Job description
Rearch Program: Wind Assisted Ship Propulsion

The maritime industry is under pressure to reach the net-zero Greenhouse Gas target set for 2050 on international shipping to alleviate the climate crisis. A strong collaboration between industry, research institutes, and universities is needed to develop and implement novel technologies to achieve this target.

In response to this challenge, TU Delft recently launched a multi-disciplinary, interfaculty research program on Wind Assisted Ship Propulsion (WASP) focusing on three research themes: 1) Fluid dynamics, 2) Design and operation, and 3) Sustainable and societal impact. We are a young, international and diverse team within the Faculties of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering. We approach problems in a horizontal “team spirit” and continuously traverse boundaries between theory, simulations, and experiments. We strive for a co-creative and stimulating environment where you can develop further skills as a scientist, team member and teacher. We place great emphasis on a collegial working environment where everyone is welcome and encouraged to shape a stimulating and impactful PhD track. In addition, given the multi-disciplinary nature of wind-assisted technologies, your research will contribute to other projects on different themes within the WASP program.

PhD Position: Scale-resolving simulation of wind-assisted ships and low-fidelity model optimization

The project focuses on scale-resolving simulations (SRS) of wind-assisted ships at drift angles, moving from model to intermediate scales, to better understand the complex flow dynamics of WASP under realistic conditions.

Compared to ships advancing on a straight course, vessels under leeway and heel angles experience more complex hydrodynamic forces, resulting in multiple vortex systems that are difficult to model accurately. This research will utilize large-eddy simulation (LES) with wall modeling (WMLES) in conjunction with a modern multi-GPU high-order computational fluid dynamics (CFD) solver to overcome the accuracy limitations of conventional Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) methods and the high computational cost of SRS.

The main objectives of the PhD project are to perform WMLES simulations of wind-assisted vessels at realistic Reynolds numbers, to optimize RANS models based on high-fidelity data, and to develop a reduced-order model (ROM) to enable fast flow predictions for wind-assisted ship applications.

The successful candidate will be supervised by Dr. Bernat Font and Dr. Gunnar Jacobi from TU Delft, and co-supervised by Dr. Oriol Lehmkuhl from the Barcelona Supercomputing Center (BSC), which can result in short research attachments at BSC.

Job requirements
We welcome applicants from a variety of diverse backgrounds. Applicants should have a strong understanding of CFD, including but not limited to fluid mechanics, numerical methods, and low-level programming languages. Previous experience in high-performance computing will also be valued. Applicants should meet at least one of the following requirements, although multiple requirements/skills will be highly valued:

Requirements:

• MSc in Mechanical/Maritime/Aeronautical Engineering, Physics, Applied Mathematics, or related discipline.
• Proven track record in numerical methods and computational fluid dynamics.
• Proven programming skills in C, C++, or (preferably) Fortran. Where applicable, a link to your open source repositories is recommended.

Other valuable skills:

• Experience in meshing.
• High-performance computing experience using MPI.
• Experience in GPU programming using OpenACC, CUDA, CUDA-Fortran, or related libraries.
• Experience in high-order numerical methods such as spectral element, flux reconstruction, or discontinuous Galerkin.   

TU Delft (Delft University of Technology)
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 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.

Conditions of employment
Doctoral candidates will be offered a 4-year period of employment in principle, but in the form of 2 employment contracts. An initial 1,5 year contract with an official go/no go progress assessment within 15 months. Followed by an additional contract for the remaining 2,5 years assuming everything goes well and performance requirements are met.

Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, increasing from € 2872 per month in the first year to € 3670 in the fourth year. As a PhD candidate you will be enrolled in the TU Delft Graduate School. The TU Delft Graduate School provides an inspiring research environment with an excellent team of supervisors, academic staff and a mentor. The Doctoral Education Programme is aimed at developing your transferable, discipline-related and research skills.

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.

Additional information
For more information about this vacancy, please contact Dr. Gunnar Jacobi, email: G.Jacobi@tudelft.nl or Dr. Bernat Font, email: B.Font@tudelft.nl. For more information about the Wind Assisted Ship Propulsion program in general, email: WASP-ME@tudelft.nl.

Application procedure
Are you interested in this vacancy? Please apply before 5 January 2025 via the application button and upload:

• A cover letter stating your motivation (max 1 page).
• A detailed curriculum vitae.
• Name and contact information of two professional referees.
• A list of courses taken with grades obtained in Bachelors and Masters degree.
• A list of publications (if any). 

Doing a PhD at TU Delft requires English proficiency at a certain level to ensure that the candidate is able to communicate and interact well, participate in English-taught Doctoral Education courses, and write scientific articles and a final thesis. For more details please check the Graduate Schools Admission Requirements.

Please note:

• You can apply online. We will not process applications sent by email and/or post.
• A pre-employment screening can be part of the selection procedure.
• A knowledge security check will be part of the selection procedure.
  (for details page 45: national knowledge security guidelines)
• Please do not contact us for unsolicited services.