MSCA - Postdoctoral Fellowships (PF) on “Dynamic Model of Catalytic Decomposition of Propellants for Rocket Propulsion Applications”

Research project description

The development of reduced-order models capable of rapidly predicting the performance of catalytic beds, conducting parametric analyses, and providing interpretative indications for the preliminary sizing and design of liquid propellant rocket thrusters is of special interest to space engineers. However, not many such models have been proposed so far, probably due to the difficulty of adequately describing the complex two-phase, chemically reacting, liquid-gasvapor flow through the catalytic bed. This is particularly true for the estimation of the dynamic behavior in the transient start-up phase. The research activities will start from the mathematical framework already developed at the University of Pisa and will be focused on the consolidation, development and validation of the reduced order model on already available experimental data at University of Pisa and in open literature.

The research activities will be carried out under the supervision of Prof. Angelo Pasini.

Eligibility criteria

Applicants must have a PhD degree at the time of the deadline for applications (13^th September 2023). Applicants who have successfully defended their doctoral thesis but who have not yet formally been awarded the doctoral degree will also be considered eligible to apply.

At the call deadline, the applicant must have a maximum of 8 years experience in research, from the date of the award of their PhD degree. Years of experience outside research and career breaks will not count towards the above maximum, nor will years of experience in research in third countries, for nationals or long-term residents of EU Member States or Horizon Europe Associated Countries who wish to reintegrate to Europe.

Mobility Rule: The applicant may be of any nationality but must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in Italy (for European Fellowships) or the host organisation for the outgoing phase (in case of Global Fellowship) for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately before 13^th September 2023.

Application procedure

Expressions of interest must be sent by email to angelo.pasini@unipi.it no later than the 10^th of June 2023 and must consist of two pdf files:

1. Complete and updated CV, clearly demonstrating all 3 eligibility requirements.
2. Motivation letter, maximum one page.