TRACES (TRAining the next generation iCE researcherS) is a European Joint Doctorate network, providing high-level training in the field of in-flight icing to deliver a new generation of high achieving Doctoral Researchers (DR) in the diverse disciplines necessary for mastering the complexity of ice accretion and its mitigation in aircraft and aeroengines.

TRACES is the only Joint-Doctoral Network funded in 2022 in the whole Engineering domain in Europe. Total funding is 4 million euros. The network is Coordinated by prof. Alberto Guardone from the Department of Aerospace Science and Technology of Politecnico di Milano. In-flight icing can severely hinder aircraft performances.

In EASA’s 2019 annual report, in- flight icing was identified as a priority 1 issue for large airplanes. Aircraft manufactures must comply with certification rules to guarantee safety to fly in icing conditions. Wind tunnel tests and flight tests in icing conditions are usually required due to the low confidence of certification authorities place in simulations, due to the complexity of the icing process. The network will provide the necessary skills for thriving careers in academia, research centers and industry.

The Doctoral Researchers will be trained through a combination of hands-on research training, non-academic secondments and courses and workshops on scientific and complementary soft skills facilitated by the academic/non-academic composition of the consortium.

Three major knowledge gaps in icing sciences will be addressed by the DRs in TRACES:

1. the modelling of ice inception, ice-wall and liquid-wall interfaces, which is carried out under uncertainty to deliver robust icing models
2. innovative multi- level ice detection systems and innovative ice protection systems suitable for current and next generation, full- or hybrid-electric aircraft
3. virtual certification techniques for certification by simulation of aero-subsystems or complete aircraft flying in icing conditions

We are looking for highly motivated candidates to be involved in the Doctoral Network, for more information, deadlines and the application form visit the website:

https://traces-project.eu/

Project Beneficiaries:

Politecnico di Milano - POLIMI https://www.polimi.it/en
Technische Universitat Braunschweig - TUBS https://www.tu-braunschweig.de/en/
Technische Universitat Darmstadt - TUDA https://www.tu-darmstadt.de/index.en.jsp
Office National d'Etudes et de Researches Aérospatiales - ONERA https://www.onera.fr/en
École Polytechnique - ECPOL https://www.polytechnique.edu/en

Industrial Partners, providing secondments:

Airbus Defence and Space Gmbh - AIRB-CRT https://www.airbus.com/en/products-services/defence
Airbus Helicopters S.A.S. - AIH https://www.airbus.com/en/products-services/helicopters
Airbus Operation S.A.S. - AIRBUS https://www.airbus.com/en/products-services/commercial-aircraft
Dassault Aviation - DASSAV https://www.dassault-aviation.com/en/
Eurac Research - EURAC https://www.eurac.edu/en
General Electric Deutschland Holding Gmbh - GE https://www.geaerospace.com/
Leonardo - LDO https://aircraft.leonardo.com/en/home
Safran Aircraft Engines - SAF-AE https://www.safran-group.com/companies/safran-aircraft-engines
Safran Aerotechnics SAO-DSFF - SAT https://www.safran-group.com/companies/safran-aerosystems

Advisory board:

European Aviation Safety Agency - EASA https://www.easa.europa.eu/en
Federal Aviation Administration - FAA https://www.faa.gov/
National Aeronautics and Space Administration - NASA https://www.nasa.gov/
National Research Council - NRC https://nrc.canada.ca/en
German Aerospace Center - DLR https://www.dlr.de/EN

24.1.2023