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EPFL, the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne, is one of the most dynamic university campuses in Europe and ranks among the top 20 universities worldwide. The EPFL employs more than 6,500 people supporting the three main missions of the institutions: education, research and innovation. The EPFL campus offers an exceptional working environment at the heart of a community of more than 18,500 people, including over 14,000 students and 4,000 researchers from more than 120 different countries.

PhD positions - Experimental unsteady fluid and vortex dynamics

Mission

The Unsteady Flow Diagnostics Laboratory (UNFoLD) led by Prof. Karen Mulleners at EPFL in Lausanne is looking for multiple PhD students to join the group in the fall of 2025 or early 2026. 

 

The UNFoLD lab specialises in the experimental measurements, analysis, and modelling of unsteady vortex-dominated flow phenomena, with applications in bio-inspired propulsion, wind turbine rotor blade aerodynamics, gust interactions, and fluid-structure interactions. The research focuses on unfolding the origin and development of unsteady flow separation and vortex formation. The lab has built a reputation for carefully designed and precisely controlled experiments, high quality temporally and spatially resolved field experiments using particle image velocimetry combined with synchronised measurements of the technically relevant quantities, such as aerodynamic forces or power output, exploratory data analyses to bridge the gap between our observations and understanding of the development and interaction of vortices, and the technically relevant quantities.

Several open PhD postions are available for fully funded projects on:

  • Flow separation on three-dimensional wings
  • Fluid-structure interactions of flapping flags 
  • (Bio-inspired) unsteady vortex formation and interaction

More information about the lab and the ongoing and past projects can be found here: https://www.epfl.ch/labs/unfold/

Main duties and responsibilities

Your responsibilities:

  • Perform original experimental research on vortex dominated flows.

  • Lead and contribute to publications in scientific journals.

  • Contribute to general lab activities (including teaching assistance and co-supervision of student projects)  

Profile

  • A master's degree in engineering, environmental sciences, or physics.
  • Strong interest in experimental fluid mechanics.
  • Experience with experimental (fluid) mechanics OR in designing laboratory experiments OR in data-driven analysis methods is an advantage.
  • Excellent written and oral communication skills in English. (French is not required)

We offer

  • Opportunity to perform state-of-the-art research in one of the most dynamic scientific institutions in Europe.
  • Competitive salary and excellent educational conditions.
  • Term of employment: 1-year fixed-term contract (CDD), renewable for 4 years.

Informations

Only applications submitted through the online platform are considered. Interested applicants should upload the following documents:

  • CV
  • Motivation statement (please indicate your earliest availability date)
  • Grades from bachelor and master studies 

 

Different projects can start at different times. 
Ideally at least one candidate would start in the Fall of 2025 (earliest starting date is October 2025), other projects are supposed to start January 2026.
Screening will start immediately and will continue until suitable candidates have been found. 

 

Working place : Lausanne

 

Contract Type : CDD for 1 year, renewable for 4 years

 

To be eligible for a PhD at EPFL, note that candidates also need to be enrolled in one of the EPFL doctoral school programs. This is a separate application process that you can start in parallel. We suggest that you apply to the Doctoral Program in Mechanics (EDME).

 

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Prof. Karen Mulleners (karen.mulleners@epfl.ch).










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