PhD Position Airport and Airline Operations for Hydrogen-powered Aircraft

The aviation sector is actively investing in the development of new disruptive technology, infrastructures, and operational concepts to achieve climate neutrality. Hydrogen-powered aircraft and other hydrogen technology are considered to be key enablers of the drive towards sustainable operations. Various companies have announced plans to put on the market first hydrogen aircraft by 2030. However, considerable efforts are still to be made to prepare the airport and airline ecosystems to the arrival of these new aircraft. In particular, this includes research and development on required airport infrastructure and operational procedures.

Your unique challenge as a PhD student at TU Delft is to develop concepts, models, and tools to facilitate integration of hydrogen-powered aircraft into airport operations and infrastructure, taking also the airline perspective into account. Hydrogen requires a supply chain, equipment, and infrastructure, which are different from jet fuel. This has a substantial impact on planning and execution of airport and airline operations. Would you like to help airlines and airports to achieve safe, reliable, and efficient hydrogen-powered aircraft operations?

In this PhD project, you will be involved in the EU Horizon funded GOLIAT project, which goals are well aligned with the PhD project. GOLIAT will also demonstrate small-scale liquid hydrogen aircraft ground operations at three European airports.

You will develop mathematical and computational models for airport ground operations for hydrogen-powered aircraft. Conventual Conventional airport ground operations have been extensively modelled and analysed at TU Delft. This existing research will be a significant stepping stone for this PhD project. Furthermore, you will contribute to scenario definition of hydrogen demand over multiple time horizons based on (existing) airline fleet development models and airport ground operations. Together with other project partners, you will be involved in techno-economic modelling of hydrogen supply and aircraft refueling infrastructure. In addition, you will contribute to the reports that are the project deliverables.

You will, of course, be writing papers and attending conferences. In addition, you will supervise labs and coach master students during their graduation research under the flag of the Air Transport Operations group. Who are your fellow team members? We are an interdisciplinary and internationally diverse group of some 20 driven assistant and associate professors, lecturers, project managers, PhD students and postdocs. We share the ambition to develop models and tools in which we accumulate our expertise to enable future adaptive and sustainable air transport operations. Fostering an open, friendly and collaborative atmosphere in which people are approachable, we share knowledge, help each other and meet socially. And you will get all the support and training you need to evolve and grow as a researcher.

Learn more about Air Transport Operations 

Accelerating the future of sustainable air transport operations. That’s the drive you share with us. You put your analytical skills to good use, creating mathematical models and translating them into algorithms and programs. You work well both independently and in international, interdisciplinary teams, for which you harness your communication skills. And you enjoy coaching master students, while developing your own skills and competencies.

You also have:

• An MSc in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science, Applied Mathematics, Physics or another relevant subject.
• Good modelling and Python programming skills.

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.

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!

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.

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.

If you would like more information about this role, please contact Dr Alexei Sharpanskykh, o.a.sharpanskykh@tudelft.nl, phone number: +31 15 27 81483.