PhD Position Flexibility in Nuclear Power

Can nuclear- and renewable energy play nice?

Job description

Both Europe and the Netherlands are committed to transitioning to a CO2-neutral economy by 2050. As part of this commitment, the Netherlands has built large-scale wind park, and a significant amount of energy comes from solar power as well. While wind and solar energy help to decarbonize power generation, it also comes at a cost. Due to the intermittent availability of wind and solar energy, grid congestion can occur (which means that the grid lacks sufficient capacity to handle demand or supply of electricity). Therefore, the grid must be carefully managed. In many countries, gas power plants help manage the grid. However, since natural gas counteracts decarbonization, the question arises: “which other technologies can help reduce grid congestion?

Small modular reactors (SMR) - nuclear reactors below 300 MWe – may be able to operate flexibly to help counteract grid congestion. As such reactors have less inertia, they are better suited to load-following than large-scale nuclear power plants. Even so, their ramp rates are much lower than other technologies. Through smart design of the power cycle and the inclusion of thermal energy storage, ramp rates of SMR’s can be greatly enhanced.

In this thesis project, you will design advanced power cycles with or without energy storage for SMR’s to enable enhanced load-following. Using numerical techniques, you will couple transient power cycle modelling with nuclear reactor modelling to analyse any feedback to the reactor. You will run different load-following scenarios to ascertain technologically feasible enhanced ramp rates. You will be assisted by an expert supervisory team during your PhD. As the Dutch Nuclear industry is growing rapidly, and the Dutch Government has announced a significant expansion of nuclear energy, your results may actively contribute to shaping the Dutch nuclear landscape.

Your Working Environment

You will join the Process & Energy (P&E) department at TU Delft’s Mechanical Engineering faculty.Our department works along the themes of Energy, Flow and Processes. You will work together with top researchers highly skilled in thermodynamics, heat transfer, fluid mechanics. Moreover, we collaborate with researchers from the Reactor Institute Delft. You will have opportunities for professional development through both technical and non-technical courses. We expect that as part of your PhD you will take the lead on interacting and collaborating with other researchers at TU Delft, with research groups at other universities, and with industry and other stakeholders.    

Job requirements

We are looking for a candidate with

1) ample experience in thermodynamic system modelling, in particular transient modelling; for example, heat pumps or power cycles. Any interest in nuclear is a plus. 

Furthermore, we expect that you have

2) A MSc. degree in either physics or mechanical engineering or similar field.

3) Strong affinity with thermodynamics and transport equations.

4) A keen interest in the nuclear industry and its future roles in society.

5) Keen interest in transient modelling and analysis.

6) Good communication skills and the ability to be a team player in a highly multidisciplinary setting.

For this vacancy, a knowledge embargo exemption is required. Please check the following website: https://www.government.nl/themes/education/secondary-vocational-education-mbo-and-tertiary-higher-education/exemption-certain-engineering-or-nuclear-related-courses-of-study

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 €3204 - €4051 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.  

For this vacancy, a knowledge embargo exemption is required; please see here.

Additional information

 For more information about this vacancy, please contact dr. ir. Jurriaan Peeters (j.w.r.peeters@tudelft.nl).

Application procedure

Are you interested in this vacancy? Please apply no later than 15 November 2026 via the application button and upload the following documents:

• CV
• Motivational letter

You can address your application to dr. ir. Jurriaan Peeters.

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.
• 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.
• Please do not contact us for unsolicited services