Alessandro Parente

PhD Opportunity: Development of a Chemical Reduction Scheme for Space Launch Impact on Climate and Environment (SLICE Project) The Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB) invites applications for a fully funded PhD position within the Aero-Thermo-Mechanics Department, as part of the Horizon Europe MSCA Doctoral Network SLICE. The project aims to develop advanced chemical reduction schemes to enable high-fidelity simulations of pollutant emissions from space launch systems, addressing critical gaps in understanding their environmental impact, particularly regarding global warming and ozone layer depletion. SLICE is a multidisciplinary research and training program bridging space engineering and climate science, with the goal of advancing sustainable space transportation in Europe. The doctoral candidate will focus on optimizing chemical mechanisms using innovative approaches such as genetic algorithms, uncertainty quantification, and integration with computational fluid dynamics (CFD) solvers. The research will involve international collaboration, including secondments at ISAE (France) and DLR (Germany), and strong links to other projects within the SLICE network. ULB is a leading research university with a distinguished history, including four Nobel Prizes and a Fields Medal. The Aero-Thermo-Mechanics Department is renowned for its expertise in fluid mechanics, CFD, renewable energy, and space propulsion, and offers a vibrant, international research environment. Funding and Benefits: The position is funded for 36 months under MSCA regulations, offering a competitive salary, living and mobility allowances, and, if eligible, a family allowance. The doctoral candidate will benefit from a structured training program, participation in international conferences, and networking within a large consortium of researchers. Eligibility and Requirements: Applicants must hold or be about to obtain a Master’s degree in aerospace, mechanical, or chemical engineering, physics, or a related field. Strong background in at least two relevant areas (chemical kinetics, computational science, continuum mechanics, or specialized engineering applications) is required. Excellent English communication skills, ability to work independently and in teams, and willingness to travel for secondments are essential. Applicants must comply with the MSCA Mobility Rule and not have been awarded a doctoral degree at the time of recruitment. Application Process: Interested candidates should submit a single PDF including the application form, cover letter, CV, references, certificates, and a short motivation video to [email protected]. The application deadline is 31 March 2026. For further information, contact the main supervisor, Professor Alessandro Parente ([email protected]), or visit the project website. Join a dynamic international team and contribute to cutting-edge research at the intersection of aerospace engineering and environmental science!

Université Libre de Bruxelles is offering one fully funded PhD position within the MSCA Doctoral Network DESIRE (Decarbonising Energy-intenSIve industries with REnewable synthetic fuels). The project addresses the urgent need to decarbonize energy-intensive industries and transport by developing and studying electrofuels and other renewable synthetic fuels as realistic low-carbon alternatives to fossil-based combustion. The available position is DC14: H2/NH3 combustion in a reverse-flow, pressurized, rich-quench-lean combustor . The work is based at the Aéro-Thermo-Mécanique department of ULB in Brussels and is supervised by Professor Alessandro Parente , with academic collaboration and co-supervision by Professor Christian Hasse at TU Darmstadt. The research sits at the interface of combustion science, chemical kinetics, fluid dynamics, and computational modelling, with a strong emphasis on hydrogen and ammonia combustion in practical high-pressure combustor configurations. The DESIRE network will train 15 PhD researchers and combines academic and industrial partners across Europe. The project includes advanced experimental and computational work on e-fuels such as H 2 , NH 3 , CH 3 OH, DME, and OME, with applications in industrial furnaces, gas turbines, burners, and transport engines. Researchers will benefit from interdisciplinary training in CFD, experimental diagnostics, digital modelling, and techno-economic assessment, alongside secondments, courses, networking, and conference participation. The recruited researcher will be enrolled in a 3-year PhD programme and trained for 3 years. Two secondments are planned: a 12-month academic secondment at TU Darmstadt focused on computational modelling, and a 3-month industrial secondment at ENGIE focused on application and techno-economic assessment of hydrogen/ammonia blends for power generation. Funding is provided through Horizon Europe / MSCA . The gross salary is 4,000 EUR/month , with an additional 660 EUR/month family supplement if applicable. The position is full-time and temporary. Eligibility follows MSCA Doctoral Network rules, including no prior PhD and compliance with the mobility rule (not having resided or carried out the main activity in Belgium for more than 12 months in the 36 months before recruitment). Applicants should have, or be about to obtain, a master’s degree in mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, energy engineering, aerospace engineering, applied physics, or a closely related field. A strong background in thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, heat transfer, and combustion is expected, along with good English and an ability to work independently and in an international research team. Experience with combustion experiments, optical diagnostics, instrumentation, data acquisition, scientific programming, or CFD would be advantageous. The deadline for applications is 7 October 2026 . To apply, candidates should email a motivation letter, European-format CV, academic transcripts and degree copies, referee contacts, publication list and thesis details if available, and English proficiency evidence where required to [email protected] with the subject “DESIRE DC14 application”.

Université libre de Bruxelles is advertising a PhD opportunity in hydrogen/ammonia combustion for gas turbines within the DESIRE MSCA project. The doctoral researcher will work on combustion experiments , advanced optical diagnostics , and data analysis , starting at atmospheric pressure and progressing toward pressurised operation. The project includes collaboration with Technische Universität Darmstadt and ENGIE , and offers training in an international academic–industrial network. Relevant academic backgrounds include mechanical engineering , chemical engineering , energy engineering , aerospace engineering , applied physics , or related fields. The post is aimed at applicants with a strong interest in experimental combustion research . This is a PhD opening rather than a scholarship announcement. The post does not specify stipend, tuition, or deadline details in the text provided. Interested candidates should review the full eligibility criteria and application instructions on the linked EURAXESS page and apply through the official posting.