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Internal Research Fellow PostDoc in Prediction of contamination effects due outgassing
2018-11-22 12:30:02| Space-careers.com Jobs RSS
Research Fellow opportunity in the Directorate of Technology, Engineering and Quality. ESA is an equal opportunity employer, committed to achieving diversity within the workforce and creating an inclusive working environment. Applications from women are encouraged. Post Internal Research Fellow PostDoc in Prediction of contamination effects due outgassing This post is classified F2 on the Coordinated Organisations salary scale. Location ESTEC, Noordwijk, The Netherlands Description The Materials Physics Chemistry Section operates stateoftheart space simulation facilities vacuum, temperature, EM and particle radiation, etc. as well as instruments to characterise physical and chemical properties within the materials and EEE components laboratory. It provides engineering support to all ESA projects and development programmes in the area of materials physics and chemistry, associated processes and environmental effects. What we do physical analysis and characterisation of materials including phase transitions, thermomechanical analysis, thermooptical analysis, thermal analysis, surface analyses such as electronbased imaging techniques SEMEDXWDX, Xray techniques such as Xray tomography and other nondestructive evaluation techniques chemical analysis and characterisation of materials all types of spectroscopy such as UVVISNIR, GCMS, NMR, FTIR, Raman, thermal analysis, surface analysis such as XPS, EDX,WDX, contact angle cleanliness and contamination control, including lab work focused on contamination monitoring, materials outgassing characterisation, surface analysis and evaluation of contamination impacts on performance environmental evaluation groundspace effects including lab testing work and support of nonconformance reviews, requests for approval this includes evaluation of degradation effects due to longterm storage and corrosion, biodegradation, entryreentry assessment of physicalchemical processes and other processes performance prediction and verification incl. inorbit postflight analysis of materials and associated processes. Interested candidates are highly encouraged to visit ESA website www.esa.int Fields of activitiesresearch Prediction of contamination effects due to outgassing During exposure to a vacuum, especially at elevated temperature levels, volatile chemicals contained in many spacecraft components e.g. CFRP panels, adhesives, harness may over time migrate to the surface via diffusion and escape via desorption. In extreme temperature environments, organic materials even tend to decompose into simpler substances, which may then outgas through desorption or diffusion. The combination of these processes, called outgassing, is then a function of time and temperature. Outgassed molecules may then condense on cold parts of a spacecraft and build up on sensitive surfaces that can decrease the performance levels of instruments, equipment and in some cases entire subsystems, and may even cause mission failure outright. Evaluating deposited contamination masses on sensitive surfaces is therefore a key task in evaluating spacecraft andor instrument performance loss. For this purpose, ground testing is needed to assess mass loss and buildup. Since ground tests cannot be run for durations comparable to mission lifetimes, they have to be performed at an accelerated rate. The ESA materials laboratory has a number of dynamic outgassing facilities to measure material mass loss and condensed mass as a function of time and temperature. As for the outgassing itself, although its chemistry can be fairly complex, the kinetics are well understood, which allows reliable longterm predicting of total mass loss from data obtained in accelerated tests, via a physicsbased model ECSSQTM7052A. On the other hand, the buildup of contamination on a given surface is a complex process dependent on many factors which affect both the incoming flux of molecules from the contamination sources impinging on the target surface and the outgoing flux of molecules from the target surface due to reemission. Translating accelerated test results into longterm predictions for incoming flux is not a huge challenge. However, when considering the outgoing flux of molecules, things get much more complicated, given that there are no good kinetic models and the chemistry is not well understood. Different approaches have been proposed in the past, none having been considered entirely adequate to date. This research topic aims at developing a method that would allow reliable use of the results obtained in accelerated tests to calculate longterm predictions for mass buildup on cold surfaces due to material outgassing. Under this activity, the Research Fellow is required to perform an extensive assessment and evaluation of the dynamic outgassing data that have been collected for over 20 years on a wide variety of materials, lately accompanied by in situ thermosgravimetric analyses and ex situ GCMS analyses of the condensed material. The candidate should first investigate the potential of these latter techniques analytically andor by testing and then compare them with other possible techniques that could have high potential. The incumbent should then identify the most promising technique or set of techniques and on that basis develop, optimise and verify a methodology allowing reliable longterm prediction of contamination buildup, starting with data collected in accelerated tests. The optimisation process will aggregate the mathematical model, the ground test results test facilities, chambers with available 3D modelling tools COMOVA, SYSTEMA, etc. in order to predict the interaction of spacegrade materials with the vacuumtimetemperature environment. Technical competencies Ability to conduct research autonomously Breadth of exposure coming from past andor current researchactivities Researchpublication record Knowledge relevant to the field of research General interest in space and space research Ability to gather and share relevant information Behavioural competencies Innovation Creativity Continuous Learning Relationship Management Self Motivation Communication Problem Solving CrossCultural Sensitivity Education Applicants should have recently completed, or be close to completing, a PhD in computational physicschemistry, mathematical materials science, applied mathematics. Preference will be given to applications submitted by candidates within five years of being awarded their doctorate. Additional requirements Specific requirements good mathematical background good knowledge of modelling techniques mass transferrelated modelling would be an asset ability to interpret experimental results In addition, applicants should demonstrate good interpersonal skills and the capacity to work both independently and as part of a team. During the interview the candidates motivation and overall professional perspectivecareer goals will also be explored. The working languages of the Agency are English and French. A good knowledge of one of these is required. Knowledge of another Member State language would be an asset. Other information For behavioural competencies expected from ESA staff in general, please refer to the ESA Competency Framework. The Agency may require applicants to undergo selection tests. The closing date for applications is 02 January 2019. In addition to your CV and your motivation letter, please add your proposal of no more than 5 pages outlining your proposed research. Candidates must also arrange for three letters of reference to be sent by email, before the deadline, to temp.htresa.int. The letters must be sent by the referees themselves. The candidates name must be mentioned in the subject of the email. If you require support with your application due to a disability, please email contact.human.resourcesesa.int. Please note that applications are only considered from nationals of one of the following States Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and Canada and Slovenia as well as Bulgaria, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia as European Cooperating States ECS. Priority will first be given to candidates from underrepresented Member States. In accordance with the European Space Agencys security procedures and as part of the selection process, successful candidates will be required to undergo basic screening before appointment Apply HERE
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