Experimental PhD Position Understanding Corrosion Risks of Sustainable Aviation Fuel

Are you excited to mitigate the risks of the use of existing infrastructure for transport and storage of biofuel? Join us in guiding the Dutch Ministry of Defence through a safe energy transition!

Job description

You'll be working in the Corrosion Technology and Electrochemistry (CTE) group, part of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, in close collaboration with the Netherlands Defence Academy. The CTE group is a dynamic team of researchers, including PhD candidates, postdocs, and faculty members. Our group focuses on understanding and mitigating corrosion processes, and on the development of electrocatalysts and electrochemical sensors through the synthesis of materials and the use of advanced electrochemical methods and surface analysis techniques. We aim to deepen the fundamental knowledge of electrochemistry and surface science and translate this into practical, sustainable solutions for energy and materials applications.

Aerospace regulations state that kerosene must contain at least 2% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). However, due to the potentially high moisture content in SAF, damage from Microbial Corrosion (MIC) in static environments such as storage tanks is considered a realistic and dangerous scenario. Existing inspection regimes are however unlikely to mitigate the risks of MIC; MIC typically requires a proactive monitoring policy using state-of-the-art techniques instead of the current reactive inspection intervals. Furthermore, it is important to know which protective and mitigating measures are deemed effective.

This project aims to quantify the MIC-related corrosion damage to existing infrastructure components caused by the transport and storage of SAF, so that the associated risks can be managed. We are looking for a skilled PhD researcher to investigate these corrosion risks, together with the Dutch Defence Pipeline Organisation. Your work as a PhD researcher involves the following:

1. Determine which conditions (e.g., moisture content, sediment, temperature, presence and types of microorganisms) in system components with static environments can lead to enhanced corrosion and MIC in particular.

2. Perform SAF laboratory experiments with representative materials in combination with in-situ electrochemistry, e.g. electrochemical noise and surface analysis, e.g. SEM/EDX. Variables include:

• Micro-organism(s)

• Environment (sediment)

• Material

• Geometry

• Moisture content

3. Perform static SAF laboratory exposures with various inhibitors in solution or in protective coatings/linings, in combination with in-situ electrochemistry, e.g. electrochemical noise and surface analysis, e.g. SEM/EDX.

4. Combination of the above with various state-of-the-art monitoring techniques, e.g. electrochemical, acoustic or optical. 

Job requirements

• MSc degree in Materials Science, Metallurgy, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering or a related field.

• Excellent analytical skills, initiative, inventiveness, curiosity, diligence, and critical thinking.

• Ability to work with scientific and industrial partners.

• Strong communication skills (high English proficiency), team player, and good social behaviour.

The following will make you stand out:

• Creative, open-minded, and proactive researcher.

• Excellent experimental, analytical, and problem-solving skills.

• Self-driven attitude, creativity and autonomy.

Important note: due to the specific nature of the subject, this vacancy is only applicable for Dutch and/or EU/NATO nationalities. The candidate will be subjected to a defence safety screening procedure.

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 Promovendus gross per month, from the first year to the fourth year based on a fulltime contract (38 hours), plus 8% holiday allowance and an end-of-year bonus of 8.3%.  

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.  

Will you need to relocate to the Netherlands for this job? TU Delft is committed to make your move as smooth as possible! The HR unit, Coming to Delft Service, offers information on their website to help you prepare your relocation. In addition, Coming to Delft Service organises events to help you settle in the Netherlands, and expand your (social) network in Delft. A Dual Career Programme is available, to support your accompanying partner with their job search in the Netherlands.  

Additional information

For more information about this vacancy, please contact Dr. Axel Homborg (A.M.Homborg@tudelft.nl) and/or Prof. Dr. Arjan Mol (J.M.C.Mol@tudelft.nl).

Application procedure

Are you interested in this vacancy? Please apply no later than 31 October 2025 via the application button and upload the following documents:

• CV
• Cover (motivation) letter
• Two references and the abstract of your MSc thesis in English

You can address your application to .

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. 
• As part of knowledge security, TU Delft conducts a risk assessment during the recruitment of personnel. We do this, among other things, to prevent the unwanted transfer of sensitive knowledge and technology. The assessment is based on information provided by the candidates themselves, such as their motivation letter and CV, and takes place at the final stages of the selection process. When the outcome of the assessment is negative, the candidate will be informed. The processing of personal data in the context of the risk assessment is carried out on the legal basis of the GDPR: performing a public task in the public interest. You can find more information about this assessment on our website about knowledge security.
• Please do not contact us for unsolicited services.