项目介绍

2025年5月15日

We are seeking a motivated PhD researcher to help drive the electrification of industrial heat. Join leading researchers and industry partners in developing novel flexibility strategies across Europe.

Job description 

Increased shares of renewable energy and changing energy demand will result in an increase integration of energy end-use and the electricity supply sector. This will pose challenges for grid stability and supply-demand matching. Sucessful integration is key to forging cost-efficient and reliable energy and industrial systems. As a PhD researcher in the DEFLAME project, you will play a key role in decarbonizing the European process industry by driving the electrification of industrial heat, ultimately making the industrial sector more resilient and climate-neutral. This ambitious project aims to overcome challenges at multiple levels—from technology and industrial plants to national and European energy systems, as well as economic, policy, and institutional frameworks.

In this PhD position you will:

• Investigate the industrial sector’s hetereogenity and its implications for flexible utility systems that produce heat and or electricity.
• Evaluate the constraints of location and process/cluster integration in real systems.
• Assess the techno-economic and environmental impacts of electrifying heat grids and thermal generation processes in existing industrial clusters. 
• Contribute to the furthe development of a twin model of a petrochemical cluster developed in-house.

Your research will provide critical insights for policymakers, energy system operators, and industrial stakeholders into how industrial electrification can enhance sustainability in industry, support the renewable energy integration into the power system, and increase competitiveness of the Dutch industry.

Key Responsibilities:

• Expand an existing petrochemical model by adding different heat management strategies and electrified processes.
• Optimise heat management strategies in existing processes, at different levels of flexibility, energy requirements, mass and energy interconnections and site constraints.
• Optimise heat management strategies in electrified processes.
• Generate technology-specific parameters and load profiles.
• Develop operation strategies for various industrialised processes.

This PhD position is part of the DEFLAME project, which aims to overcome challenges in the electrification of industrial heat at multiple levels—from technology and industrial plants to national and European energy systems, as well as economic, policy, and institutional frameworks.  We focus on low-temperature heat electrification (up to 400°C) using proven, efficient technologies. Through an interdisciplinary approach, we will identify strategies and institutional arrangements that enable industrial electrification to be both viable and impactful. You’ll collaborate closely with leading industry players, energy system operators, and research institutions, playing a key role in designing and assessing solutions that drive the electrification of the industry. Our partners include: AtlasCopco, Cosun, Delft University of Technology, Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e), ISPT, Nobian, Oranje Wind Power II C.V./RWE, Smart Port, Stedin, Tennet, and TNO.

Job requirements 

We are looking for a researcher who:

• Wants to make an active contribution to the energy transition in the industrial sector.
• Holds a master’s degree in chemical engineering, process systems engineering, mechanical engineering, or a related field.   
• Has proven experience in process modelling (e.g ASPEN) and programming (e.g. Python), with strong programming skills.
• Enjoys working with thermodynamics, pinch point analysis and heat integration.
• Has strong analytical and systems-thinking abilities.
• Has excellent communication skills, written and verbal, in English.
• Enjoys working in an interdisciplinary group and is a team player.

TU Delft (Delft University of Technology) 

Delft University of Technology is built on strong foundations. As creators of the world-famous Dutch waterworks and pioneers in biotech, TU Delft is a top international university combining science, engineering and design. It delivers world class results in education, research and innovation to address challenges in the areas of energy, climate, mobility, health and digital society. For generations, our engineers have proven to be entrepreneurial problem-solvers, both in business and in a social context. 

At TU Delft we embrace diversity as one of our core values and we actively engage to be a university where you feel at home and can flourish. We value different perspectives and qualities. We believe this makes our work more innovative, the TU Delft community more vibrant and the world more just. Together, we imagine, invent and create solutions using technology to have a positive impact on a global scale. That is why we invite you to apply. Your application will receive fair consideration. 

Challenge. Change. Impact! 

Faculty Applied Sciences 

With more than 1,100 employees, including 150 pioneering principal investigators, as well as a population of about 3,600 passionate students, the Faculty of Applied Sciences is an inspiring scientific ecosystem. Focusing on key enabling technologies, such as quantum- and nanotechnology, photonics, biotechnology, synthetic biology and materials for energy storage and conversion, our faculty aims to provide solutions to important problems of the 21st century. To that end, we educate innovative students in broad Bachelor’s and specialist Master’s programmes with a strong research component. Our scientists conduct ground-breaking fundamental and applied research in the fields of Life and Health Science & Technology, Nanoscience, Chemical Engineering, Radiation Science & Technology, and Engineering Physics. We are also training the next generation of high school teachers. 

Click here to go to the website of the Faculty of Applied Sciences. 

Conditions of employment 
Doctoral candidates will be offered a 4-year period of employment in principle, but 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. 

Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, increasing from € 2901 per month in the first year to € 3707 in the fourth year. 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. 

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

Will you need to relocate to the Netherlands for this job? TU Delft is committed to make your move as smooth as possible! The HR unit, Coming to Delft Service, offers information on their website to help you prepare your relocation. In addition, Coming to Delft Service organises events to help you settle in the Netherlands, and expand your (social) network in Delft. A Dual Career Programme is available, to support your accompanying partner with their job search in the Netherlands.  

Additional information
If you would like more information about this vacancy or the selection procedure, please contact prof Andrea Ramirez Ramirez, via c.a.ramirezramirez@tudelft.nl.

For information about the application procedure, please contact Maaike Bijlsma, via m.bijlsma@tudelft.nl.  

Application procedure
Are you interested in this vacancy? Please apply no later than 15 June 2025 via the application button and upload the following documents:

1. Motivation letter.
2. Detailed CV.
3. Names and contact information of two relevant references. We will not contact references without your consent.

You can address your application to prof Andrea Ramirez Ramirez.

Doing a PhD at TU Delft requires English proficiency at a certain level to ensure that the candidate is able to communicate and interact well, participate in English-taught Doctoral Education courses, and write scientific articles and a final thesis. For more details please check the Graduate Schools Admission Requirements. 

Please note:

• You can apply online. We will not process applications sent by email and/or post. 
• A pre-employment screening can be part of the selection procedure.
• For the final candidates, a knowledge security check will be part of the application procedure. For more information on this check, please consult Chapter 8 of the National Knowledge Security Guidelines. We carry out this check on the basis of legitimate interest.
• Please do not contact us for unsolicited services.