Research Fellow in Contrail Simulation and Modelling for Future Aircraft

1 month ago


Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom University of Southampton Full time

Full Time Fixed Term for 24 months

Interview Date: To be confirmed

Aircraft contrails and contrail cirrus account for more than half of the climate forcing from aircraft operations to date. Radically different airframe and propulsion concepts have been developed as a means to reduce CO2 emission, but improved simulation and modelling techniques are needed to properly assess their impact on contrails.

We are seeking a PhD-qualified engineering, maths or physics researcher (or equivalent) with extensive experience in formulation, coding and evaluation of physics-based computational models for fluid dynamic and thermodynamic processes.

In this project, working alongside experts in aircraft design optimisation and climate science, you will develop computational modelling of aircraft contrails that accounts for the properties of future airframes and low-emission propulsion technologies. There is a need for detailed computational fluid dynamic simulations for use in research, and also methods for high-throughput contrail calculation that can rapidly generate large numbers of predictions as part of design and operational optimisation. In this project you will conduct both detailed CFD simulations of contrail evolution and also test a novel physics-based high-throughput modelling approach that has seen success in analogous problems in other fields (especially combustion modelling).

You will join a leading Engineering Faculty with an excellent record of collaborative research with industry and academic institutions in the UK and abroad. In this project you will collaborate with leading airframe and aeroengine manufacturers.

If you wish to discuss any details of the project informally, please contact:

Prof. Edward Richardson ,

At the University of Southampton, we value diversity and equality. The University recognises that employees may wish to have working patterns that fit with their caring responsibilities or work-life balance. Due consideration will also be given to applicants who have had career breaks for reasons including maternity, paternity or adoption leave, disability or illness. The University of Southampton is proud to hold the Athena Swan Silver Award in recognition of our continued commitment to improving equality for women in academia.

*Applications will be considered from candidates who are working towards or nearing completion of a relevant PhD qualification. The title of Research Fellow will be applied upon completion of PhD. Prior to the qualification being awarded the title of Senior Research Assistant will be given.

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