PhD Position in Operational Analysis of New Aircraft Concepts, TU Delft
Job Description
TU Delft is taking applications for a PhD position on what happens when battery and hydrogen aircraft share the airspace with conventional traffic. The pay is €3,204 to €4,051 gross a month and applications close on 8 November 2026.
At a glance
- Post: PhD Position in Operational Analysis of New Aircraft Concepts
- Where: Faculty of Aerospace Engineering, Delft University of Technology, Netherlands
- Pay: €3,204 to €4,051 gross a month, rising from the first year to the fourth
- Apply by: 8 November 2026
Read the official TU Delft advertisement before you apply.
The project
Research and industry are investing in new aircraft concepts powered by batteries, hydrogen and other alternative energy sources, promising a real cut in aviation’s climate impact. These aircraft behave differently: different operating speeds, different climb and descent angles, different range.
It is still an open question what happens when they share airspace with conventional traffic, and what that means for air traffic control and safety. This PhD quantifies how mixing aircraft with strongly differing performance characteristics affects safety, efficiency and capacity, and develops the metrics and models needed to measure those effects.
What you need
- A master’s in aerospace engineering, air transport, operations research or a related field
- Programming and simulation skills for air traffic modelling
- Read the official advertisement for the full requirements
Pay and conditions
TU Delft pays PhD candidates on the Dutch university scale: €3,204 gross a month in the first year, rising to €4,051 in the fourth. The appointment is for four years. TU Delft adds a pension scheme, and the usual Dutch holiday and end-of-year allowances.
How to apply
Apply through the application button on the TU Delft job page and upload the documents it asks for. The advertisement says to apply no later than 8 November 2026.
Browse more research jobs on ResearchJobs.in, or search our Find a supervisor page.
Hiring institution: Delft University of Technology
Official advertisement: careers.tudelft.nl
How to prepare for this application
- Air traffic simulation is the craft here. BlueSky, the open-source simulator from TU Delft, is worth knowing about.
- The question is about mixing aircraft types. Frame your interest around traffic and safety.
- Apply through the button on the job page. TU Delft only takes applications through its own system.
- Check the Dutch 30% ruling. If you move to the Netherlands for this post you may qualify for a tax advantage that changes your take-home pay noticeably.
About Delft University of Technology
TU Delft was founded in 1842 and is the largest and oldest technical university in the Netherlands. It runs eight faculties across engineering, design, applied sciences and technology policy, and hosts research institutes including QuTech for quantum technology.
