PhD Position: Air Quality Impacts of Innovations within the Aviation Industry

Challenge: Modeling of aviation’s impact on air quality, with focus on innovation

Change: Implement and validate models of air quality impacts of aviation
Impact: Contribute to sustainable aviation

Job description

This PhD position is part of the Dutch Aviation Systems Analysis Lab (DASAL project, a flagship collaboration between TU Delft and Royal NLR, funded through the Dutch national growth fund under the ‘Luchtvaart in Transitie’ programme. DASAL serves as a living lab for developing integrated models and simulations to support innovation throughout the Dutch aviation sector and public policy. Within this unique ecosystem, you will join a diverse and interdisciplinary team of PhD candidates and postdocs from across the Faculty of Aerospace Engineering, collaborating closely with experts at NLR and the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management to analyse the complex interactions between sustainability, economics, and societal impact in aviation.

The emissions from the aviation sector affect air quality at local scales (close to airports) but also at global scales. These emissions include nitrogen oxides and particulate matter that result from the combustion process within the aircraft engines. Innovations in the aviation sector, such as the use of alternative fuels like sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) and hydrogen, will change the sector’s emissions and the resulting air quality impacts. Similarly, operational innovations such as continuous climb and descent operations and policy-driven changes related to airport capacity can further affect these impacts. Although a key driver for these innovations is the reduction of aviation’s climate impact, it is also important to consider their effects on air quality.

The objective of this thesis is to implement, validate and use models of the air quality impacts of aviation, with a specific focus on the capability to assess changes in these impacts due to innovations in technology, operations and policy. You will model the dispersion and chemical changes of aircraft emissions at local scales (near-airport) as well as larger scales (regional to global). Where possible, you will utilize measurements to develop and validate these models. Ultimately, the results of these models will be integrated within the DASAL ecosystem to allow policy-makers to assess the effect of innovation on air quality effects.

Requirements

• Master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Atmospheric Science or a related field
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills
• Strong proficiency in programming and software development, with experience in Python but preferably other languages as well
• Experience with computational fluid dynamics, dispersion modeling, and/or chemistry transport models is considered a plus

TU Delft

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 Aerospace Engineering

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.

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 € 2901 per month in the first year to € 3707 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.  

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
If you would like more information about this vacancy or the selection procedure, please contact Dr. Vincent Meijer, via vrmeijer@tudelft.nl or Mirjam Snellen via M.Snellen@tudelft.nl.

Application procedure
Are you interested in this vacancy? Please apply no later than 15 August 2025 via the application button and upload the following documents:

• CV
• Motivational letter

You can address your application to Dr. Vincent Meijer.

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.
• For the final candidates, a knowledge security check will be part of the application procedure. For more information on this check, please consult Chapter 8 of the National Knowledge Security Guidelines. We carry out this check on the basis of legitimate interest.
• Please do not contact us for unsolicited services.