Junior Researcher Optimization of Heat Transfer Components

Geen Nederlandstalige vacaturetekst beschikbaar, aangezien kennis van het Engels noodzakelijk is voor deze functie.

The Energy Systems and Component Optimization (ESCO) research group is looking for a junior motivated researcher. As team member, you will be involved in several research and knowledge-intensive consultancy projects related to thermal energy conversion technologies and related components, in particular heat exchangers. We expect you to use your fundamental knowledge in thermodynamics and internal flows or flow modelling in general to conceptualize new solutions. In addition, you can use your modelling and simulation skills to analyse and design and optimize relevant concepts/solutions. Although not required for this position, experience with CFD and multi-disciplinary optimization will be considered as a plus. We like to put things in practice so you will collaborate in the design, realization, and testing of heat exchanger prototypes realized using alternative manufacturing techniques like additive manufacturing (3D-printing) techniques.

You will be based in VITO/EnergyVille in Thor Park Genk, Belgium.

Your responsibilities

• You work in teams with multi-disciplinary expertise and can communicate about your work with people of different technical backgrounds.

• You can rationalize your decisions and can conduct research independently.

• You are involved in research and knowledge-intensive projects as a team member with also practical responsibilities and you interact with industrial parties.

• You can simulate fluid flow and heat-transfer devices using appropriate software tools to propose relevant/novel solutions.

• You will translate theoretical designs/solutions resulted from modelling/simulations into practical designs/prototypes to be realized using alternative manufacturing techniques like additive manufacturing eventually.

• You will assist in the design of test set-ups (with appropriate instrumentation) and the required experiments to validate and optimize these designs/prototypes.

• You communicate research and project results in clear and high-quality reports, and presentations to relevant stakeholders, including industry and academia.

• You hold a master's degree in engineering or applied mathematics. Work experience in an R&D environment or a PhD degree in the disciplines mentioned before are a bonus.

• You have sound fundamental understanding of thermodynamics and internal flows.

• You have good modelling/simulation skills, especially with tools like Modelica and are willing to invest in these skills.

• You have experience with thermodynamic modelling of thermal energy conversion systems/technologies/devices.

• You have knowledge about today's energy systems (especially thermal energy systems).

• You have experience with Engineering design optimization methods and algorithms.

• You are familiar with Python and/or other programming software.

• Linguistic requirements for this job: English. Knowledge of Dutch is a bonus.

Offer

• If you're tired of the frequent commute, you've come to the right place. We implement 'activity based' work. Our EnergyVille office is in Genk. Part-time work from home, our headquarter in Mol, or working from a satellite office in Antwerp-Berchem, Ghent or Ostend is possible.

• A competitive salary with a range of benefits including allowances, insurances, and a modular vacation package.

• Innovation is our asset, so it goes without saying that we offer our employees the opportunity to follow additional training courses and stay up to date in their field of expertise. You always get the opportunity to broaden your knowledge.

• You will be part of an organization with an international reputation, known for its advanced technological research and scientific consultancy.

• With us, you will contribute directly to sustainable developments at local, national, and global level through your innovative solutions. You provide an answer to today’s societal challenges.

• Moreover, at VITO we give great importance to work-life balance! We do this by being flexible, depending on your specific needs.