PhD student - Doctoral Candidate (DC13): Assessing the environmental sustainability of future l[...]

Politecnico di Torino; Italia; In loco; EUR 25.000 - 30.000; Tempo pieno

Descrizione del lavoro

A leading European university in Italy seeks candidates for PhD positions in aerospace engineering to investigate the environmental impacts of space activities. Applicants should possess a master's degree in a relevant field and solid knowledge of computer science for modeling. The role involves developing novel predictive analytical formulations. Successful candidates will work in an interdisciplinary environment addressing climate change and contribute to applied research. Applications must be submitted by 31 March 2026.

Servizi

International education network

Participation in international conferences

Strong support for researchers

Competenze

• MSc or equivalent in aerospace engineering, physics or similar.
• Ability to work independently and efficiently in a diverse environment.
• Knowledge in climate sciences and life-cycle assessments.

Mansioni

• Create a structured database of future launchers.
• Model and simulate promising rocket engine architectures.
• Integrate analytical formulations in commercial launcher design tools.

Conoscenze

Computer Science knowledge

Ecodesign

Project management

Excellent communication in English

Formazione

Master Degree in Aerospace Engineering or Physics

Strumenti

Simulation and modeling tools

Optimisation tools

Descrizione del lavoro

Organisation/Company Politecnico di Torino 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 Italy 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 organization

The Politecnico di Torino, founded in 1906 from the roots of the Technical School for Engineers founded in 1859, has a long‑standing tradition of leadership of polytechnic culture. It is one of the most important universities in Europe for engineering and architecture studies. Currently it is among the top Engineering and Technology universities in the world, the 45th according to the QS University Rankings 2023 by broad Subject. In 2013 the European Commission awarded to POLITO the 'HR Excellence in Research' award. It has a yearly budget of about €317 million and over 38,700 students enrolled in academic courses (20% of them are international students). POLITO international education network features about 310 international agreements and 168 double‑degree agreements with EU and non‑EU universities, active participation in university networks and the establishment of international campuses. The participation in many national and international projects allows POLITO to accrue a great experience: more than 660 international and national funded projects with a total contribution of 185 M€, including 269 projects in H2020 with a total EU contribution of 105 M€ (68 coordinated collaborative projects, 15 ERC, 58 MSCA and 4 EIT Communities, Inno Energy, EIT Digital, EIT Manufacturing and EIT Raw Materials). POLITO has opened in 2021 a Hub at Unioncamere in Brussels, aiming at influencing European research policies, acquiring information to better present European grant opportunities to its researchers and increasing the international visibility of the University. ( https://www.polito.it/en )

Task description for your Individual Research Project (IRP)

The possibility of assessing environmental sustainability of future launchers from the early design stage depends on the availability of simplified and fast but accurate models, which have been developed, at the moment, only for traditional subsonic aviation. There is the urgent need to develop analytical formulations able to predict chemical emissions from a wide range of vehicle configurations, engines architectures and propellants.

Research Objectives:

• Definition of an exhaustive taxonomy of future launchers, and creation of a structured database
• Modelling and simulation of the most promising rocket engine architectures from a thermodynamic standpoint
• Numerical and experimental examination of combustion processes
• Definition of analytical formulations for chemical emissions predictions
• Integration of the novel formulations in commercial launchers and missions design tools
• Launcher configurations comparison and trade‑off

Expected Results:

• Ability to assess the influence of launchers configurations, technologies and concept of operations on chemical emissions production
• Numerical propulsive and emissive databases, validated, when possible, against experimental tests
• Novel analytical formulations to predict chemical emissions in conceptual design

Secondments:

• Astos Solutions GmbH (ASTOS, Stuttgart, Germany, ca. 4 months): Analytical formulation integration in the ASTOS software and testing

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

• Input on engine emissions
• definition of trajectory/performance interaction
• detailing the influence of propulsion performance on missionisation

Where to apply

E-mail [e-mail]

Requirements

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

Research Field Physics Education Level Master Degree or equivalent

Skills/Qualifications

Essential skills and requirements:

• MScor equivalent in the field of aerospace engineering, physics or similar
• Solid knowledge of Computer Science and Informatics (simulation, optimisation and modelling tools), and Product and Processes Engineering (space engineering; launch vehicle design; system design; multi-disciplinary design and optimisation; Ecodesign;Global Sensitivity Analysis (GSA))
• 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 ready to travel
• Knowledge in EcoDesign, climate sciences and life‑cycle assessments
• Project management
• Knowledge of the host institution language is a plus

Specific Requirements

Applicants can be of anynationality.

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 organization (Italy) 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 organization, have not been awarded a doctoral degree.

Applicants who do not fulfill 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 program 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 organization 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 DC13 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.