Join the DigiOcean4Solar project to develop a Digital Ocean environment for fast and reliable large-scale simulations of wind-wave-structure interactions in floating solar farms.
Job description
We are looking for a highly motivated and talented PhD researcher who will join the DifiOcean4Solar project. Offshore floating solar is a rapidly emerging renewable energy technology with the potential to meet global energy demands. However, scaling up floating solar farms requires deploying large floating structures over extensive sea surfaces, posing significant engineering and environmental challenges. The DigiOcean4Solar project aims to pioneer a Digital Ocean environment to enable fast and reliable simulations of wind-wave-structure interactions in floating solar farms. This research will provide the essential knowledge and computational tools needed to optimize the design and deployment of large-scale floating solar farms, ensuring their economic viability and environmental sustainability.
If selected, you will focus on developing a scalable, high-performance computing (HPC) solver for simulations involving multiple spatial and temporal scales, and strongly coupled wind-wave-structure interactions. The goal is to create a simulation framework that couples far-field, mid-field, and near-field wind-wave-structure interactions for efficient predictions of large-scale effects of floating solar farms. To be more precise, you will work on the coupling of depth-averaged wave models, fully nonlinear potential flow models, and LES-based two-phase flows across different spatial resolutions.
You will join the Computational Multiphysics in Offshore Engineering (CMOE) group (https://tudelftcmoe.super.site/), a dynamic research team dedicated to developing state-of-the-art numerical methods for offshore renewable energy applications. The group specializes in computational modeling of fluid-structure interactions, wave-structure interaction and mooring systems for offshore renewable energies. Your PhD project will be supervised by Oriol Colomés and Andrei Metrikine. You will be part of the Offshore Engineering section in the Hydraulic Engineering department, with leading experts in the field of offshore energy. You will actively participate in recurrent group meetings, write scientific articles, and give presentations at national and international conferences. You will also take part in teaching and supervision activities within the Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences of Delft University of Technology.
A key aspect of this PhD project will be collaboration with OFPV developers and industry partners. The research will be conducted in close cooperation with companies and organizations leading the development and deployment of offshore floating solar farms. This collaboration will ensure that the developed computational framework is aligned with real-world engineering challenges and can be applied directly to industry-scale OFPV projects. The PhD candidate will also have the opportunity to work with international research institutions, including potential research visits, fostering a collaborative and interdisciplinary research environment.
Job requirements
We are acutely aware that we are a diverse society and not every talented applicant will have had the same opportunities to advance their careers. We therefore pledge to fully account for any particular circumstances that the applicants disclose (e.g. Parental leave, caring duties, part-time jobs to support studies, disabilities etc.) to ensure an inclusive and fair recruitment process that does not rely purely on common research metrics.
The successful applicant will have:
- A master's degree in Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Maritime Engineering, Applied Mathematics, Computer Science or a relevant domain.
- Basic knowledge of numerical methods for the solution of partial differential equations. Research experience with the Finite Element method is a plus.
- Good programming skills (Fortran/C++/Python/Julia), preferably in Julia.
- Knowledge in wind/wave models, multiscale simulations, scientific computing and ocean energy technologies are considered a merit.
- Self-motivated, curiosity-driven, open to communicate and collaborate with peers.
- Excellent communications skills in English, both writing and speaking.
- Ability to work independently and self-driven in a multidisciplinary team.
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 of Civil Engineering and Geosciences
The Faculty of Civil Engineering & Geosciences (CEG) is committed to outstanding international research and education in the field of civil engineering, applied earth sciences, traffic and transport, water technology, and delta technology. Our research feeds into our educational programmes and covers societal challenges such as climate change, energy transition, resource availability, urbanisation and clean water. Our research projects are conducted in close cooperation with a wide range of research institutions. CEG is convinced of the importance of open science and supports its scientists in integrating open science in their research practice. The Faculty of CEG comprises 28 research groups in the following seven departments: Materials Mechanics Management & Design, Engineering Structures, Geoscience and Engineering, Geoscience and Remote Sensing, Transport & Planning, Hydraulic Engineering and Water Management.
to go to the website of the Faculty of Civil Engineering & Geosciences.
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 € 2872 per month in the first year to € 3670 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.
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