Postdoctoral Researcher

Job description

The aviation industry is confronted by the unique challenge, to achieve climate neutrality. This ambitious goal has profound implications requiring ultra efficient aircrafts, which require novel materials, production technologies and constructions. In this initiative Dutch companies and knowledge institutions work together to develop innovative solution for complex thermoplastic composite parts.

This postdoc position tackles the challenge of 3D microscale modelling of fiber-reinforced composites, with a focus on modelling the deformation of the constituents during the manufacturing stage. The thermplastic matrix region transitions from a viscous fluid to solid as temperature falls below the glass transition temperature. The fibers, embeded in the matrix region, may come into contact with each other during the process. Latest technologies on computational contact algorithms, fluid-structure interaction, particle methods, beam elements, etc., may be needed to effectively and efficiently simulate the deformation of such a material system during the manufacturing process. The objective is that such a numerical model would serve as a reliable virtual testbed to predict the influence of manufacturing conditions on the microscale properties of composites, e.g., the distributions of fiber density, waviness, and matrix defects.

The postdoc researcher shall be hired under the Aviation in Transition program (https://luchtvaartintransitie.nl/en/) within the Department of Aerospace Structures and Materials of the Faculty of Aerospace Engineering of TU Delft, reporting to Dr. Boyang Chen. The researcher will be working closely with a team of PhDs and postdocs hired under the same program.

Requirements

• You have a PhD in Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering, Computational Mechanics, Materials Science, composites modelling, Digital Twin, or another relevant subject. We will also accept candidates who expect to obtain their PhD soon.
• You have a proven track record in computational mechanics or computational materials science, particularly in areas such as microscale composites simulation, computational contact mechanics, fluid structure interaction, particle methods.
• You have good communication skills. You are a reliable team player who can effectively collaborate with people of different backgrounds towards a common goal.
• You are willing to develop managerial skills by helping with the supervision of undergraduate and graduate students working on the same project.
• TU Delft requires English proficiency to ensure that the candidate is able to communicate and interact well.

TU Delft

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.

Conditions of employment

• Duration of contract is 2 years.
• A job of 36-40 hours per week.

Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities. The TU Delft offers a customisable compensation package, discounts on health insurance, and a monthly work costs contribution. Flexible work schedules can be arranged.