PhD student - Doctoral : Development chemical reduction scheme

Organisation/Company Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB) Department Aero-Thermo-Mechanics Department Research Field Engineering » Aerospace engineering Engineering » Mechanical engineering Engineering » Simulation engineering Environmental science » Earth science Environmental science » Global change Geosciences » Other Physics » Applied physics Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Positions PhD Positions Final date to receive applications 31 Mar 2026 - 23:59 (Europe/Brussels) Country Belgium 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

About SLICE

Space utilisation plays a crucial role in understanding climate change, but due to a drastic increase in launch rates, there is an urgent need to understand and mitigate potential environmental impacts of space activities themselves, particularly of launchers. However, large knowledge gaps persist for their operational phase from lift-off to landing/reentry. Here, the largest Global Warming Potential and Ozone Layer Depletion Potential are expected.

Especially in the higher atmospheric layers, which are only accessed by launchers, potential impacts of emitted pollutants are amplified by very long retention periods and substance accumulation effects. To investigate the Space Launch Impact on Climate and Environment, SLICE will therefore develop a research and training programme that bridges the current divide between space engineering and climate science to close the gaps that exist in the Life-Cycle Analysis of space launch systems.

Thus, SLICE will contribute to advance the science of climate change by investigating the three most pressing research areas of this field:
Launch Vehicle Emissions, Atmospheric Interaction & Climate Impact and System Analysis & Design. This will generate actionable insights, on which SLICE will develop solutions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, accelerate the delivery of the Green Deal and establish an environmentally sustainable access to space. It’s the ambition of SLICE to generate desperately needed novel results, which will enable cutting‑edge innovations.

At the same time, SLICE is committed to training a new generation of highly skilled, resilient, and environmentally aware researchers. They will combine deep scientific knowledge with an ecodesign mindset and the ability to communicate across disciplines and sectors. These doctoral candidates will be uniquely prepared to shape a sustainable future for space transportation in Europe – technically, environmentally, and politically.

SLICE directly supports the European Green Deal, ESA’s Agenda 2025, and will deliver crucial inputs for the EU Space Law and Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) regulations at European level, including the development of PEF Category Rules (PEFCR) for space.

About the host organization

Founded in 1834,
ULB has a long tradition of excellence in Research with four scientific Nobel Prizes, one Fields Medal, three Wolf Prizes and two Marie Curie Excellence Awards. It is one of the largest and most recognised Research Universities in Belgium, with a student population of 28,000 in three campuses, and almost 2,000 PhD students and around 3,600 researchers, ULB excels in various scientific fields, including bioinformatics, neuroscience, and social sciences.

The university is home to eleven interdisciplinary research institutes that foster innovative projects addressing contemporary challenges such as climate change, public health, and social transformation. ULB actively participates in European research initiatives, being involved in over 310 projects funded by pro‑grams like Horizon Europe and the European Research Council. ULB's dedication to research excellence is reflected in its numerous accolades, including four Nobel Prizes and a Fields Medal, underscoring its role as a leading institution in advancing knowledge and addressing pressing global issues.

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The Aero‑Thermo‑Mechanics Department, a part of the Faculty of Applied Sciences of ULB is…