Štěpán Nosek

Since 2014, I have been the head of the Laboratory of Environmental Aerodynamics. My research interests include atmospheric turbulence, atmospheric dispersion processes, urban air quality, and physical modeling of turbulence in wind tunnels. I specialize in studying coherent structures of turbulence and their role in pollutant transport in the atmospheric surface layer.

The postdoctoral researcher will join the research team in the Laboratory of Environmental Aerodynamics, which studies the atmospheric boundary layer to better understand and predict the transport of hazardous substances, smoke or dust particles near the Earth’s surface. The laboratory uses physical modeling methods in a wind tunnel (cross-section 1.5 m × 1.5 m). The team’s main research equipment includes planar and point laser anemometry and the Fast Flame Ionisation Detector.

The fellow may also work with the international cooperation partner, the Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, as part of an international secondment.

Given the focus of our research team, the expected outcomes of the fellowship are publications in peer-reviewed journals, new collaborations with industry/public sector and joint research projects.

David Šimurda

As the head of the Laboratory of  Internal Flows, I focus on research on transonic and supersonic flows in closed and curved channels of machines. Recently, our team has been studying transonic flutter in a compressor blade cascade, effect of geometry on efficiency and dynamics of governing steam valves, and the aerodynamics of turbine and compressor profile cascades applied e.g. at the last stage rotor blades of large-output steam turbines. Research is done in cooperation with the leading companies in the field of turbomachinery.

About the position

The successful candidate will be hosted by the Department of Fluid Dynamics.

The Postdoctoral fellow will join the research team in the Laboratory of Internal Flows that studies the flow of compressible fluid through channels of complex geometries and the fluid structure interaction. The laboratory houses facilities for the research of high-speed flow through turbines, compressors, ejectors, valves, and many other power industry related applications. The key research infrastructure and equipment of the research group include several wind tunnels including a high-speed wind tunnel with the cross section of the test section 160 x 400 mm, Mach-Zehnder interferometer, Schlieren imaging device, pressure and temperature sensitive paints, hot-film anemometry, transonic calibration facility for multi-hole pressure probes, traversing device.

The fellow may also liaise with our international collaborators, Instytut Maszyn Przeplywowych Im. Roberta Szewalskiego, through an international secondment.

Given the main focus of our research group, the expected outputs of the fellowship are journal publications, new collaborations with industry/public sector, collaborative research projects.

Musa Özkan

I completed my PhD at the University of Warwick, UK, and have spent the past seven years as an Assistant Professor in Türkiye, focusing on numerical and experimental fluid dynamics and heat transfer. My international experience includes collaborative research with various institutions, where I have contributed to both theoretical and practical advancements in my field. The opportunity to expand my research in the Czech Republic through the MERIT Fellowship is highly motivating, as the Czech Republic is known for its commitment to innovation in engineering and technology.
The research project I will pursue under the MERIT Fellowship is titled “The flutter of transonic compressor blade cascades.” Engineers have long studied the phenomenon of blade flutter in turbomachines, yet it remains a significant issue, particularly under off-design conditions. Through experimental and computational investigations, this project explores the complex nature of fluid-solid interactions in blade flutter. The ultimate goal is to develop a reliable methodology to enhance turbomachines’ efficiency and power generation by addressing the challenges posed by blade flutter. This research has the potential to substantially impact both the energy production and aviation sectors, benefiting the Czech Republic and the broader European region.
The MERIT Fellowship will allow me to collaborate with leading experts in this field, access state-of-the-art facilities, and enhance my research capabilities. Additionally, it will provide opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration and secondments, which are crucial for advancing my career and positioning me as a leader in the field of turbomachinery research.

Bayode Owolabi

I obtained my PhD from the University of Liverpool in the UK. My research was on the characterization of turbulent duct flows using both experiments and numerical simulations. During my studies, I spent one year in Taiwan, where I undertook the numerical simulation aspect of the research. After my PhD, I worked briefly as a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Alberta in Canada, investigating the drag reduction phenomenon by polymer additives. Then, I went back to Brazil where I worked on particle-laden pipe flows before accepting the MERIT fellowship.

I applied for the MERIT fellowship because it provides the opportunity to define my research project and execute the research in a well-equipped lab, thus facilitating my development as an independent researcher. The Institute of Thermomechanics located in Central Bohemia has an active research program in the area of environmental fluid mechanics, opening a lot of opportunities to collaborate with other researchers, exchange ideas, and learn new things.

My research project will contribute to developing more accurate models for predicting the dispersion of air-borne pollutants in the built environment. This will ensure that the zero-pollution action plan, a target pursued by the Czech Republic and other European Union member states, is met.

The MERIT fellowship will help broaden my research portfolio and enhance my development as a leader in environmental fluid mechanics. The skills I will acquire will be very useful in the future as I seek to set up my own laboratory.