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Aurélie Bellemans
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4 days ago
Postdoc - voorspellende plasma-ondersteunde verbranding: geavanceerde kinetische modellering Vrije Universiteit Brussel in Belgium
Degree Level
Postdoc
Field of study
Chemistry
Funding
Full-time postdoctoral appointment for 12 months, potentially extendable after positive evaluation; salary linked to government-defined pay scales.
Deadline
Nov 15, 2026
Country
Belgium
University
Vrije Universiteit Brussel
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About this position
This postdoctoral project sits within the Thermodynamics and Fluid Mechanics research environment at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel, in the Faculty of Engineering Sciences and the Applied Mechanics department. The work is embedded in the ERC Starting Grant project ESCAPADE and connected to the joint BRITE research ecosystem in Brussels.
The project focuses on plasma-assisted combustion and aims to build a new generation of predictive kinetic models for cleaner and more efficient combustion systems. The research addresses a key bottleneck in the field: current predictive simulations are limited by incomplete descriptions of the coupled interactions between plasma-generated species and combustion chemistry. To tackle this, the project combines first-principles calculations, experimental observations, and data-driven methods to develop detailed state-to-state reaction mechanisms.
The successful researcher will work on modelling non-equilibrium plasma chemistry and vibrationally excited species, with an emphasis on fuel mixtures based on ammonia and hydrogen. Methane-based systems will be used as reference cases for validation. The modelling framework is designed to identify missing reaction pathways, quantify uncertain kinetic parameters, and accelerate the construction of comprehensive reaction networks.
The work is strongly interdisciplinary, bringing together ab initio chemistry, experimental inputs, machine learning, reduced-order approaches, and computational fluid dynamics. The resulting mechanisms are intended to support state-of-the-art simulations of plasma-assisted combustion and the design of low-emission combustion technologies.
The position is based at VUB’s Brussels Humanities, Sciences & Engineering Campus in Elsene, within a group with broad expertise in thermo-fluid modelling and energy-related applications.
Funding details
Full-time postdoctoral appointment for 12 months, potentially extendable after positive evaluation; salary linked to government-defined pay scales.
What's required
Applicants must hold a doctorate in engineering, chemistry, physics, or applied mathematics, with specialization in chemical kinetics, combustion, fluid mechanics, or plasma physics. They should have experience with numerical simulations, strong computational skills, and solid programming expertise in Fortran, Python, and/or C++. Experience with CFD software such as Ansys Fluent or OpenFOAM is an advantage, as is experience with plasma-assisted combustion or related plasma applications. Candidates should be interested in fluid mechanics, chemical kinetics, and data-driven modelling, have excellent spoken and written English, and be able to work both independently and in an international team. Non-EEA applicants must satisfy the legal permit and residence conditions required by VUB.
How to apply
Apply via jobs.vub.be no later than 15/11/2026. Upload your motivation letter, diploma copies and transcripts, a one-page PhD summary, short CV with publication list if applicable, one or two reference letters, proof of English proficiency, and a short introductory video. Selection is based on the application file followed by an interview.
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Professors
Prof. at Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Belgium
Research Interests
Chemical Engineering
Physics
Chemical Kinetics
Computer Science
Ml
Make your next move.
Prepare your application
Review drafts and confirm requirements with the university.