Professor in Sustainable Propulsion and Clean Energy

The faculty of Engineering, Department Applied Mechanics, is looking for a full-time professor. 

More concretely your work package contains: 

Education and Research domain:

Thermodynamics and Fluid Mechanics: sustainable propulsion and clean energy

Education tasks:

• You will teach at BA and MA level, in the engineering technology (IW) and engineering sciences (IR) programmes. 
• You will teach the following course units in the field of thermodynamics, energy and thermal engineering:
  • Renewable Energy Technology (IR);
  • Warmte en Stromingsleer: basisbegrippen (IR);
  • Thermal Power Plants (IR);
  • Warmte- en Stromingsleer: modelleren (IR).
• Depending on your specific profile and expertise, you may also contribute to the following course units:
  • Stromingsmachines (IW);
  • Turbomachinery (IR).

Research tasks:

The Thermodynamics and Fluid Mechanics (FLOW) research group at the VUB has strong expertise in both fundamental and applied research areas relating to data-driven modelling of thermo-fluid systems. Applications lie in aeronautics (aerodynamics, flow control), space (atmospheric reentry, plasma) and energy (wind power, bioenergy, hydrogen, heat networks, plasma-assisted combustion).
Since 2021, FLOW has collaborated with ULB's ATM research group under the name VUB-ULB Joint Research Group BRITE (Brussels Institute for Thermal-fluid Systems and clean Energy).
FLOW's research focuses on the development of advanced thermo-fluid systems to drive innovation in energy conversion, propulsion and environmental sustainability. Through fundamental and applied research, we aim to improve efficiency, performance and sustainability of propulsion and energy systems in various sectors.

Specifically, we want to strengthen our expertise in thermal modelling with your expertise in:

• Clean Aviation: Development of cleaner, more efficient combustion technologies for the next generation of aircraft engines, with a focus on sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs) and hydrogen.
•  Rocket Propulsion: Research on combustion dynamics, fuel efficiency and new fuels for space exploration and stratospheric flight.
• Piston Engines: Optimisation of thermodynamic cycles, fuel injection and combustion processes to increase efficiency and reduce emissions in marine, transport and energy applications.
• Emissions & air quality: Research on pollutant formation, emission control strategies and their impact on air quality to support regulations and cleaner engine designs.
• Power generation: Modelling next-generation thermal systems for power plants.

Our vision aligns with global sustainability goals and contributes to cleaner, more efficient propulsion and power systems for the future. Partly by combining your commitment in experimental research, high-fidelity simulations and data-driven optimisation, we strive for breakthrough solutions that balance performance and environmental awareness.

• To this end, you develop an internationally recognised research programme in thermodynamics and flow mechanics, with a focus on sustainable propulsion (aerospace, maritime) and energy generation.
• You acquire competitive research funding (e.g. Horizon Europe, Clean Aviation, FWO, ERC, Innovation Fund, etc.).
• You supervise PhD students, postdocs and master's thesis students.
• You publish in leading scientific journals and present at international conferences.
• You build collaborations with academic, industrial and government bodies in aviation, shipping, energy and environment.
• You build collaborations with other research groups at the VUB. FLOW is part of the House of Sustainable Transitions and the Institute for Decarbonisation Technologies. 
• By aligning research initiatives with those European and Flemish strategies, and actively participating in future funding opportunities, you and our research group can make a significant contribution to the sustainable transformation of propulsion and energy systems.
• Furthermore, you will contribute to the realisation of our valorisation plans. 

Other tasks:

• You are committed to the department's functioning and participate in committees at faculty and possibly university level.
• You actively participate in professional association activities and help raise the profile of the university by participating in scientific popularisation activities.

For this function, our Brussels Humanities, Sciences & Engineering Campus (Elsene) will serve as your home base.