Doctoral Student - Numerical Simulations of Turbulent Heat Transfer Over Rough Surfaces

About the role

Lund University, Department of Energy Sciences, Faculty of Engineering (LTH), Division of Heat Transfer, is recruiting a doctoral student to study turbulent heat transfer over rough surfaces. The project combines fundamental research with applications of direct relevance to industry, in close collaboration with Siemens Energy AB, Ericsson AB, TRATON AB and RISE. It uses high-fidelity CFD simulations on GPU- and CPU-based high-performance computing systems.

Key responsibilities

• Perform DNS and LES of turbulent flow and heat transfer over rough surfaces with OpenFOAM, CaNS, nekRS or comparable CFD frameworks
• Set up, run, validate and analyse simulations on GPU- and CPU-based HPC systems
• Investigate the influence of roughness geometry and of fluid properties and thermal conditions on momentum and heat transfer
• Process, analyse and visualise large datasets and identify physical mechanisms and scaling relations
• Develop reduced-order models, correlations and improved RANS modelling approaches, validated against numerical and, where available, experimental data
• Collaborate with university and industrial partners, present results at meetings, conferences and workshops, write scientific articles and contribute to the thesis
• Travel within Sweden and internationally, and possibly take part in teaching and departmental work up to 20% of working hours

Required profile

• Second-cycle qualification, or equivalent knowledge, plus a Master's degree or equivalent in mechanical engineering, engineering physics, aerospace engineering, energy engineering, applied mathematics, computational science or a related field
• Substantial research project or thesis in CFD, turbulence, heat transfer or a closely related field
• Demonstrated ability to set up, run, troubleshoot, validate and analyse numerical simulations, supported by research experience
• Scientific programming in C/C++, Fortran, Python or Matlab, and practical experience running simulations on HPC systems
• Ability to plan research with limited supervision, analyse results critically and communicate findings clearly
• Very good spoken and written English

Required skills

• Good knowledge of fluid mechanics, CFD and turbulent flows, and relevant knowledge of heat transfer
• Experience with DNS or LES, wall-bounded turbulence, turbulent heat transfer or surface roughness is meriting
• Experience with CFD or high-fidelity simulation frameworks (OpenFOAM, CaNS, nekRS) and with parallel or GPU-accelerated computing is meriting
• Knowledge of RANS, wall modelling or thermal turbulence modelling is meriting

Applications are written in English and include a CV and cover letter, copies of study certificates and degree transcripts, the Master's thesis or a summary of ongoing work, and contact details for two references.