Postdoctoral Fellow in Experimental Fluid Mechanics - Combustion Instabilities

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At NTNU, 9,000 employees and 43,000 students work to create knowledge for a better world.

You can find more information about working at NTNU and the application process here.

     

Video: https://youtu.be/Xt-yHCN5QS0

About the project 

To limit climate impact, future gas turbine technology must be capable of operating using alternative low or zero carbon fuels and fuel blends to support the emergence of zero net CO2 emission energy systems. However, significant technical challenges must be overcome when operating with new fuels or fuel-blends. New and existing engines must be designed to prevent combustion instabilities, flashback, and maintain low NOx emissions during operation. 

The current project will focus on the fuel flexible operation of a simple lab-scale axially staged combustor using H2/NH3 fuel blends, with the aim of better understanding the thermoacoustic stability of the system. The project will involve conducting a series of laboratory experiments using state-of-the-art measurement methods such as high-speed imaging, and acoustic measurements using dynamic pressure sensors to measure the flame response. In particular, the project will focus on novel methods of introducing flow perturbations, to rapidly and accurately characterise the acoustic response of the flame. Such characterisation will help improve our understanding of the dynamic response and stability of a practically relevant configuration, and help identify beneficial fuel splits and operating states, aiding the rapid development of zero carbon gas turbine technology.

The project is financed by the Norwegian Research Council as part of a FRIPRO Research project, entitled “Setting the Stage”.

About the position

Are you ready to take your research career to the next level? We offer an exciting 3-year postdoctoral position that gives you the opportunity to develop a strong profile as researcher. You will also gain valuable experience that might be relevant for your further career.

Apply for this position to become part of our research environment and take the next step in your career with us.

Your immediate leader will be Professor James Dawson at the Department of Energy and Process Engineering. You will also work with Professor Nicholas Worth.

Duties of the position

• Design, setup, and optimisation of experiments, including accurate characterisation of boundary conditions.
• Measurement of heat release rate response using high speed chemiluminescence of relevant species, dynamic pressure measurements, and emissions measurements.
• Application of novel flow perturbation strategies for acoustic characterisation.
• Assessments of stability, and emissions performance across a wide range of operating conditions.
• Dissemination of results in scholarly journals and at international conferences.
• Mentoring students, helping them with their research projects, and advising on methodology and academic writing.

You may be assigned relevant teaching duties as part of career-promoting work in this position.

Required selection criteria

• You must have completed a Norwegian doctoral degree or corresponding foreign doctoral degree recognized as equivalent to a Norwegian PhD in engineering, applied mathematics, physics or equivalent. If you are in the final phase of your doctorate and can document that the thesis has been submitted or that the defense date has been confirmed, your application can be considered even if you have not defended. NOTE: Documentation of the obtained doctorate must be presented before you can take up the position.
• Strong background in fundamental or applied fluid mechanics.
• Previous peer-reviewed publications in well regarded journals.
• Programming skills in MATLAB, C, Python, or similar packages.
• Experience with state-of-the-art experimental fluid mechanics measurements (e.g., high-speed imaging, PLIF, dynamic pressure measurements, hot-wire, particle image velocimetry, laser-Doppler anemometry).
• Excellent oral presentation and written skills in English.

PLEASE NOTE: For detailed information about what the application must contain, see paragraph “About the application”.

The appointment is to be made in accordance with NTNUs guidelines for recruitment positions and Regulations concerning the degrees of philosophiae doctor (ph.d.) in artistic development work at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) for general criteria for the position. 

As a result of the new Act relating to universities and university colleges with associated regulations of 01/08/2024, NTNU has, during a transitional period (for decisions on employment in recruitment positions before 1 August 2025), chosen to use the terms of employment in the old regulations of 31 January 2006 no. 102 on terms of employment for positions such as postdoctoral fellow, research fellow, scientific assistant and specialist candidate

Preferred selection criteria

• Experience in designing, setting up, and conducting experimental measurements of reacting and non-reacting flows.
• Experience in measuring and characterising thermoacoustic instabilities.
• Experience with Computer Aided Design (CAD).
• Experience mentoring other PhD or Masters students.

Personal characteristics

Working as a Postdoctoral fellow requires that you can:

• Work both independently and as part of a larger research team.
• Work in a structured way, setting goals and making plans to achieve them.
• Engage and contribute constructively with feedback.
• Show curiosity and a strong motivation for the subject.
• Analyze data, assess different perspectives and draw well-founded conclusions.
• Show flexibility and be open to adjusting the plan for the project as needed.

Emphasis will be placed on personal qualities.

We offer 

• An exciting job with an important social mission
• Developing tasks in a strong and international professional environment 
• Career guidance throughout the postdoctoral program. Together with you we will prepare a career plan.
• Open and inclusive working environment with committed colleagues 
• Favorable terms in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund
• Free Norwegian language training at a basic level (A1 and A2)

As a Postdoctoral Fellow at NTNU, you will have access to employee benefits.

Diversity

Diversity is a strength, and at NTNU we aim to be an employer that reflects the diversity in society and that makes use of the potential of the population's collective skills. Our vision is Knowledge for a better world and our values ​​are creative, critical, constructive and respectful. We believe that an organization that is equal, diverse and gender-balanced is essential for us to achieve our goals.

We strive to attract employees with different skills, life experiences and perspectives to contribute to even better problem solving of our societal mission in research and education.

If you think this position is relevant and interesting, we encourage you to apply, regardless of gender, functional ability and cultural background, or whether you have been out of work for a period of time.

At NTNU we want to increase the proportion of women in scientific positions. We have a number of measures to promote equality.

The Department of Energy and Process Engineering (EPT) has established EPT Women in Science. The group is focused on supporting female Research Assistants, PhD Candidates, Postdoctoral Fellows and permanent academic employees within the Department. This support aims to help develop the academic careers of female employees, and is also made visible to our student body, to encourage them to consider an academic path. As part of the EPT Women in Science initiative we continue to build on our international network, inviting prominent female academics within and beyond the field of Engineering to speak at our events.

Salary and conditions

As a Postdoctoral Fellow (code 1352) you are normally paid from gross NOK 633 400,- per annum before tax, depending on qualifications and seniority. From the salary, 2% is deducted as a contribution to the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund.

The period of employment is 3 years.

The position is conditional on external funding.

As an employee at NTNU, it is important to keep yourself up to date with academic and organizational changes and to adapt to them. 

For the necessary professional and social interaction, it is a prerequisite that you are physically present and available to the institution on a daily basis.

The appointment is carried out in accordance with the principles of the State Employees Act, and Export control (legislation that regulates the export of knowledge, technology and services). Candidates who, after assessment of the application and attachments, are considered to be in conflict with the criteria in the latter act, will not be able to be employed. 

About the application 

The attachments (including a description of your scientific work) must accompany the application as these documents form the basis of the application assessment. The documents must be in English.

Please note: the application will only be assessed on the basis of the information we have received by the application deadline. Therefore, make sure that your application clearly shows how your skills and experience meet the criteria described above. 

The application and all attachments must be sent electronically via Jobbnorge.no. If you are invited to an interview, you must bring certified copies of certificates and diplomas upon request. 

The application must include:

• A brief letter, stating why you are interested in this position.
• CV
• Transcripts and diplomas for Bachelor's-, Master's- and PhD degrees. If you have not yet completed your PhD, you must provide confirmation on your estimated date for the doctoral dissertation, or confirmation that your PhD thesis has been submitted. Documentation of a completed doctoral degree must be presented before taking up the position.
• Academic works - published or unpublished (up to 3 items)
• A 1 page “qualifications document” explicitly detailing how you meet each of the required and some (or all) of the desired qualifications listed above. An application missing this document may be considered incomplete by the selection committee. 
• Name and contact information of three referees

If all or parts of your education has been taken abroad, we also ask you to attach documentation of the scope and quality of your entire education. Description of the documentation required can be found here. If you already have a statement from Norwegian Directorate for Higher Education and Skills (HK-dir), please attach this as well.

Joint works will be considered. If it is difficult to identify your contribution to joint works, you must attach a brief description of your participation.

If you have had leave or another break in your career, it is important that this is stated in your application so that the selection committee can take this into account and that the amount of your research may be reduced as a result.

In the evaluation of which candidate is best qualified, emphasis will be placed on education, experience and personal qualities. Motivation, ambitions and potential for research will also be emphasized in the assessment of the candidates.

NTNU recognizes a wide range of academic contributions and is committed to follow evaluation criteria for research quality according to The San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment DORA and the obligations in CoARA (responsible assessment of research and recognition of a greater breadth of academic contributions in accordance with NTNU's social mission).

General information 

A public list of applicants with name, age, job title and municipality of residence is prepared after the application deadline. If you wish to be exempt from entry on the public list of applicants, this must be justified. Assessment will be made in accordance with current legislation. You will be notified if the exemption is not granted.

If you have any questions about the position, please contact Professor Nicholas Worth, email: nicholas.a.worth@ntnu.no, or Professor James Dawson, email: james.r.dawson@ntnu.no

If you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact HR-consultant position Martha Aftret Karlsvik, email: martha.a.karlsvik@ntnu.no

Application deadline: 22.02.26

For practical information about working at NTNU, please visit this webpage. 
 

The city of Trondheim is located on the Trondheim Fjord in mid-Norway. It is a modern Scandinavian city with a unique cultural scene. Trondheim has a growing and increasingly diverse population, currently of around 200 000, and is known as the tech capital of Norway. The Norwegian welfare state, including healthcare, schools, kindergartens and overall equality, is among the best of its kind in the world. Professional, subsidized wrap-around care for school children in grades 1-4 is easily available. The public school system offers language support to international children whose families have relocated to Trondheim and there are also two International Schools. Trondheim has low crime rates, clean air and water, and offers great opportunities for enjoying nature and culture.