Postdoc Modelling of Aviation's Climate Impact for Eco-efficient Flight Trajectory

Challenge: Develop a climate model that enables climate optimized flight trajectories to be achieved at robust manner.

Change: Improve the current climate model with broadening their geographical coverage and incorporating associated weather uncertainties.

Impact: Accelerating the development of robust climate mitigation measures towards zero-2050 goal.

The aviation industry has been growing rapidly until the COVID-19 pandemic. The ICAO Post-COVID-19 forecasts indicate that aviation will recover with a growth rate ranging from 2.4%-4.1% for a low to a high scenario, respectively. Air traffic growth inevitably causes an increase in aviation's combustion and emissions, hence aggravating aviation's climate and societal impacts. Depending on your seniority, you will conduct research into the model development to enable robust climate optimized flight trajectories as a postdoctoral researcher working in the Horiozon Europe F4ECLIM. The goals for this position is that you will further develop the open-source climate model with a novel approach to address the uncertainties related to NOx emissions.

Yours being interdisciplinary research, you will regularly discuss and align your work with the European project partners, which include aerospace faculties, aviation research institutes, and climate scentist. Coaching bachelor and master students and supervising their projects is also part of your role. As a Postdoc researcher, you will be preparing for your academic career and take on a more leading role in education, project coordination, and developing project proposals.

The Aircraft Noise and Climate Effects group will be your homebase. You will be joining our highly motivated, friendly and supportive team.

Ours is an open-minded, inspiring, and friendly atmosphere, in which you will be sharing ideas and knowledge. It is our mission to reduce the environmental impact of aviation, while improving safety and efficiency.

You thrive on developing complex mathematical models and analysing simulations that will demonstrably eco-efficient flights with sufficient level of confidence. In your contacts with your colleagues and your project partners you put your communication skills to good use. And you enjoy mentoring and interacting with students, while growing your own skills and expertise.

You also have:

• A PhD in a relevant subject, such as atmospheric sciences, (applied) physics, (applied) chemistry, aerospace engineering, or mathematics.
• Excellent mathematical and analytical skills.
• Advanced programming skills.
• 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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

If you would like more information about this role, please contact Dr. Feijia Yin, ([email protected] ).

Are you interested in this vacancy? Please apply no later than 17 June 2024 via the application button and upload:

• A motivation letter.
• A detailed CV.
• Copies of your BSc and MSc degrees and transcripts.
• Copy of your PhD degree and transcript.
• At least two reference letters.
• (Optional) An abstract of your PhD thesis or a relevant scientific publication.

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.