Posted [contact details available in the full listing]
Job Information
- Organisation/Company: Polytechnic University of Bari
- Research Field: Engineering » Aerospace engineering; Engineering » Mechanical engineering; Engineering » Simulation engineering; Physics » Applied physics
- Researcher Profile: First Stage Researcher (R1)
- Positions: PhD Positions
- Application Deadline: 31 Dec 2026 - 23:59 (Europe/Rome)
- Country: Italy
- 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 HyNOISE
HyNOISE is a Doctoral Network aimed to train doctoral candidates able to face current and future challenges in the prediction and control of direct and indirect noise generated by hydrogen flames. Four specific research objectives will be pursued: 1) Unveil the dynamics and sound pressure level generated during unsteady ignition and flashback process 2) Investigate the direct broadband sound generated due to the coupling between unsteady flame dynamics and flame-flame interactions, hydrodynamic and thermo-diffusive instabilities, and turbulence. 3) Understand physical mechanisms leading to the onset of thermoacoustic instabilities coupled with different modes at either with a specific focus on high frequencies 4) Study the contribution of convective waves to combustion noise and thermoacoustic instabilities. Multiple hydrogen-air archetypes typical of air-breathing hydrogen combustion systems in both single and annular multi-injector configurations will be investigated. In a collaborative partnership between academic and industry partners who are major European gas turbine manufacturers, HyNOISE bring relevant expertise together and to pursue solutions for hydrogen through integration and combination of unique and advanced theoretical, high-fidelity modelling and experimental expertise. This will lead to the development of new models and tools able to correctly predict hydrogen flame dynamics and its resulting pressure field, and, on this basis, developing control and mitigation methods to overcome current limitations in hydrogen combustion systems and design innovative, quiet, and stable combustion devices. The technologies developed will stimulate the green transition in the power generation and transport sectors, thus contributing to the achievement of the EU's challenging decarbonization goals.
About the host organization
The Institut de Mécanique des Fluides de Toulouse (IMFT) is a joint research unit (UMR 5502) under the supervision of INP Toulouse (INPT), CNRS and Paul Sabatier University. Research activities in fluid mechanics are conducted on physical models or by numerical simulations through dissertations or research contracts signed with various public or private partners. They have implications in the fields of transport, energy, processes, environment, and health. Research topics include transient and turbulent single-phase flows, the study of porous media, hydrology, geophysical flows and environmental engineering, multiphase flows and/or reactive flows.
Individual Research Project (IRP)
Problem Definition
Self-sustained combustion instabilities coupled with transverse acoustic modes of the combustion chamber can generate high-frequency, high-amplitude tonal noise and may lead to severe failures in can-annular gas turbines and afterburners. Hydrogen-fuelled combustors are particularly susceptible to developing such high-frequency instabilities. Recent developments with the HYLON (HYdrogen LOw NOx) injector have led to a framework enabling to identify the mechanisms responsible for synchronized heat release fluctuations at the origin of these instabilities. This framework also includes a methodology for assessing combustor stability through flame dynamics measurements under acoustically forced conditions. However, experimental validation of this framework is still required. The objective of this task is to validate the framework in a laboratory setup equipped for detailed acoustic and optical flow characterization.
Research Objectives
- Experimental campaign: Perform combined acoustic and optical diagnostics to characterize the acoustic pressure field and the spatial distribution of heat release disturbances under self-sustained high-frequency instabilities.
- Low-order modeling: Develop low-order models of the flame response to high-frequency acoustic perturbations, based on experimental data.
- Compare experimental results with model predictions for various methane/hydrogen blends, flame configurations, and combustion chamber geometries.
Expected Results
- Experimental database including pressure field measurements and phase-averaged flame images obtained for various methane/hydrogen blends, flame configurations, and combustion chamber geometries.
- Analytical low-order model describing the flame response to acoustic disturbances, with parameters calibrated from experimental data and/or numerical simulations.
- Validation of the proposed framework across different operating conditions (fuel blends, flame shapes, and chamber geometries) through systematic comparison between experiments and model predictions.
Secondments
- Technical University of Berlin (Germany, ca. 3 months): gain experience on BOS measurement technique
- Politecnico di Bari (Italy, ca. 2 months): joint numerical and experimental studies on high-frequency instabilities
The IRP will have a strong link to other IRPs from different DCs for:
- Work on joint experimental test campaigns
- Work on numerical/experimental studies
- Provision of input and data
Where to apply
E-mail: [contact details available in the full listing]
Requirements
Research Field: Engineering » Aerospace engineering
Education Level: Master Degree or equivalent
Research Field: Engineering » Mechanical engineering
Education Level: Master Degree or equivalent
Research Field: Physics » Applied physics
Education Level: Master Degree or equivalent
Skills/Qualifications
Essential skills and requirements
- MSc or equivalent in the field of aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, physics or similar
- Solid knowledge on Fluid Mechanics and Thermodynamics, Computer Science and Informatics (Numerical Analysis; simulation, optimisation and modelling tools; Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD))
- 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
- Proactive attitude
- 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
- Applicants must be eligible to enroll on a PhD program at Institut National Polytechnique de Toulouse (INPT) – https://www.inp-toulouse.fr/en/study/phd.html.
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 HyNOISE, 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 (France) 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.
Languages — ENGLISH
Level — Excellent
Languages: ENGLISH
Level: Excellent
Additional Information
Benefits
- You will be working within an international group 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 HyNOISE 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 organizations within the HyNOISE network and in outreach activities targeted at a wide audience.
- A competitive salary according to MSCA regulations (see page 118ff.), including a living allowance, a mobility allowance and, if eligible, a family allowance. The stated allowances represent the gross funding amounts. Employer contributions to social security, health insurance, and other statutory costs will be deducted in accordance with the applicable national regulations.
Please find additional information in the Information package for Marie Curie fellows in Doctoral Networks.
Selection process
For the selection procedure, the HyNOISE 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 January 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 by October 2027.
Additional comments
Interested candidates are invited to submit one single PDF containing the following documents in this exact order:
- Cover letter
- 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.)
All the application documents must be submitted via email to [contact details available in the full listing]
The email subject must be “Application for DC1 position”.
The email size incl. attachments must not exceed 30 MB in total.
Candidates whose application is not compliant with the requirements above will not be considered.
Application deadline: 31 December 2026 at 11:59 PM CEST
Expected starting date: January - October 2027
Applications and enclosures received after the deadline will not be considered.
More information and other vacant positions can be found at:
Reference to data protection: The personal data you submit will be processed at POLIBA in accordance with its Data Protection Declaration (https://www.poliba.it/en/protezione-dei-dati-personali). In addition, your personal data will be shared with the consortium partners (see https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/[contact details available in the full listing]) for the purpose of evaluating your application and carrying out the joint selection procedure. The project partners are joint responsible for the processing of personal data.
For additional information about the research project and this individual position, please contact: [contact details available in the full listing] or the main supervisor ([contact details available in the full listing])
Work Location(s)
- Number of offers available: 1
- Company/Institute: Institut de Mécanique des Fluides de Toulouse (IMFT)
- Country: France
- State/Province: France
- City: Toulouse
- Postal Code: 31400
- Street: Street - 2 allée du Pr Camille Soula
Contact
- City: Bari
- Website: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hynoise-dn/
- Street: Giovanni Amendola, 126/b
- Postal Code: 70126
- E-Mail: [contact details available in the full listing]
