Job description

The drive towards a sustainable society will require the use of clean fuels such as hydrogen for the energy and air transportation industries. However, our current understanding of their physics is still limited, requiring simultaneously research on this topic as well as novel techniques for modelling. In this project, we will explore the utilization of multi-fuel mixtures consisting of hydrogen and various synthetic hydrogen carriers for energy and propulsion applications through high-fidelity simulations and modelling based on machine learning. The successful candidate will perform advanced large-eddy simulations (LES) with detailed multicomponent-multiphase thermodynamics models for mixing and combustion at high-pressure operating conditions and develop new data-driven models for unresolved (subgrid-scale) interactions between turbulence, thermodynamics, and chemistry. This vacancy is part of the Horizon Europe Doctoral Network SCALE “Industry empowerment to Multiphase fluid dynamics simulations using Artificial intelligence and Statistical methods on modern hardware architectures at Scale”, which offers doctoral candidates an exciting research and training program, enhancing their career perspectives. The candidate will work in collaboration with experienced researchers and other PhD students specializing in turbulent flows and artificial intelligence in the AI Fluids lab at the Aerodynamics Group of TU Delft.

Requirements

The successful candidate meets the following requirements:

• MSc degree in applied physics, mechanical, aerospace, or chemical engineering.
• strong background in fluid dynamics (e.g. MSc thesis on a fluids-related topic), mathematics and physics
• intrinsic motivation for scientific research and for pursuing a PhD
• interest in collaborating with a diverse multinational team
• proficiency in the English language, both oral and written

Knowledge and experience in the following fields are highly appreciated:

• turbulent flows, multiphase flows, and chemically reacting flows
• numerical methods for fluid dynamics and chemistry
• machine learning methods
• different programming languages
• high performance and parallel computing

Candidates must have obtained their MSc degree within the last 4 years and must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the Netherlands for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before their recruitment date.

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.

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 € 2770 per month in the first year to € 3539 in the fourth year. 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. 

For international applicants, TU Delft has the Coming to Delft Service. This service provides information for new international employees to help you prepare the relocation and to settle in the Netherlands. The Coming to Delft Service offers a Dual Career Programme for partners and they organise events to expand your (social) network.

TU Delft (Delft University of Technology)

Delft University of Technology is built on strong foundations. As creators of the world-famous Dutch waterworks and pioneers in biotech, TU Delft is a top international university combining science, engineering and design. It delivers world class results in education, research and innovation to address challenges in the areas of energy, climate, mobility, health and digital society. For generations, our engineers have proven to be entrepreneurial problem-solvers, both in business and in a social context.

At TU Delft we embrace diversity as one of our core values and we actively engage to be a university where you feel at home and can flourish. We value different perspectives and qualities. We believe this makes our work more innovative, the TU Delft community more vibrant and the world more just. Together, we imagine, invent and create solutions using technology to have a positive impact on a global scale. That is why we invite you to apply. Your application will receive fair consideration.

 

Challenge. Change. Impact!

Faculty Aerospace Engineering

The Faculty of Aerospace Engineering at Delft University of Technology is one of the world’s most highly ranked (and most comprehensive) research, education and innovation communities devoted entirely to aerospace engineering. More than 200 science staff, around 270 PhD candidates and close to 3000 BSc and MSc students apply aerospace engineering disciplines to address the global societal challenges that threaten us today, climate change without doubt being the most important. Our focal subjects: sustainable aerospace, big data and artificial intelligence, bio-inspired engineering and smart instruments and systems. Working at the faculty means working together. With partners in other faculties, knowledge institutes, governments and industry, both aerospace and non-aerospace. Working in field labs and innovation hubs on our university campus and beyond.

Click here to go to the website of the Faculty of Aerospace Engineering.

Additional information

For more information about this vacancy, please contact Prof. S. Hickel: S.Hickel@tudelft.nl.

Application procedure

Are you interested in this vacancy? Please apply no later than 3 December 2023 via the application button and upload:

• A motivation letter (1 page max.);
• Detailed CV;
• BSc and MSc Transcripts;
• An extract of a scientific document you wrote in English (e.g. an article or your MSc thesis);
• Names and contacts information of at least two references (support letters can be attached but are not required).

Please note:

• A pre-employment screening can be part of the selection procedure.
• You can apply online. We will not process applications sent by email and/or post.
• Please do not contact us for unsolicited services.