Doctoral student in Energy Sciences with focus on thermoacoustics and jet engine combustion - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

Subject and project description

In the European Defense Fund (EDF) financed project NEUMANN, which involves 41 participating organizations from 9 EU countries, new knowledge is to be developed for the next generation of European fighter aircraft. Combustion and propulsion are central areas for aircraft development and Energy Sciences at LU will, together with the engine manufacturer Avio Aero, investigate flame stabilization and thermoacoustic instabilities for different aviation fuels, including different types of bio-aviation fuel.

In an aircraft engine, jet fuel is burned in a gas turbine, which in turn propels the aircraft forward. Bio-jet fuel has different thermodynamic and combustion properties than the fossil fuels to be replaced, and it is then important to understand if this affects the operation of the engine in any way or if other air and fuel flows should be used. Within the project, experiments and numerical simulations will be used in parallel to study mainly flame stabilization and if, and if so how, thermoacoustic instabilities can arise. The work of energy scientists at NEUMANN focuses on numerical simulation of combustion, flame stabilization and the emergence of thermoacoustic instabilities and how these can be mitigated.

The doctoral student will work at the division of heat transfer in a group focusing on numerically studying heat transfer, thermal processes and complex reactive flows. Collaborations with colleagues at the fluid dynamics and combustion physics divisions as well as with the consortium partners of the NEUMANN project, and other research groups in Sweden and abroad will support and leverage the research and development. 

Work duties

The main duties of doctoral students are to devote themselves to their research studies which includes participating in research projects and third cycle courses. The work duties will also teaching and other departmental duties (no more than 20%).

Admission requirements 

A person meets the general admission requirements for third-cycle courses and study programmes if the applicant: 

• has been awarded a second-cycle qualification, or
• has satisfied the requirements for courses comprising at least 240 credits of which at least 60 credits were awarded in the second cycle, or
• has acquired substantially equivalent knowledge in some other way in Sweden or abroad.

A person meets the specific admission requirements for third cycle studies in Energy Sciences if the applicant has: 

• at least 90 credits in the subject of the third-cycle programme, of which at least 60 credits are from second-cycle courses of relevance to the subject and 30 credits from a second-cycle degree project of relevance to the subject.
• a Master’s degree of relevance to the field 

Additional requirements:

• Very good oral and written proficiency in English.
• Experience of and knowledge about advanced fluid dynamic simulations on high-performance computational systems.
• European citizenship due to the natur of the project.
• Good oral and written knowledge of Swedish as some teaching take place in Swedish.

Assessment criteria

Selection for third-cycle studies is based on the student’s potential to profit from such studies. The assessment of potential is made primarily on the basis of academic results from the first and second cycle. Special attention is paid to the following: 

1. Knowledge and skills relevant to the thesis project and the subject of study.
2. An assessment of ability to work independently and to formulate and tackle research problems.
3. Written and oral communication skills.
4. Other experience relevant to the third-cycle studies, e.g. professional experience.

Other assessment criteria:

• Background in physics, fluid dynamics and/or numerical methods with documented knowledge of turbine combustion.
• Knowledge of chemical kinetics, spray combustion and openFoam.
• Ability to communicate with researchers in other research fields.

Consideration will also be given to good collaborative skills, drive and independence, and how the applicant, through his or her experience and skills, is deemed to have the abilities necessary for successfully completing the third cycle programme.

Terms of employment

Only those admitted to third cycle studies may be appointed to a doctoral studentship. Third cycle studies at LTH consist of full-time studies for 4 years. A doctoral studentship is a fixed-term employment of a maximum of 5 years (including 20% departmental duties). Doctoral studentships are regulated in the Higher Education Ordinance (1993:100), chapter 5, 1-7 §§.

Instructions on how to apply

Applications shall be written in English and include a cover letter stating the reasons why you are interested in the position and in what way the research project corresponds to your interests and educational background. The application must also contain a CV, degree certificate or equivalent, and other documents you wish to be considered (grade transcripts, contact information for your references, letters of recommendation, etc.).