Postdoc Electrochemical Conversion of Nitrate and Carbonate Streams

Can we electrochemically convert carbonate and nitrate to valuable C-N products?

The carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) cycles regulate life-balance on Earth. However, our heavy reliance on fossil fuels during the last century has led to an increasing excess of anthropogenic CO2 emissions, a powerful greenhouse gas. In addition, the deployment of large-scale agriculture, the associated deforestation and land use intensification, added to the use of fertilizers, has led to an alarming cumulative increase of nitrates in soil and water

streams. Within the framework of the ICONIC project, this position will pursue the development of an electrochemical route to upgrade carbonate and nitrate/nitrite species from seawater into valuable chemicals such as urea. Powered by renewables, this offers a path to ecosystem restoration and to balancing the carbon and nitrogen cycles.

This postdoc position is in the research group of Dr. Ruud Kortlever at the Process & Energy department of the Mechanical Engineering faculty. The position will benefit from the existing expertise of the group on electrocatalytic conversions and the established state-of-the-art electrochemical lab which is comprised of many product analysis and material characterization techniques. The position is funded via an EIC Pathfinder project (ICONIC), where we will collaborate with partners from multiple European countries. We are very much interested in investigating different electrocatalytic materials for the reduction of carbonate and nitrate to urea and other C-N products, and implementing these materials in an electrolyzer that can operate at high current densities. Moreover, we aim to use carbonate and nitrate from seawater, and are therefore interested in mitigating and negative effects from the other constituents in seawater such as chlorine. You will work together with a diverse team of scientist interested in these topics, and will also be part of the e-Refinery institute that focusses on electrochemical conversion technologies. Given the rapid development and large interest in the technology, we expect you to publish in scientific literature and present the technology to the general public, hence good communication skills in addition to scientific and engineering talent is required.

• A PhD degree in chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, material science, physical chemistry or similar.
• Hands on experimental experience with electrochemistry.
• Experience with material characterization techniques.
• Good teamplayer with a collaborative mind-set.
• Pro-active and creative mind-set.
• Fluent in English, good written and oral presentation skills.
• Starting as soon as possible.

Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities. The TU Delft offers a customisable compensation package, discounts on health insurance, and a monthly work costs contribution. Flexible work schedules can be arranged.

For international applicants, TU Delft has the Coming to Delft Service . This service provides information for new international employees to help you prepare the relocation and to settle in the Netherlands. The Coming to Delft Service offers a Dual Career Programme for partners and they organise events to expand your (social) network.

Delft University of Technology is built on strong foundations. As creators of the world-famous Dutch waterworks and pioneers in biotech, TU Delft is a top international university combining science, engineering and design. It delivers world class results in education, research and innovation to address challenges in the areas of energy, climate, mobility, health and digital society. For generations, our engineers have proven to be entrepreneurial problem-solvers, both in business and in a social context.

At TU Delft we embrace diversity as one of our core values  and we actively engage  to be a university where you feel at home and can flourish. We value different perspectives and qualities. We believe this makes our work more innovative, the TU Delft community more vibrant and the world more just. Together, we imagine, invent and create solutions using technology to have a positive impact on a global scale. That is why we invite you to apply. Your application will receive fair consideration.

Challenge. Change. Impact!

From chip to ship. From machine to human being. From idea to solution. Driven by a deep-rooted desire to understand our environment and discover its underlying mechanisms, research and education at the ME faculty focusses on fundamental understanding, design, production including application and product improvement, materials, processes and (mechanical) systems.

ME is a dynamic and innovative faculty with high-tech lab facilities and international reach. It’s a large faculty but also versatile, so we can often make unique connections by combining different disciplines. This is reflected in ME’s outstanding, state-of-the-art education, which trains students to become responsible and socially engaged engineers and scientists. We translate our knowledge and insights into solutions to societal issues, contributing to a sustainable society and to the development of prosperity and well-being. That is what unites us in pioneering research, inspiring education and (inter)national cooperation.

Click here  to go to the website of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering. Do you want to experience working at our faculty? These videos  will introduce you to some of our researchers and their work.

For more information about this vacancy, please contact Dr. Ruud Kortlever ([email protected] ).  

Are you interested in this vacancy? Please apply no later than 25 August 2024 via the application button and upload your motivation and CV.

• A pre-employment screening can be part of the selection procedure.
• You can apply online. We will not process applications sent by email and/or post.
• Please do not contact us for unsolicited services.