PhD Position Quantum Algorithms for Numerical Simulation in Aerospace

Job description

The aerospace sector faces increasingly complex engineering challenges. Designing the next generation of aircraft, spacecraft, and propulsion systems requires numerical simulations that are both more accurate and computationally more demanding than ever before. While Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) has become indispensable for aerospace design, many important problems—including high-fidelity flow simulations, uncertainty quantification, and multidisciplinary optimization—remain beyond the reach of today’s supercomputers.

Quantum computing offers a fundamentally new approach to scientific computing. Although large-scale quantum computers are still under development, they have the potential to solve certain computational problems far more efficiently than classical machines. Realizing this potential requires entirely new numerical algorithms that combine advances in quantum computing with decades of expertise in computational science.

In this PhD project, you will help develop the foundations of Quantum Computational Fluid Dynamics (Quantum CFD). You will investigate how fluid dynamics can be simulated on quantum computers by designing novel quantum algorithms, implementing software, and evaluating their performance on quantum computer simulators and potentially real-world quantum computers. The project combines numerical analysis, scientific computing, quantum computing, and aerospace engineering in an exciting interdisciplinary research environment.

You will be part of TU Delft's Quantum-CFD Lab, which has long-term experience in developing quantum lattice Boltzmann methods. This position is funded by IHI Corporation, one of Japan’s leading engineering companies and and a global technology leader in aerospace, energy, and industrial systems. Working closely with both TU Delft and IHI, you will contribute to research at the interface of fundamental science and future industrial applications in the aerospace sector.

Job requirements
You have:

• A Master’s degree (or are close to completing one) in Applied Mathematics, Computer Science, Aerospace Engineering, Physics, Computational Science, or a closely related field.
• A strong background in numerical methods, scientific computing, computational physics, or quantum computing.
• Excellent programming skills in Python and/or C++. Experience with scientific software development is an advantage.
• An interest in quantum algorithms and the motivation to contribute to one of the world’s emerging research areas.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills and the ability to work both independently and as part of an interdisciplinary team.
• Good communication skills and an excellent command of written and spoken English.

TU Delft (Delft University of Technology)
Working at TU Delft means contributing to solutions that really make a difference.

For over 180 years, we have been training engineers who make an impact worldwide in companies, government bodies, or as entrepreneurs. Our alumni turn knowledge into concrete solutions for the challenges of today and tomorrow. These challenges are changing rapidly. That is why we focus on themes such as energy, climate, digitalisation, artificial intelligence (AI), and smart mobility every day. Our education and research are directly aligned with what society needs now and in the future.

At TU Delft, our people make the difference. With their knowledge and curiosity, our staff provide a high-quality education and conduct pioneering research that extends beyond the campus. You will have the opportunity to take the initiative, work with others, and grow as a professional. Working at TU Delft means join an international community of professionals and students. Together, we create knowledge, innovations, and solutions that help move the world forward.

Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science
The Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science (EEMCS) brings together three scientific disciplines. Combined, they reinforce each other and are the driving force behind the technology we all use in our daily lives. Technology such as the electricity grid, which our faculty is helping to make completely sustainable and future-proof. At the same time, we are developing the chips and sensors of the future, whilst also setting the foundations for the software technologies to run on this new generation of equipment – which of course includes AI. Meanwhile we are pushing the limits of applied mathematics, for example mapping out disease processes using single cell data, and using mathematics to simulate gigantic ash plumes after a volcanic eruption. In other words: there is plenty of room at the faculty for ground-breaking research. We educate innovative engineers and have excellent labs and facilities that underline our strong international position. In total, more than 1000 employees and 4,000 students work and study in this innovative environment.

Click here to go to the website of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science.

PhD Position Quantum Algorithms for Numerical Simulation in Aerospace

Job description

The aerospace sector faces increasingly complex engineering challenges. Designing the next generation of aircraft, spacecraft, and propulsion systems requires numerical simulations that are both more accurate and computationally more demanding than ever before. While Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) has become indispensable for aerospace design, many important problems—including high-fidelity flow simulations, uncertainty quantification, and multidisciplinary optimization—remain beyond the reach of today’s supercomputers.

Quantum computing offers a fundamentally new approach to scientific computing. Although large-scale quantum computers are still under development, they have the potential to solve certain computational problems far more efficiently than classical machines. Realizing this potential requires entirely new numerical algorithms that combine advances in quantum computing with decades of expertise in computational science.

In this PhD project, you will help develop the foundations of Quantum Computational Fluid Dynamics (Quantum CFD). You will investigate how fluid dynamics can be simulated on quantum computers by designing novel quantum algorithms, implementing software, and evaluating their performance on quantum computer simulators and potentially real-world quantum computers. The project combines numerical analysis, scientific computing, quantum computing, and aerospace engineering in an exciting interdisciplinary research environment.

You will be part of TU Delft's Quantum-CFD Lab, which has long-term experience in developing quantum lattice Boltzmann methods. This position is funded by IHI Corporation, one of Japan’s leading engineering companies and and a global technology leader in aerospace, energy, and industrial systems. Working closely with both TU Delft and IHI, you will contribute to research at the interface of fundamental science and future industrial applications in the aerospace sector.

Job requirements
You have:

• A Master’s degree (or are close to completing one) in Applied Mathematics, Computer Science, Aerospace Engineering, Physics, Computational Science, or a closely related field.
• A strong background in numerical methods, scientific computing, computational physics, or quantum computing.
• Excellent programming skills in Python and/or C++. Experience with scientific software development is an advantage.
• An interest in quantum algorithms and the motivation to contribute to one of the world’s emerging research areas.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills and the ability to work both independently and as part of an interdisciplinary team.
• Good communication skills and an excellent command of written and spoken English.

TU Delft (Delft University of Technology)
Working at TU Delft means contributing to solutions that really make a difference.

For over 180 years, we have been training engineers who make an impact worldwide in companies, government bodies, or as entrepreneurs. Our alumni turn knowledge into concrete solutions for the challenges of today and tomorrow. These challenges are changing rapidly. That is why we focus on themes such as energy, climate, digitalisation, artificial intelligence (AI), and smart mobility every day. Our education and research are directly aligned with what society needs now and in the future.

At TU Delft, our people make the difference. With their knowledge and curiosity, our staff provide a high-quality education and conduct pioneering research that extends beyond the campus. You will have the opportunity to take the initiative, work with others, and grow as a professional. Working at TU Delft means join an international community of professionals and students. Together, we create knowledge, innovations, and solutions that help move the world forward.

Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science
The Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science (EEMCS) brings together three scientific disciplines. Combined, they reinforce each other and are the driving force behind the technology we all use in our daily lives. Technology such as the electricity grid, which our faculty is helping to make completely sustainable and future-proof. At the same time, we are developing the chips and sensors of the future, whilst also setting the foundations for the software technologies to run on this new generation of equipment – which of course includes AI. Meanwhile we are pushing the limits of applied mathematics, for example mapping out disease processes using single cell data, and using mathematics to simulate gigantic ash plumes after a volcanic eruption. In other words: there is plenty of room at the faculty for ground-breaking research. We educate innovative engineers and have excellent labs and facilities that underline our strong international position. In total, more than 1000 employees and 4,000 students work and study in this innovative environment.

Click here to go to the website of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science.

PhD Position Metaoptics for Space Applications

Job description
We are seeking a highly motivated PhD candidate to join the INTERPRETER project, an interdisciplinary research initiative focused on the development of next-generation compact hyperspectral spectropolarimetric cameras. Hyperspectral imaging enables simultaneous acquisition of spatial and spectral information, supporting applications in earth observation, semiconductor metrology, agriculture, medical imaging, industrial inspection, and environmental monitoring. Current detector technologies face limitations in spectral coverage, imaging speed, scalability, cost, and CMOS compatibility. The INTERPRETER project aims to overcome these challenges employing photonic crystal-based spectropolarimetric filter arrays. The project will advance novel imaging technologies capable of delivering compact, high-performance instruments for satellite-based aerosol monitoring, climate research, and industrial sensing applications.

Ideally, the candidate should have a strong background in optics/nanoptics, both experimentally as well as theoretically. Tasks involve the design and manufacturing of photonic crystals, the detector integration as well as the optical testing. The INTERPRETER project will be in collaboration with SRON Space Research Organisation Netherlands, where as well parts of the experimental work will take place.

Job requirements
Applicants should have the following qualifications:

• A strong Master's degree in Physics or Applied Physics, Photonics, Nanotechnology, Engineering or a related field.
• Knowledge of nanooptics, photonic crystals, inverse design, photonics, imaging systems, optionally also semiconductor devices, optoelectronics.
• Experience with optical characterization, nanofabrication, computational imaging, or detector technology is an advantage.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communication skills and proficiency in English.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in an interdisciplinary research environment.

TU Delft (Delft University of Technology)
Working at TU Delft means contributing to solutions that really make a difference.

For over 180 years, we have been training engineers who make an impact worldwide in companies, government bodies, or as entrepreneurs. Our alumni turn knowledge into concrete solutions for the challenges of today and tomorrow.

These challenges are changing rapidly. That is why we focus on themes such as energy, climate, digitalisation, artificial intelligence (AI), and smart mobility every day. Our education and research are directly aligned with what society needs now and in the future.

At TU Delft, our people make the difference. With their knowledge and curiosity, our staff provide a high-quality education and conduct pioneering research that extends beyond the campus. You will have the opportunity to take the initiative, work with others, and grow as a professional.

Working at TU Delft means join an international community of professionals and students. Together, we create knowledge, innovations, and solutions that help move the world forward.

Faculty Mechanical Engineering
From chip to ship. From machine to human being. From idea to solution. Driven by a deep-rooted desire to understand our environment and discover its underlying mechanisms, research and education at the ME faculty focusses on fundamental understanding, design, production including application and product improvement, materials, processes and (mechanical) systems.

ME is a dynamic and innovative faculty with high-tech lab facilities and international reach. It’s a large faculty but also versatile, so we can often make unique connections by combining different disciplines. This is reflected in ME’s outstanding, state-of-the-art education, which trains students to become responsible and socially engaged engineers and scientists. We translate our knowledge and insights into solutions to societal issues, contributing to a sustainable society and to the development of prosperity and well-being. That is what unites us in pioneering research, inspiring education and (inter)national cooperation.

Click here to go to the website of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering. Do you want to experience working at our faculty? These videos will introduce you to some of our researchers and their work.

PhD Position Metaoptics for Space Applications

Job description
We are seeking a highly motivated PhD candidate to join the INTERPRETER project, an interdisciplinary research initiative focused on the development of next-generation compact hyperspectral spectropolarimetric cameras. Hyperspectral imaging enables simultaneous acquisition of spatial and spectral information, supporting applications in earth observation, semiconductor metrology, agriculture, medical imaging, industrial inspection, and environmental monitoring. Current detector technologies face limitations in spectral coverage, imaging speed, scalability, cost, and CMOS compatibility. The INTERPRETER project aims to overcome these challenges employing photonic crystal-based spectropolarimetric filter arrays. The project will advance novel imaging technologies capable of delivering compact, high-performance instruments for satellite-based aerosol monitoring, climate research, and industrial sensing applications.

Ideally, the candidate should have a strong background in optics/nanoptics, both experimentally as well as theoretically. Tasks involve the design and manufacturing of photonic crystals, the detector integration as well as the optical testing. The INTERPRETER project will be in collaboration with SRON Space Research Organisation Netherlands, where as well parts of the experimental work will take place.

Job requirements
Applicants should have the following qualifications:

• A strong Master's degree in Physics or Applied Physics, Photonics, Nanotechnology, Engineering or a related field.
• Knowledge of nanooptics, photonic crystals, inverse design, photonics, imaging systems, optionally also semiconductor devices, optoelectronics.
• Experience with optical characterization, nanofabrication, computational imaging, or detector technology is an advantage.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communication skills and proficiency in English.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in an interdisciplinary research environment.

TU Delft (Delft University of Technology)
Working at TU Delft means contributing to solutions that really make a difference.

For over 180 years, we have been training engineers who make an impact worldwide in companies, government bodies, or as entrepreneurs. Our alumni turn knowledge into concrete solutions for the challenges of today and tomorrow.

These challenges are changing rapidly. That is why we focus on themes such as energy, climate, digitalisation, artificial intelligence (AI), and smart mobility every day. Our education and research are directly aligned with what society needs now and in the future.

At TU Delft, our people make the difference. With their knowledge and curiosity, our staff provide a high-quality education and conduct pioneering research that extends beyond the campus. You will have the opportunity to take the initiative, work with others, and grow as a professional.

Working at TU Delft means join an international community of professionals and students. Together, we create knowledge, innovations, and solutions that help move the world forward.

Faculty Mechanical Engineering
From chip to ship. From machine to human being. From idea to solution. Driven by a deep-rooted desire to understand our environment and discover its underlying mechanisms, research and education at the ME faculty focusses on fundamental understanding, design, production including application and product improvement, materials, processes and (mechanical) systems.

ME is a dynamic and innovative faculty with high-tech lab facilities and international reach. It’s a large faculty but also versatile, so we can often make unique connections by combining different disciplines. This is reflected in ME’s outstanding, state-of-the-art education, which trains students to become responsible and socially engaged engineers and scientists. We translate our knowledge and insights into solutions to societal issues, contributing to a sustainable society and to the development of prosperity and well-being. That is what unites us in pioneering research, inspiring education and (inter)national cooperation.

Click here to go to the website of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering. Do you want to experience working at our faculty? These videos will introduce you to some of our researchers and their work.

Postdoc In-Situ Cryo-ET

Job description

We seek a highly motivated postdoctoral researcher to develop and apply integrated workflows for in situ cryogenic electron tomography (cryo-ET). The project will focus on automating cellular targeting and lamella preparation of frozen-hydrated biological specimen on a unique instrument, with the aim of enabling efficient and reproducible structural analysis of molecular complexes in their native cellular environment.

The candidate will establish streamlined and AI-facilitated approaches for identifying regions of interest, guiding site-specific lamella preparation, and acquiring high-quality cryo-ET data. The candidate will apply these workflows to challenging questions in the structural cell biology of the assembly of a unique machinery involed in bacterial motility and cell-autonomous immunity. Working at the intersection of technical development and biological applications, the candidate will also contribute to the development of computational methods for the contextual interpretation of cellular tomograms. The position involves close interaction with other experimentalists and computational researchers who together work towards methodological advances that facilitate biological discovery.

Your home base will be the Jakobi Lab (https://cryoem.tudelft.nl) at TU Delft | Kavli Institute of Nanoscience. We are a multidisciplinary, international and diverse team of scientists with backgrounds ranging from (bio)chemistry and physics to bioinformatics and cell biology. Our drive is to push boundaries in our aim to visualise molecular processes in their native context and at the highest possible resolution. As part of the Department of Bionanoscience and the Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, we enjoy access to state-of-the-art infrastructure for biochemistry, molecular imaging, cryoEM/ET and high-performance computing. We are also committed to world-class education, and you will have the opportunity to contribute by mentoring undergraduate and graduate students. We foster a friendly, collaborative, and non-hierarchical environment where ideas and expertise are openly shared in pursuit of ambitious scientific goals. You will receive strong support and training to further your personal and professional development.

Job requirements
We seek an outstanding structural biologist or (bio)physicist with a strong affinity for working at the intersection of method/instrument development and structural cell biology. The ideal candidate has a genuine interest in advancing fundamental methodology for cryogenic electron tomography and enjoys working closely with experimental and computational researchers to advance our understanding of fundamental biological processes. We are looking for a candidate with intellectual creativity, strong problem-solving skills, and the ability to communicate and collaborate effectively across disciplines.

Required qualifications:

• You hold a PhD in (bio)physics, structural biology a related field.
• You have demonstrated experience in FIB-SEM workflows and cryogenic electron tomography, including correlative light and electron microscopy.
• You have experience with image analysis, ideally in the context of electron microscopy.
• You have strong computational and programming skills (e.g. Python, Julia),
• You have an interest in, or experience with, machine learning approaches for scientific data analysis.
• You have a strong interest in interdisciplinary research and enjoy collaborating with experimental and computational scientists.
• You communicate clearly and effectively in English, as you will work in an international research environment.

Ideally, you also have:

• Experience with cryo-EM or cryo-ET data analysis, including areas such as tilt series alignment, 2D/3D template matching, or subtomogram averaging.
• Experience with handling, culturing and manipulation bacterial and mammalian cells.
• Familiarity with scientific software and instrument development.
• A track record of peer-reviewed publications demonstrating methodological or computational contributions.

TU Delft (Delft University of Technology)
Working at TU Delft means contributing to solutions that really make a difference.

For over 180 years, we have been training engineers who make an impact worldwide in companies, government bodies, or as entrepreneurs. Our alumni turn knowledge into concrete solutions for the challenges of today and tomorrow. These challenges are changing rapidly. That is why we focus on themes such as energy, climate, digitalisation, artificial intelligence (AI), and smart mobility every day. Our education and research are directly aligned with what society needs now and in the future.

At TU Delft, our people make the difference. With their knowledge and curiosity, our staff provide a high-quality education and conduct pioneering research that extends beyond the campus. You will have the opportunity to take the initiative, work with others, and grow as a professional. Working at TU Delft means join an international community of professionals and students. Together, we create knowledge, innovations, and solutions that help move the world forward.

Faculty Applied Sciences
With more than 1,100 employees, including 150 pioneering principal investigators, as well as a population of about 3,600 passionate students, the Faculty of Applied Sciences is an inspiring scientific ecosystem. Focusing on key enabling technologies, such as quantum- and nanotechnology, photonics, biotechnology, synthetic biology and materials for energy storage and conversion, our faculty aims to provide solutions to important problems of the 21st century. To that end, we educate innovative students in broad Bachelor's and specialist Master's programmes with a strong research component. Our scientists conduct ground-breaking fundamental and applied research in the fields of Life and Health Science & Technology, Nanoscience, Chemical Engineering, Radiation Science & Technology, and Engineering Physics. We are also training the next generation of high school teachers.

Click here to go to the website of the Faculty of Applied Sciences.