**Project Overview:**
This research project aims to optimize cooling processes and supply chains of heat-sensitive biological products using digital twins. The goal is to better understand how perishable products react inside cold chain unit operations and identify why some products decay faster.
The project will involve developing digital twins of cargo based on measured air temperature and humidity data in cold chains by commercial sensors. This will enable the creation of end-to-end virtual supply chains that can predict product quality attributes, such as remaining shelf life.
The work will also focus on understanding the tradeoffs related to cooling technology for various use cases, including smallholder farmers in the Global South. Detailed supply chain assessments will be performed to quantify the environmental and economic impact of optimized cooling solutions and refrigerated supply chain solutions.
Key Tasks:
* Develop multiphysics models for the complete supply chain of selected heat-sensitive biological products.
* Use these models to build physics-based digital twins of all products in a shipment that age in-silico with the real product, end-to-end in the supply chain.
* Process measured sensor data of commercial cold chains, analyze data for variability, and reformat data in databases.
* Use the simulation-based approach to steer refrigeration processes or packaging design by optimizing for product quality loss and waste.
* Integrate these digital twins into other platforms, such as mobile applications.
Required Skills and Qualifications:
* Completed Master's degree in mechanical engineering.
* Proven experience in continuum modeling (finite element modeling, computational fluid dynamics).
* Knowledge of heat and mass transport processes in heat-sensitive materials and process optimization.
* Excellent communication skills and fluency in English are mandatory. Knowledge of German is considered advantageous.
Benefits:
* A project duration of 3 years is envisaged to carry out the above research tasks in the form of a PhD thesis.
* The project involves a joint affiliation with ETH Zürich (D-USYS).
* The candidate will perform the research at Empa in St. Gallen.
Others:
* We welcome all people who are interested in innovative, sustainable and meaningful activities - that's what counts.
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