Universiteit Twente
Job title:
PhD Position on Electrochemical conversion of CO2 to methanol using proton-conducting ceramic cells
Company:
Universiteit Twente
Job description
Hours38 – 40 hr.Salary indicationSalary gross/monthly
based on full-time€ 2,770 – € 3,539Deadline31 Aug 2024Protonic ceramic electrochemical cells (PCEC) have transformative potential due to its ability to provide alternative sustainable pathways for production of key chemicals using green electricity due to their intermediate operating temperatures of 400°-600°C whilst matching the class-leading efficiencies of higher temperature solid oxide electrochemical cells (SOEC). Moreover, in contrast to SOECs, as steam and H2 are separated into different compartments in PCECs, various hydrogenation reactions can be performed in the H2 compartment within the cell. For instance, electrochemical conversion of N2 to NH3 and CO2 to CO and/or CH4 using only steam as additional feedstock have already been demonstrated using PCECs.In the ‘SUNSOLr’ public-private partnership project coordinated by the Institute for Sustainable Process Technology (ISPT) and funded by TKI Energie, we are looking for a PhD candidate to investigate novel routes to selectively produce methanol, and potentially olefins, from CO2 and steam using PCECs, in collaboration with industrial partners Demcon Suster, Nobian, Sasol and RWE. Your principal role in the project will be to design, fabricate, test and analyse tailor-made PCECs, novel reactor concepts and operational strategies for selective CO2 conversion to methanol and olefins. Through this project, you will build up a multi-disciplinary understanding across the domains of solid-state ionics, electrocatalysis, transport phenomena and reactor engineering.Your profile
- You have a master’s degree in chemical engineering, chemistry, applied physics or a related field.
- You have experience and/or strong interest in hands-on electrochemical cell fabrication, reactor assembly and testing via electrochemical characterisation (i-V, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, MS, GC) and analytical techniques (SEM-EDX, XRD, DRIFTS, Raman, XAS).
- You have experience and/or strong interest in thermodynamic and kinetic analysis, transport phenomena and reactor design.
- You are an excellent team player in an enthusiastic group of scientists and engineers working on a common theme.
- You are creative, like to push boundaries, and are highly motivated to address a major challenge for the low carbon energy and materials transition.
- You are fluent in English and able to collaborate intensively with external parties from academia and industry in regular meetings and work visits.
Our offer
- You will be appointed on a fulltime position for 4 years.
- The university offers a dynamic ecosystem with enthusiastic colleagues in a stimulating scientific environment.
- The gross monthly PhD salary is € 2,770.- in the first year and increases to € 3,539.- in the fourth year.
- The offer further includes excellent benefits such as a holiday allowance of 8% of the gross annual salary and a year-end bonus of 8.3%, a solid pension scheme, a minimum of 29-day holidays, and numerous professional and personal development programs.
Information and applicationYour application should include a cover letter, emphasizing why you would be a good fit for the position, a detailed CV including the name and e-mail address for at least two references, and an academic transcript of B.Sc. and M.Sc. education. An interview (or two) comprising of a scientific presentation followed by discussion will be part of the selection procedure.For more information about the position, you are welcome to contact Dr. Aayan Banerjee ([email protected]). Please do not send applications to this email address. You can apply via the button below.Share this vacancyAbout the departmentYou will be a part of the Sustainable Electrochemical Engineering and Digitalisation (SEED) lab (https://www.utwente.nl/en/tnw/seed/). SEED is co-hosted by the groups Catalytic Processes and Materials and Inorganic Membranes in the Faculty of Science and Technology at the University of Twente. At SEED, you will join a small team of highly motivated researchers all working to accelerate electrochemical technology development for the low carbon energy and materials transition by bridging nano-scale physics to industrial-scale systems.About the organisationThe Faculty of Science & Technology (Technische Natuurwetenschappen, TNW) engages some 700 staff members and 2000 students in education and research on the cutting edge of chemical technology, applied physics and biomedical technology. Our fields of application include sustainable energy, process technology and materials science, nanotechnology and technical medicine. As part of a people-first tech university that aims to shape society, individuals and connections, our faculty works together intensively with industrial partners and researchers in the Netherlands and abroad, and conducts extensive research for external commissioning parties and funders. Our research has a high profile both in the Netherlands and internationally and is strengthened by the many young researchers working on innovative projects with as doctoral candidates and post-docs. It has been accommodated in three multidisciplinary UT research institutes: Mesa+ Institute, TechMed Centre and Digital Society Institute.Want to know more?Banerjee, A. (Aayan)
Assistant ProfessorBanerjee, A. (Aayan)
Assistant ProfessorDo you have questions about this vacancy? Then you can contact Aayan for all substantive questions about this position and the application procedure. For general questions about working for the UT, please refer to the chatbot.
Expected salary
€2770 per month
Location
Enschede, Overijssel
Job date
Wed, 07 Aug 2024 00:54:48 GMT
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