PhD Position in Hybrid Wind Tunnel Testing of Floating Offshore Wind Turbines Aerodynamics and Aeroelasticity

Floating offshore wind turbines are widely regarded as a key technology to accelerate renewable power generation and reach climate targets. Installing a wind turbine on a floating structure comes with opportunities as well as new engineering challenges. Due to the floating motions, the rotor is subject to complex aerodynamics not yet fully understood. Lab-scale experiments in the field are scarse but highly relevant for capturing these phenomena and update numerical design tools. In response, HybridLab project (https://hybridlabs.tudelft.nl) was launched aiming at accelerating innovations in offshore renewables through hybrid labs.

Within this framework, we are looking for highly skilled and motivated candidates to join our Floating Offshore Wind Energy group and pursue the following PhD project:

- Hybrid Wind Tunnel Testing of Floating Offshore Wind Turbines Aerodynamics and Aeroelasticity.

The project focuses on the experimental investigation of floating offshore wind turbines aerodynamics and aeroelasticity. A highly instrumented 3-blade wind turbine scale aeroelastic model will be designed to be coupled with a hexapod and integrated in a hybrid testing setup. The setup will be tested in multiple wind laboratories to study the detailed aerodynamic loads, power, and structural deformations of the rotor when subjected to floating motions.

As a PhD candidate, you will work among young and energetic peers which offers a stimulating and inclusive working environment for developing your research and academic skills. In addition, due to the highly multidisciplinary nature of this PhD project, your research will contribute to and benefit from others and you will work in teams with other PhDs and staff from this and other institutions within the broad HybridLabs framework.

• MSc. degree in wind energy, aerodynamics, mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, or a related field
• Fundamental knowledge of wind turbines and aerodynamics
• Knowledge of mechanical design, systems and control is a plus
• Affinity with data processing techniques and programming
• Hands on with lab-work and hardware construction
• Experience with wind tunnel testing is a plus
• Attitude to teamwork and excellent communication skills in spoken and written English, combined with demonstrated creativity, self-learning skills and an inclination towards research.

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.

 

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 € 2770 per month in the first year to € 3539 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.

From 1 September next, a salary increase of 3.7% applies due to a Collective Agreement amendment, followed by an additional 1% increase on 1 January 2025. In addition, most employees employed on 1 September 2024 will receive a one-off payment of €300 gross based on full-time employment.

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.

Are you interested in this vacancy? Please apply no later than 17 August 2024 via the application button and upload (in pdf format) 

• Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• Motivation letter (max 1 page)
• Contact information of two references (if desired support letters can be attached).
• Full list and transcripts of M.Sc. degree in English (in case the transcripts are in other language than English please include a translation).
• (A part of) your MSc thesis or a paper that you have written, in which you demonstrate your research and writing skills in English.

Your motivation letter should also include examples of projects and achievements that demonstrate your relevant competences and your motivation for pursuing a PhD in the field and working in an academic environment.

The selection process will start immediately. After a first selection, online interviews will be arranged. The intended start date is autumn 2024.

Please note:

• A pre-employment screening can be part of the selection procedure.
• Applying for an exemption for specific research and educational areas is an obligatory part of the selection procedure for this vacancy. This exemption must be obtained from the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science (OCW) before an employment contract is agreed upon. Click here for more information.
• You can apply online. We will not process applications sent by email and/or post.
• Please do not contact us for unsolicited services.