Postdoc Experimental Study of Ice Formation Process for Contrails

Job description

Facing the climate crisis, the aviation industry has developed an ambitious “net-zero” goal to decarbonize. The potential mitigation measures include technolgy advances for low emissions, using alterantive fuels like sustainable aviation fuels and hydrogen. However, a large part of the aviation’s climate effects originates from the non-CO2 emissions, e.g., contrail with a large uncertainty still. Amongst all, one important research gap is the contrail formation pathways attributed to different engine exhaust conditions, which is crucial for the further development of contrails hence the resulting climate impact.

In this research, you will design a proper experimetal setup to investigate the ice nucleation pathways related to different emissions characteristics at the engine exhaust. The collected data would be helpful to validate the microphysics models for ice nucleation process, hence clarifying the different nucleation pathways for ice formation. You will collaborate with other researchers inside and outside our research group to stength the research outcome.

Job requirements

• A PHD degree in a relevant subject, such as aerospace engineering, aeronatucial engineering, atmospheric sciences, or (applied) physics.
• Excellent lab-experiences
• Advanced mathematical, analytical skills, and programming skills, e.g., in Python.
• A keen interest in interdisciplinary research.
• An excellent command of English, as you’ll be working in an internationally diverse community and with international partners.
• Ability to learn independently and passion for research
• Team player, open to discussion and constructive criticism
• Previous involvement in scientific research is a plus

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 Aerospace Engineering
The Faculty of Aerospace Engineering at Delft University of Technology is a leading international community where innovation in aerospace meets global challenges. Our support and scientific staff, including PhD candidates, postdocs, and students, largely work together on three main themes: the energy transition, sustainable aerospace, and safety and security, with the aim of tackling climate change and contributing to the independence and security of Europe.

When you join us, you become part of a diverse, collaborative, and forward-thinking environment where your ideas and perspectives are valued. Our work extends beyond the lab—into field labs, innovation hubs, and partnerships with other faculties, research institutes, governments, and industry, both locally and globally.

We are committed to fostering an inclusive and welcoming workplace, assisted by an active Diversity & Inclusion team. This includes tangible support such as funding for extra personnel for family and caregiving responsibilities, mentoring programmes, and initiatives that promote cultural exchange and integration.

You don’t just join our faculty — you join a community where you can thrive, grow, and help shape the future of aerospace.

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

Process Engineer - Productie & Optimalisatie

Je start met een intensieve kennismaking met de productieomgeving en leert de profileerprocessen, tooling en installaties van dichtbij kennen. Daarna groei je verder richting technische optimalisatie en verbeterprojecten.

Je bent onder andere verantwoordelijk voor:

• Het analyseren en optimaliseren van productieprocessen.
• Het onderzoeken van technische verbeterpunten binnen de profileerlijnen.
• Het meewerken aan projecten rond reliability en continuous improvement.
• Het samenwerken met onderhoud, productie en technische experten.
• Het opnemen van eigen projecten op basis van de noden van de afdeling.
• Het verder ontwikkelen van expertise rond profileerprocessen en tooling.

De functie maakt deel uit van een breder Young Potential-traject waarbij starters eerst productie, maintenance en TPM leren kennen en daarna doorgroeien richting een rol die aansluit bij hun sterktes en interesses.

Logistics Engineer

• Dagelijks opvolgen en analyseren van de logistieke processen staat centraal. Op basis van de prestaties van de voorbije 24 uur worden prioriteiten voor de komende periode bepaald
• KPI-afwijkingen worden grondig uitgeplozen. Door te zoeken naar de onderliggende oorzaken, draag je actief bij aan structurele verbeteringen
• Complexe operationele problemen vragen om snelle en doelgerichte acties. Dankzij jouw aanpak blijft de flow gegarandeerd draaien, ook bij verstoringen
• Korte verbetertrajecten vertalen zich in concrete optimalisaties op de werkvloer, met zichtbare impact op de werking van de unit
• Het beheren en verder uitbouwen van standaarden zoals SOP’s, SWS, RCA en 5S zorgt voor een stabiele en efficiënte procesomgeving
• Procesparameters en werkwijzen worden niet alleen bewaakt, maar ook kritisch geëvalueerd en bijgestuurd waar nodig
• Als inhoudelijke sparringpartner bied je ondersteuning aan teamleads en medewerkers en help je hen sterker te worden in hun rol
• Opleidingen rond processen en standaarden worden mee vormgegeven, in samenwerking met de technical trainer
• Nauwe samenwerking met verschillende teams zoals productie, inpak, maintenance, planning en automatisatie zorgt voor een geïntegreerde aanpak
• Initiatieven tot verbetering worden opgenomen, uitgewerkt en van begin tot eind opgevolgd binnen de unit

PhD Position Biomaterial Sciences Transcutaneous, Needle-Free Vascular Access for Hemodialysis

Job description
Fundamental biomedical research and clinical impact come together in this four-year PhD project within the TRANSPORT programme. As a PhD candidate, you will work on the development of an innovative, transcutaneous and needle-free vascular access for hemodialysis. The project is a collaboration between Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) and Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), closely linking advanced biomaterials, medical technology and clinical nephrology.

What will you do?

• Design and optimise a transcutaneous vascular access port
• Develop and test biomaterials and surface coatings with a focus on hemocompatibility
• Perform in vitro experiments on thrombogenicity and biofilm formation under flow conditions
• Analyse, interpret and publish research results in international scientific journals

Where will you work?
You will be appointed at TU Delft and work within a research group with strong expertise in vascular access, large animal models and clinical translation. At the same time, you will be scientifically embedded in research groups at TU Delft focusing on biomaterials and additive manufacturing. This collaboration offers a unique environment where fundamental technology development is directly connected to clinical application.

Job requirements

• A completed MSc degree in Biomedical Engineering, Clinical Technology, Biomedical Sciences or a closely related field
• Affinity with biomaterials, medical devices and translational research
• Interest in experimental research and data analysis
• Good communication skills in English, both written and oral
• A critical and independent working attitude

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 Predicting & Mitigating Liquid Copper Infiltration in Steels via Atomistic Simulations

Job description
At TU Delft, you will contribute to a transformative research initiative focused on sustainable steel production. This project addresses a critical and growing challenge in metallurgy which is the liquid copper infiltration (LCI) in copper-contaminated steels leading to cracking during steel processing. While LCI is a known issue in conventional steel recycling, it becomes especially critical in the context of green steel production, where increased reliance on recycled scrap and electric arc furnace (EAF)-based routes promotes copper accumulation in steel, creating conditions that favour subsequent copper-induced embrittlement.

Team Dey within the Computational Materials Science section at TU Delft is actively engaged in developing fundamental understanding for next-generation circular steelmaking. Using advanced atomistic modelling techniques, you will unravel the atomic-scale competition between copper and silicon at grain boundaries and oxide interfaces, delivering atomistic insights directly relevant to improving the recyclability and processability of both conventional and green steels. Where experimental work within the project focuses on process development and validation, this position addresses the underlying governing atomistic mechanisms.

Within this position, you will employ molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to investigate the underlying atomistic mechanisms of LCI in steel grain boundaries and the inhibitory role of silicon. Your MD-based approach will elucidate how silicon disrupts copper wetting and diffusion. A central aspect of this project is the development of a Density Functional Theory (DFT)-accurate machine-learned interatomic potential (MLIP) for the multi-component steel system of interest. Ultimately, this simulation-driven framework will allow reliable identification of the new thresholds for copper content and the corresponding optimum silicon concentrations, thereby supporting the development of more robust recyclable steels.

Your responsibilities
In this role, you will develop fundamental insights into the atomistic mechanisms governing LCI at steel grain boundaries and the inhibitory role of silicon in copper-contaminated steels. As a postdoctoral researcher, you will:

1. Perform molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to obtain atomic-scale insights into copper segregation, wetting and embrittlement at grain boundaries in steels
2. Develop a Density Functional Theory (DFT)-accurate machine-learned interatomic potential (MLIP), enabling predictive MD simulations capable of resolving atomic-scale LCI mechanisms with near-DFT accuracy
3. Investigate how silicon suppresses LCI, including its effects on grain boundary site competition and the formation of copper-silicon intermetallic phases
4. Collaborate closely with researchers within department MSE as well as with the project partners including Leibniz-Institut Für Werkstofforientierte Technologien (IWT), Thyssenkrupp Steel Europe AG, Oulun Yliopisto and Ovako Sweden AB, to connect modelling insights with process development and alloy design
5. Contribute to scientific publications, conference presentations and the development of new research proposals in the field of in the field of sustainable and circular steelmaking

Your work environment
You will be part of Team Dey within the Computational Materials Science section at TU Delft. This team focuses on atomistic simulations to investigate materials for sustainable energy, with proven expertise in hydrogen embrittlement, hydrogen storage and the behaviour of carbon-based materials such as graphene. Your project on the atomistic mechanisms of liquid copper infiltration (LCI) in steels and the inhibitory role of silicon aligns with the team's broader interest in metal–impurity interactions, interfacial phenomena and its commitment to computation-guided design for green and circular steel production.

You will collaborate closely with researchers from the broader research programme, including experimental teams and key partners such as Leibniz-Institut Für Werkstofforientierte Technologien (IWT), Oulun Yliopisto, Thyssenkrupp Steel Europe AG and Ovako Sweden AB. The Computational Materials Science section offers a collaborative and intellectually stimulating environment, where researchers work across disciplines and scales, with ample opportunities for scientific development and impact.

Job requirements
We are looking for a self-motivated researcher to help develop atomistic insights and simulation tools for enabling LCI-resistant steels. You are independent but also a good team player and are willing to cooperate closely with other researchers and our industry partners.

Furthermore, you meet the following requirements:

• You hold a PhD degree in Materials Science and Engineering, Physics, Chemistry, or a closely related discipline.
• You have a strong expertise in atomistic and molecular simulation techniques (density functional theory, molecular dynamics, ab initio molecular dynamics) and in developing machine learning interatomic potentials and can apply these to uncover atomistic mechanisms relevant to LCI mitigation, such as copper–silicon competition at grain boundaries, copper trapping by the formation of intermetallic phases, etc.
• You have a strong track record in scientific research, as evident from publications in peer-reviewed international journals and conference participation.
• You have excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.

Join this unique programme, where you can apply your technical knowledge to collaborate with leading European research institutes and steel industries. Imagine enabling the safe use of recycled scrap in green steel production and improving the circularity of steel. You can help make an impact on a more sustainable future.

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.