PhD position in Aerodynamic Design of Small-Scale Turbomachinery — EPFL

Full description

Mission

We are offering a challenging position as a full-time (100%) PhD Student at STI IGM LAMD at EPFL, Neuchatel.

You will be working on the TurboImpact project, funded by Horizon Europe – MSCA-DN, tackles challenges in designing, optimizing, selecting materials, and manufacturing small-scale turbomachinery for applications in heat pumps, fuel cells, organic Rankine cycles, or gas turbines.

This project develops robust system and component design methods, an integrated manufacturing platform, and multi-material joining techniques to efficiently produce small-scale turbomachinery.

The goal will be achieved by establishing a network of 14 Doctoral Candidates (DC) working in synergy on complementary topics and supported by highly qualified supervisors from European universities and research-intensive European companies

Main duties and responsibilities

As a PhD Student, you will be expected to

• Have full responsibility for your own dissertation
• Research in close collaboration with industry partners
• Experiment design and execution
• Analyze and interpret experimental results
• Write scientific articles for publication in peer-reviewed journals
• Present at international conferences
• Participate in education and supervise student projects

More specifically, within this project, you will

• Develop and apply multi-objective topology optimization to identify and characterize the trade-off between structural integrity and heat-transfer resistance in turbomachinery components.
• Develop viable concepts for internal cooling of hollow hub and blade structures in small-scale turbomachinery, addressing the thermo-structural challenges inherent in these configurations.
• Integrate hollow hub structural design with a robust design and optimization framework to ensure performance reliability across varying operating conditions and manufacturing uncertainties.

Required competences • Topology optimization, multi-objective optimization methods, and multi-disciplinary design optimization frameworks. • Heat transfer fundamentals, structural mechanics and integrity assessment, coupled thermal-structural analysis. • Robust design methodologies and uncertainty quantification.

Special requirements

In accordance with the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Doctoral Network regulations: • Applicants must comply with the MSCA Mobility Rule. At the time of recruitment, candidates must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the hiring Country for more than 12 months during the 36 months immediately preceding recruitment. • Applicants must be doctoral candidates (i.e., not already hold a doctoral degree) and be eligible under the MSCA Doctoral Network rules at the time of recruitment. • Short stays such as holidays, compulsory national service, or time spent as part of a refugee procedure are not considered.

Applicants must have a two-year master's degre in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Materials Science, Computer Science, Data Science, Software Engineering, or a similar degree with an academic level equivalent to a two-year master's degree.

We offer

At EPFL, we believe that people achieve great results when they feel supported, respected and enabled to succeed. By joining our community, you will help shape the future of society through education, research and innovation.

We offer an inspiring, international and collaborative environment where your work has real impact and your ideas are valued. Combined with flexible ways of working and attractive employment conditions, we aim to create an environment where everyone can contribute, grow and make a difference.

Beyond work, our campuses host a vibrant community and unique environment, enriched by initiatives promoting equality, inclusion, diversity, well-being and sustainability as well as an engaging program of cultural, sports and community activities throughout the year.

Successful candidates will receive a comprehensive financial package in line with the rules for Doctoral Candidates (DCs) in a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Doctoral Network. Employment will be provided by the recruiting organization and will include mobility and family allowances (where applicable), together with full social security coverage.

Doctoral Candidates will benefit from a competitive salary, paid leave (in accordance with institutional regulations), and access to national social security schemes.

The period of employment is 3 years, starting on 1 February 2027 or according to mutual agreement. The position is a full-time position.

Read about our employment conditions and employee benefits

Assessment

Recruitment will be carried out and monitored in full accordance with the principles of the European Charter for Researchers, the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers, and the Doctoral Network mobility rules. The process will follow an open, transparent, merit-based, impartial, and equitable procedure, tailored to each individual DC position. Promising candidates will undergo a series of interviews with the PI, the Supervisory Team, and the Recruitment Committee.

Successful candidates will

• be enrolled in a PhD program of the hiring university,
• conduct research in a stimulating international environment with access to state-of-the-art facilities and supervision by recognized experts,
• participate in local and network-wide training activities aimed at advancing scientific knowledge and transferable skills,
• attend workshops and international conferences relevant to their research topic,
• undertake secondments of approximately 4–6 months at other network or associated partner institutions.

Application procedure

Your complete online application must be submitted no later than 30 November 2026 (23:59h).

Applications must be submitted as one PDF file containing all materials to be given consideration. To apply, please open the link "Apply now", fill out the online application form, and attach all your materials in English in one PDF file. The file must include:

• A motivation letter
• Curriculum vitae
• Grade transcripts and BSc/MSc diploma (in English) including official description of grading scale
• A copy of your BSc thesis (in pdf)
• A copy of your MSc thesis (in pdf)
• The names of three referees who are willing to write a reference letter

You may apply prior to obtaining your master's degree but cannot begin before having received it.

The selection process involves multiple stages, and short-listed candidates will be requested to apply to a specific EPFL Doctoral Program to qualify for a PhD at EPFL. Please check this page for additional information on admission. Please note that this is a separate application process necessary to be eligible to complete your PhD at EPFL.

Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.

All interested candidates, irrespective of age, gender, disability, race, religion, or ethnic background, are encouraged to apply. Because the universities in this consortium conduct research in critical technology, which is subject to special security and export-control rules, we may conduct open-source background checks on qualified candidates.

For more information, please contact: [email protected] or [email protected].

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