Postdoc in Colloidal Transport in Porous Media

Colloidal architectures for high perfomance composites towards sustainable aviation

Job description

The flow of colloidal particles in porous media has generated great interest in multiple domains, such as geosciences, water purification and biomedical applications.  Here, we wish to apply the principle of thread-based microfluidics, to explore flow of colloidal polymer particles in carbon fibre threads for the fabrication of reinforced polymers for aerospace applications. The results of this research shall lead to very high performing lightweight composite materials with pristine control of architecture, contributing to a sustainable aviation.

This project is embedded into the Faculty of Aerospace Engineering at the Delft University of Technology as part of the Luchtvaart in Transisitie program to accelerate our path towards a sustainable aviation. The candidate is jointly supervised by Dr. Laura Rossi from the Colloidal Engineering and Materials design group (www.mycolloids.com) at the Faculty of Applied Sciences and Prof. Clemens Dransfeld  from the Lab for Processing of Advanced Architected Materials at the Faculty of Aerospace Engineering (www.paam-lab.org). Click here (www.tudelft.nl/ae) to go to the website of the Faculty of Aerospace Engineering.

Requirements

You have an excellent PhD degree or an equivalent background in materials science, physics, soft matter or chemistry, with an affinity to transport phenomena of colloids and slurries and you enjoy developing original experiments which you support with numerical methods. You are curiosity driven and enjoy working together with colleagues in an interdisciplinary environment.

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 

• Duration of contract is 2 years.
• A job of 38-40 hours per week. 

Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities. 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 Clemens Dransfeld, via c.a.dransfeld@tudelft.nl or Laura Rossi (l.rossi@tudelft.nl).

Application procedure
Are you interested in this vacancy? Please apply no later than 30 April 2025 via the application button and upload the following documents:

• CV
• Motivational letter, which should adress what phenomena you think play a role in the flow of colloidal particles and why you are a good fit to adress them
• Contact details of three references 
   

You can address your application to Clemens Dransfeld.

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.