Luis Rego da Cunha de Eça

Instituto de Engenharia Mecânica (IDMEC) / Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, is opening one Research Studentship for a PhD student in Mechanical Engineering within the project Carbon-FreePorts (Operação n.º 15775 - LISBOA2030-FEDER-00688200). The position is based in Lisbon, Portugal, and is focused on advanced wave energy conversion technologies for Oscillating Water Column (OWC) systems. The research will combine numerical modelling , Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) , and experimental testing to optimise turbine-generator sets and develop industrial-grade air turbines. The project aims to design turbines that satisfy specific air-chamber damping requirements, validate them through CFD and steady-state testing, and develop a hardware-in-the-loop setup to simulate OWC hydrodynamics in the laboratory. A further phase includes testing an 18 kW power take-off system at the Mutriku wave power plant, followed by the design, manufacture, and testing of full-scale turbines for a novel multi-chamber floating device in collaboration with industry partners. This is a research studentship rather than a standard employment contract. It is funded by national funds through FCT.IP and, where applicable, co-financed by FEDER under COMPETE2030. The monthly maintenance allowance is €1,359.64 , and the fellowship duration is 12 months , with possible renewal up to the legal maximum or project end. Eligibility highlights: applicants must be enrolled in a PhD programme or provide a declaration of honour committing to enrol before the grant contract is completed. The selection will be based on curriculum evaluation and experience in numerical and experimental modelling of turbomachines, each weighted equally. Applicants should be prepared to work at IDMEC in Lisbon under the scientific supervision of Prof. Luís Manuel de Carvalho Gato . Application window: the call opens from 11 September 2026 to 25 September 2026 at 18:00 (Europe/Lisbon). Applications must be submitted by email with a CV, academic degree certificate, proof of PhD enrolment, and motivation letter.