PhD student - Doctoral Candidate (DC14): Multi fidelity, multi-disciplinary optimisation for su[...]

University of Strathclyde (UOS); United Kingdom; On-site; GBP 20,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading UK university is offering a PhD position in Aerospace Engineering focused on mitigating climate change impacts from space activities. The research aims to integrate advanced modeling techniques to develop sustainable launch systems. Candidates should possess a Master's or equivalent in aerospace or related fields, along with strong skills in computer sciences and eco-design principles. This role involves collaboration with international researchers and participation in training programs, offering a unique opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge research.

Qualifications

• Masters or equivalent in Aerospace Engineering or similar.
• Knowledge in EcoDesign, climate sciences, and life-cycle assessments.
• Ability to work efficiently and self-reliantly in diverse environments.

Responsibilities

• Develop effective methods for integrating dynamic shape geometries.
• Advance multi-fidelity management within design optimisation.
• Apply methods to multi-stage launch and orbital insertion.

Skills

Computer Science and Informatics

Ecodesign

Teamwork

Communication skills in English

Problem-solving

Education

Master's in Aerospace Engineering or similar

Tools

Simulation tools

Optimisation tools

Modeling tools

Job description

Organisation/Company University of Strathclyde (UOS) Department Aerospace Centre of Excellence (ACE) Research Field Engineering » Aerospace engineering Engineering » Mechanical engineering Engineering » Simulation engineering Environmental science » Earth science Environmental science » Global change Geosciences » Other Physics » Applied physics Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Positions PhD Positions Country United Kingdom Application Deadline 31 Mar 2026 - 23:59 (Europe/Brussels) Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Horizon Europe - MSCA Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

About SLICE

Space utilisation plays a crucial role in understanding climate change, but due to a drastic increase in launch rates, there is an urgent need to understand and mitigate potential environmental impacts of space activities themselves, particularly of launchers. However, large knowledge gaps persist for their operational phase from lift-off to landing/reentry. Here, the largest Global Warming Potential and Ozone Layer Depletion Potential are expected. Especially in the higher atmospheric layers, which are only accessed by launchers, potential impacts of emitted pollutants are amplified by very long retention periods and substance accumulation effects. To investigate the Space Launch Impact on Climate and Environment, SLICE will therefore develop a research and training programme that bridges the current divide between space engineering and climate science to close the gaps that exist in the Life‑Cycle Analysis of space launch systems. Thus, SLICE will contribute to advance the science of climate change by investigating the three most pressing research areas of this field: Launch Vehicle Emissions, Atmospheric Interaction & Climate Impact and System Analysis & Design. This will generate actionable insights, on which SLICE will develop solutions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, accelerate the delivery of the Green Deal and establish an environmentally sustainable access to space. It’s the ambition of SLICE to generate desperately needed novel results, which will enable cutting‑edge innovations. At the same time, SLICE is committed to training a new generation of highly skilled, resilient, and environmentally aware researchers. They will combine deep scientific knowledge with an ecodesign mindset and the ability to communicate across disciplines and sectors. These doctoral candidates will be uniquely prepared to shape a sustainable future for space transportation in Europe – technically, environmentally, and politically. SLICE directly supports the European Green Deal, ESA’s Agenda 2025, and will deliver crucial inputs for the EU Space Law and Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) regulations at European level, including the development of PEF Category Rules (PEFCR) for space.

About the host organisation

TheUniversity of Strathclyde(UOS) is a leading international technological university based in Glasgow. Inspired by our founding principle as ‘a place of useful learning’, our mission is to make a positive difference to the lives of our students, to society and to the world. The excellence of our research is evidenced by the growth in range and scale of our research collaborations and by our performance in the Research Excellence Framework 2021 where almost 90% was rated ‘world‑leading’ or ‘internationally‑excellent’. Strathclyde was named Scottish University of the Year 2024 in the inaugural Daily Mail University Guide, Sunday Times Good University Guide Scottish University of the Year 2020, Times Higher Education UK University of the Year 2019, and was awarded a Queen’s Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further Education for its excellence in energy innovation in 2019, excellence in advanced manufacturing in 2021 and excellence, innovation and entrepreneurship in photonics in 2023.

TheAerospace Centre of Excellence (ACE) develops frontier research on innovative concepts and solutions for present and future space systems, aerospace transport, space exploration, satellite applications and the sustainable exploitation and exploration of space. The major areas of development are: astrodynamics and mission analysis, remote sensing, space systems engineering, computational intelligence, hypersonics and computational fluid dynamics, theoretical aeroscience, aerospace propulsion, aerospace structures, access to space, multidisciplinary design and concurrent engineering, uncertainty treatment and optimisation, machine learning. https://www.strath.ac.uk/

Task description for your Individual Research Project (IRP)

Linking trajectory optimisation with disciplinary‑specific numerical tools can result in numerical system that cannot be defined by ordinary differential equations, and are differential‑algebraic systems (DAE). This is the case with shape deformation, aeroelasticity, structural deformation or surface ablation mixed with flight dynamics and optimal control. Multi‑fidelity management within a multi‑objective constrained closed system design optimisation can allow a highly complex system and environment to be more accurately modelled and simulated, accounting the interactions between all sub‑systems balanced with practical limitations of computational efficiency.

Research Objectives:

• Development of effective methods for integrating dynamic shape geometries into numerical solvers for PDAE (algebraic, ordinary and partial differential equations) systems
• Integration and advancement of multi‑fidelity management within design optimisation and propagation tools for trans‑atmospheric flight systems.
• Application to multi‑stage launch, ascent, orbital insertion and demise

Expected Results:

• Tools to generate optimal sets of launch vehicle designs and mission designs for sustainability, including robustness, emissions, and debris generation (risk)
• Assessment of the environmental impact at a system level of key parameters during early design phases
• Assessments of different launch systems to inform LCA

Secondments:

• Politecnico di Torino (POLITO, Torino, Italy, ca. 3 months): development/incorporation of propulsion and emissions modelling
• Deimos Engineering and Systems SLU (DEIMOS, Puertollano, Spain, ca. 3 months): high/low fidelity model cross‑validation

The IRP will have a strong link to other IRPs from different DCs for:

• Development/incorporation of propulsion and emissions modelling
• Comparison of impact metrics and high/low fidelity model cross‑validation
• Co‑development of surface ablation and structural impact

Where to apply

E-mail [e-mail]

Requirements

Research Field Engineering » Aerospace engineering Education Level Master Degree or equivalent

Skills/Qualifications

Essential skills and requirements:

• Masters or equivalent in the field of aerospace engineering or similar
• Solid knowledge of Computer Science and Informatics (simulation, optimisation and modelling tools; surrogate modelling), and Product and Processes Engineering (space engineering; launch vehicle design; system design; multi‑disciplinary design and optimisation; Ecodesign)
• Ability to work efficiently and self‑reliantly in a diverse inter‑disciplinary and multi‑cultural environment
• Ability to work in a team as well as independently
• Ability to solve complex problems with adherence of strict deadlines
• Excellent communication skills (both written and verbal) in English to derive the full benefit from the network training
• As secondments and events are foreseen, applicants must be able and ready to travel
• Knowledge in EcoDesign, climate sciences and life‑cycle assessments
• Experience with designing, building and launching rockets, for example through National or International Rocketry Competitions, or amateur rocket societies.
• Project and time management skills

Specific Requirements

Applicants can be of any nationality.

Candidates may apply prior to obtaining their master’s degree, but cannot receive an employment contract before having obtained the master degree.

Candidates may apply to multiple positions offered within SLICE, but should carefully choose the ones that they apply for.

In addition:

Horizon Europe MSCA Mobility Rule: Researchers must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the country of the host organisation (UK) for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before the recruitment date – unless as part of a compulsory national service or a procedure for obtaining refugee status under the Geneva Convention.

Horizon Europe MSCA Eligibility Criteria: Doctoral Candidates (DC) must, at the date of recruitment by the host organisation, have not been awarded a doctoral degree.

Applicants who do not fulfil the Mobility Rule and the Eligibility Criteria CANNOT be considered for the research position.

• You will be working within our international group of >30 researchers with experience in a broad range of sciences.
• You will get in contact with the other members of this international consortium.
• You will benefit from the well‑structured training programme offered by the host institution and the SLICE consortium to develop skills and thorough understanding of space transportation systems and their environmental impact.
• You will be employed by the host organisation for 36 months.
• You will participate in international conferences and secondments to other organisations within the SLICE network and in outreach activities targeted at a wide audience.

For the selection procedure, the SLICE consortium will appoint a Recruitment Committee (RC) for each position. The selection will be carried out in two consecutive stages. In the primary selection, the RC evaluates all submitted application documents. Eligible candidates of sufficient quality will be shortlisted. In the final selection, short‑listed applicants are invited to interviews, held either in person at the host institution or via video‑conference, and to complete a position‑specific task. Both interviews and tasks are evaluated against predefined criteria, leading to a ranked list of candidates. Final decisions are made by consensus within the RC. Applicants will be informed about rejection or admission to the interview stage by the end of March 2026, and final outcomes will be communicated by the end of June 2026. The employment and relocation phase will then start immediately, allowing sufficient time for contracting, visa applications, and relocation before the official start of the DC projects in October 2026.

Timeline:

Primary Selection: 30.04.2026

Final Selection: 30.06.2026

Additional comments

Application

Interested candidates are invited to submit one single PDF containing the following documents in this exact order:

• Application form
• An evidence‑based CV that reflects a representative array of achievements and qualifications appropriate to the position you are applying for
• Reference letters or, at minimum, the contact details of persons that may be contacted for reference
• Educational and professional certificates (university degree(s) with marks, internships, workshops, languages, etc.)

Moreover, you must submit:

• Short video (maximum 30 seconds, not longer). The video must include: personal introduction, background and your motivation to apply to the research position

The email subject must be "Application for DC14 position".

The email size incl. attachments must not exceed 30 MB in total.

You will receive an automatic reply if we have received your email. Please avoid any questions on the status of the selection process. We will inform you as soon as there is an update.

Candidates whose application is not compliant with the requirements above will not be considered.

Application deadline:31 March 2026 at 11:59 PM CEST

Applications and enclosures received after the deadline will not be considered.

More information and other vacant positions can be found at:

We in the SLICE consortium value diversity and we commit to equal treatment of all applicants irrespective of gender, sexuality, health status as well as social, cultural or religious background.