fluently express yourself in English, both spoken and written.

Offer You will receive a PhD scholarship to join our lab and pursue your doctoral studies. Initially, this full-time position is offered on a one-year contract, with the possibility of extension based on your performance and the acquisition of additional funding. The ultimate objective is to complete your PhD within a four-year timeframe.

The research will be based at campus Kulak in Kortrijk. Next to the research within your PhD, you will contribute to the education of our students by supporting lectures and lab sessions.

Interested? For more information please contact Prof. dr. ir. Pieter Bonte, mail: [email protected].

You can apply for this job no later than October 30, 2026 via the online application tool

KU Leuven strives for an inclusive, respectful and socially safe environment. We embrace diversity among individuals and groups as an asset. Open dialogue and differences in perspective are essential for an ambitious research and educational environment. In our commitment to equal opportunity, we recognize the consequences of historical inequalities. We do not accept any form of discrimination based on, but not limited to, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, age, ethnic or national background, skin colour, religious and philosophical diversity, neurodivergence, employment disability, health, or socioeconomic status. For questions about accessibility or support offered, we are happy to assist you at this email address.

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