Hybrid CFD expert (Zwijnaarde, 9052) bei Universiteit Gent

ABOUT GHENT UNIVERSITY

Ghent University is a world of its own. Employing more than 15,000 people, it is actively involved in education and research, management and administration, as well as technical and social service provision on a daily basis. It is one of the largest, most exciting employers in the area and offers great career opportunities. With its 11 faculties and more than 80 departments offering state-of-the-art study programmes grounded in research in a wide range of academic fields, Ghent University is a logical choice for its staff and students.

YOUR TASKS

• You dedicate a minimum of 70% of your assignment to setting up and executing CFD simulations of the turbomachine-based steam cracking reactor in ANSYS Fluent, including mesh generation, selection and tuning of turbulence and heat-transfer models.
• You develop and validate integrated flow, heat- and mass-transport, and chemical-kinetics models for the steam cracking process, with particular attention to compressibility and the coupling with reaction kinetics.
• You build 1D and 2D process models in Python and ANSYS Fluent to rapidly evaluate and optimise the main physical and chemical phenomena in the reactor.
• You automate simulation workflows and advanced post-processing via scripting in Python and MATLAB, and write User-Defined Functions (UDFs) in C for specific physical and chemical modules; in addition, you perform mesh optimisations and sensitivity analyses.
• You mentor master’s students on their CFD and reaction-modelling projects and share your expertise through technical presentations and reports.

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

• You hold a Master’s degree in Chemical Engineering or a related field. The degree requirements need to be fulfilled at the start of your appointment.
• You possess thorough knowledge of fluid mechanics, turbulence modelling, and thermodynamics, with a strong focus on traditional steam‐cracking reactors. Knowledge of turbomachinery and aerodynamics is an added advantage.
• You have demonstrated experience in computational fluid dynamics modelling in ANSYS Fluent, including advanced meshing, selection and fine‐tuning of turbulence and heat transfer models, and post‐processing of results. Experience with supercomputers is a significant plus.
• You have experience coupling chemical reaction kinetics to CFD simulations, with expertise in modelling radical chemistry being a valuable plus. Knowledge of steam cracking of organic feedstocks and the influence of impurities is an additional asset.
• You have programming experience, preferably in Python and/or MATLAB.
• You have experience automating CFD workflows and scripting, including the development of User‐Defined Functions (UDFs) in C.
• You have an excellent command of English and are motivated to write technical reports and scientific publications.
• You live in Belgium or are ready to stay in Belgium during the research.

WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU

• We offer you a contract of definite duration for the period from 1 year.
•  Your contract will start on 1/10/2025 at the earliest.
• Your remuneration will be determined by salary scale WM1 to WM4 (if you hold a Master’s degree) or salary scale PD1 to PD4 (if you hold a doctorate).  Click here for more information about our salary scales.
• All Ghent University staff members enjoy a number of benefits, such as a wide range of training and education opportunities, 36 days of holiday leave (on an annual basis for a full-time job) supplemented by annual fixed bridge days, bicycle allowance and eco vouchers. Click here for a complete overview of all the staff benefits.

INTERESTED?

Apply online through the e-recruitment system before the application deadline (see above). We do not accept late applications or applications that are not submitted through the online system.

Your application must include the following documents:

• In the field ‘CV’: your CV and a transcript of your academic record (merged into one pdf file)
• In the field ‘Cover letter’: your application letter in pdf format
• In the field ‘Diploma’: a transcript of the required degree (if already in your possession). If you hold a foreign diploma in a language other than our national languages (Dutch, French, or German) or English, please provide a translation in one of the aforementioned languages.
• In the field “other documents”: a reference letter, an overview of your study results, etc. 

Note that the maximum file size for each field is 10 MB.

As Ghent University maintains an equal opportunities and diversity policy, everyone is encouraged to apply for this position.

MORE INFORMATION

For more information about this vacancy, please contact Prof. Van Geem (mailto:[email protected], +32 (0)9/264 55 97). Important: do NOT send your application by email, but apply online.

Do you have a question regarding the online application process? Please read the FAQ or contact us via [email protected] or +32 9 264 34 36