PhD Position in Cryogenic and Dynamic Characterisation of Aerospace Materials

Delft University of Technology; Delft; On-site; EUR 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

Delft University of Technology seeks a PhD candidate to develop experimental and optical measurement methods for cryogenic deformation and damage of aerospace materials. You will work within the Optical Metrology for Aerospace group, collaborating with DASAL and NLR to support hydrogen aviation technologies.

You will publish findings, present at conferences, and may supervise MSc students while pursuing a 4-year research contract under the TU Delft Graduate School.

Qualifications

• MSc in a relevant field as listed in the requirements.
• Experience with experimental testing and material characterisation.
• Knowledge of optical measurement techniques and lab instrumentation.

Responsibilities

• Develop optical measurement methods for cryogenic testing.
• Contribute to validation of numerical models and certification processes.
• Publish findings and present at conferences and project meetings.

Skills

Experimental testing

Material characterisation

Optical measurement techniques

Mechanical testing

Education

MSc in optical engineering, photonics, aerospace or mechanical engineering, applied physics, materials science, experimental mechanics, instrumentation

Tools

Cryogenic testing equipment

High-speed imaging equipment

Job description

Optical measurements become significantly more challenging at temperatures approaching 20 K. Develop new methods to reveal how aerospace materials deform and become damaged under cryogenic and dynamic loading. Your research will contribute to safer hydrogen-powered aircraft structures.

Job description

How do aerospace materials deform and fail at temperatures approaching 20 K (-250 °C)? And how does their behaviour change under dynamic loading? In this PhD project, you will develop experimental and optical measurement methods to answer these questions and support the safe introduction of hydrogen-based aviation technologies.

Hydrogen has significant potential as an alternative aviation fuel, but its storage requires substantially more volume than jet fuel and the use of cylindrical tanks. Integrating these tanks into the aircraft fuselage makes their structural integrity crucial to passenger safety. Yet we still lack a fundamental understanding of how aerospace materials behave at cryogenic temperatures, particularly in contact with hydrogen and across different strain rates.

You will investigate deformation mechanisms, strain localisation and damage from quasi-static to dynamic loading. A central challenge is developing optical testing methods that remain accurate despite the large temperature gradients present in cryogenic experiments. You will explore full-field techniques such as digital image correlation, speckle and grid methods, interferometry, digital holography, structured-light and fringe projection, deflectometry, pattern tracking, high-speed imaging and thermography. Complementary photonic sensing approaches, such as fibre Bragg grating sensors, may also be considered.

Your research will determine which optical measurement techniques can reliably capture deformation and damage under cryogenic conditions, how experimental constraints can be overcome, and how strain rate influences material behaviour. The resulting experimental data will be used to validate numerical models and contribute to certification by analysis of future composite structures.

The project is part of the Dutch Aviation Systems Analysis Lab (DASAL), a collaboration between TU Delft and Royal NLR within the Dutch Luchtvaart in Transitie programme. You will be based in the Optical Metrology for Aerospace (OMA) and Design of Structures research groups within the Aerospace Structures & Materials (ASM) department at TU Delft’s Faculty of Aerospace Engineering. OMA is a young, interdisciplinary and international research group focusing on optical instrumentation, interferometry and photonics for optical metrology applications.

You will be supervised by Dr Andrei Anisimov and Dr Saullo Castro. You will publish your findings, present them at conferences and project meetings, and communicate with both scientific and industrial audiences. You may also supervise MSc students, contribute to education and ongoing research, and develop your own research ideas.

Job requirements

• You hold an MSc in optical engineering, photonics, aerospace or mechanical engineering, applied physics, materials science, experimental mechanics, instrumentation, or a related field.
• You have a strong interest in experimental testing, material characterisation and material behaviour under extreme environmental and loading conditions.
• You have hands‑on experience with experimental setups, measurement systems, optical measurement techniques, mechanical testing or laboratory instrumentation.
• Experience with full-field optical methods, image processing, high-speed imaging, cryogenic testing, composites, numerical modelling or non‑destructive testing is an advantage.
• You can work independently while collaborating effectively with researchers from different disciplines.
• You communicate clearly and are motivated to share your research with scientific, industrial and general audiences.
• You have a good command of English, enabling you to work effectively with academic, industrial and project stakeholders.

The outcomes of this project will be disseminated to the scientific community, industrial stakeholders and a general audience through presentations at national and international conferences, publications in peer-reviewed journals, and project meetings. You will also participate in English-taught Doctoral Education courses, write scientific articles and prepare a final thesis. Additionally, you may be involved in training and teaching MSc students.

TU Delft

Working at TU Delft means contributing to solutions that really make a difference.

At TU Delft, our people make the difference. With their knowledge and curiosity, our staff provide high-quality education and conduct pioneering research that extends beyond the campus. You will have the opportunity to take the initiative, work with others, and grow as a professional. Working at TU Delft means joining an international community of professionals and students. Together, we create knowledge, innovations, and solutions that help move the world forward.

Faculty Aerospace Engineering

The Faculty of Aerospace Engineering at Delft University of Technology is a leading international community where innovation in aerospace meets global challenges. Our support and scientific staff, including PhD candidates, postdocs, and students, largely work together on three main themes: the energy transition, sustainable aerospace, and safety and security, with the aim of tackling climate change and contributing to the independence and security of Europe.

When you join us, you become part of a diverse, collaborative, and forward-thinking environment where your ideas and perspectives are valued. Our work extends beyond the lab into field labs, innovation hubs, and partnerships with other faculties, research institutes, governments, and industry, both locally and globally.

Conditions of employment

Doctoral candidates will be offered a 4-year period of employment in principle, in the form of 2 employment contracts: an initial 1.5-year contract with an official go/no-go progress assessment within 15 months, followed by an additional contract for the remaining 2.5 years, assuming everything goes well and performance requirements are met.

As a PhD candidate you will be enrolled in the TU Delft Graduate School. The TU Delft Graduate School provides an inspiring research environment with an excellent team of supervisors, academic staff and a mentor. The Doctoral Education Programme is aimed at developing your transferable, discipline-related and research skills.

TU Delft offers a customisable compensation package, discounts on health insurance, and a monthly work costs contribution. Flexible work schedules can be arranged.