Scholarships Source

Netherland | Deadline : Oct 01, 2008

Department/faculty: Applied Sciences
Level: Master degree
Working hours: Full-time
Contract: Four years
Salary: Maximum of €2558 per month gross

The Faculty of Applied Sciences is the largest faculty of TU Delft, with around 550 scientists, a support staff of 250 and 1,400 students. The faculty conducts fundamental, application-oriented research and offers scientific education at the bachelor, master and doctoral levels. The faculty is active in the fields of Life and Health Science & Technology, Nanoscience, Chemical Engineering, Radiation Science & Technology, and Applied Physics.

The focus of the Department of Multi-scale Physics (www.msp.tudelft.nl) is developing the conceptual understanding and enabling detailed control of fluid dynamics and transport phenomena at all relevant time and length scales as occurring in a wide variety of industrial and environmental processes. Our approach is typically ‘Applied Physics’ and strongly technological. We aim at combining scientific rigor and industrial relevance in an internationally recognized centre of excellence where the participating individuals have the opportunity to contribute to the science behind the technology.

JOB DESCRIPTION

Protective clothing usually consists of two layers of highly permeable textile, with a layer of active carbon particles in between. Ventilation and protection are contradictory demands: clothing that provides good protection often lacks ventilation and therefore offers less comfort. The subtle balance between the two and how to optimize protection will be addressed in this project.
Since air flow through protective garments involves complex interactions between chemical and physical phenomena taking place at various scales (from the sub-millimetre scale of textile fibres up to the metre scale of a human body), a multi-scale approach using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) will be adopted.
Through micro-scale CFD simulations, the hydraulic and chemical permeability of protective garment material will be studied as a function of the textile properties, the size distribution and spatial distribution of the carbon particles, and their adsorption properties. Both adsorption by the carbon layer and uptake by the skin will be investigated. To this end, the adsorption and desorption kinetics in the carbon will be determined experimentally and results will be incorporated in the CFD simulations of flow and mass transfer. Based on the micro-scale CFD results, new semi-empirical models will be developed that can be implemented in macro-scale CFD simulations of an entire clothed body. Subsequently, macro-scale CFD will be used to derive detailed predictive models of the performance of protective textile materials.

REQUIREMENTS

The candidate that we are looking for has either an MSc degree in Chemical Engineering with a strong interest in transport phenomena and fluid dynamics, or an MSc degree in a field such as Mechanical or Aeronautical Engineering or Applied Physics, with a solid basis in fluid mechanics and transport phenomena and the willingness to learn about chemical processes. We seek candidates who ranked among the top 25% during their BSc and MSc studies. The candidate should be motivated and able to work with a high degree of independence; in addition, he/she should be a good communicator and team player, and fluent in spoken and written English. Preferably, she or he is a citizen of a NATO country.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

The successful candidate will be employed full-time by TU Delft for a fixed period of 4 years within which he or she is expected to write a dissertation leading to a doctoral degree (PhD thesis). The monthly salary for a PhD student starts at € 2000 per month, increasing to € 2558 gross in the fourth year.
TU Delft offers an attractive benefits package, including a flexible work week, free high-speed Internet access from home, and the option of assembling a customized compensation and benefits package (the 'IKA'). Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities.
TU Delft strives to increase the number of women in higher academic positions; women are therefore especially encouraged to apply.

INFORMATION AND APPLICATION

For more information about this position or to apply, please contact Prof. C.R.Kleijn,phone: +31 (0)15-2782835, e-mail: Applicants-MSP-TNW@tudelft.nl. To apply, please e-mail a detailed CV along with a letter of application by October 31, 2008 to: Applicants-MSP-TNW@tudelft.nl.???
When applying for this position, make sure to mention vacancy number TNWMSP08-041.

Enquiries from agencies are not appreciated.

Further information can be obtain at: http://www.vacaturesindelft.nl/vacature.php?id=1217&lang=eng