PhD in Technology Assessment of Suitable Hydrogen Carriers

The technology assessment of suitable hydrogen carriers in this subtask of the GroenvermogenNL R&D programme HyTROS focuses on evaluating various options for storing and transporting hydrogen, specifically for implementation in the Dutch ports, which is a critical component of the transition to a sustainable energy system. The objective is to perform a full technology assessment for safe, reliable, and affordable hydrogen carriers for the ports, terminals, and stakeholders based on storage performance (release, uptake, toxicity, hydrogen content, material characteristics, etc.), including newly established, less studied hydrogen carriers, resulting in a Technology Monitor Report (TMR) similar to what has recently been accomplished for underground H2 storage. The scope of the assessment includes the evaluation of performance of well-established and novel hydrogen carriers in terms of storage, release, uptake, toxicity, hydrogen content, material characteristics, and other relevant factors, such as integration in the current port infrastructure. It also involves identifying the potential risks and challenges associated with each option and developing strategies to mitigate them.

What are you going to do?

Tasks and responsibilities:

• Conducting a literature review to identify promising hydrogen carriers, incl. existing NL/EU legal frameworks and regulations for the different hydrogen carriers as these should be in line with the to be developed safety protocols;
• Performing experimental evaluations to assess the performance of different carriers;
• Modelling and simulation techniques to predict carrier behavior under different conditions;
• Conduct a risk assessment to identify potential hazards and develop safety protocols;
• Perform an economic analysis to evaluate the costs and benefits of different carriers and storage systems;
• Giving the tutorials of the MSc course on Physical Organic Chemistry;
• Supervising Msc and BSc students during their research projects.

What do you have to offer?

A recent MSc degree in chemistry, in particular theoretical or physical organic chemistry or related field

Your experience and profile:

• Good communication skills in oral and written English;
• Takes initiative and has good time management skills;
• Interest in collaborating with students and colleagues in within and outside the institute;
• Interest in collaborating with companies and research organisations within the HyTROS consortium.

Knowledge, skills and experiences which are a plus (pre) are mentioned separately from the summary in a sentence.

Our offer

We offer a temporary contract for 38 hours per week for the duration of 4 years (the initial contract will be for a period of 18 months and after satisfactory evaluation it will be extended for a total duration of 4 years). The preferred starting date is a soon as possible. This should lead to a dissertation (PhD thesis). We will draft an educational plan that includes attendance of courses and (international) meetings. We also expect you to assist in teaching undergraduates and master students.
The gross monthly salary, based on 38 hours per week and dependent on relevant experience, ranges between € 2,770 - € 3,539 (scale P). This does not include 8% holiday allowance and 8,3% year-end allowance. The Collective Labour Agreement of Dutch Universities is applicable.

Besides the salary and a vibrant and challenging environment at Science Park we offer you multiple fringe benefits:
•    232 holiday hours per year (based on fulltime) and extra holidays between Christmas and 1 January;
•    multiple courses to follow from our Teaching and Learning Centre;
•    a complete educational program for PhD students;
•    multiple courses on topics such as time management, handling stress and an online learning platform with 100+ different courses;
•    7 weeks birth leave (partner leave) with 100% salary;
•    partly paid parental leave;
•    the possibility to set up a workplace at home;
•    a pension at ABP for which UvA pays two third part of the contribution;
•    the possibility to follow courses to learn Dutch.

Are you curious to read more about our extensive package of secondary employment benefits, take a look here .

About us

The University of Amsterdam is the Netherlands' largest university, offering the widest range of academic programmes. At the UvA, 30,000 students, 6,000 staff members and 3,000 PhD candidates study and work in a diverse range of fields, connected by a culture of curiosity.
The Faculty of Science has a student body of around 8,000, as well as 1,800 members of staff working in education, research or support services. Researchers and students at the Faculty of Science are fascinated by every aspect of how the world works, be it elementary particles, the birth of the universe or the functioning of the brain. 

The Van ‘t Hoff Institute for Molecular Sciences (HIMS) is one of eight institutes of the University of Amsterdam (UvA) Faculty of Science. HIMS performs internationally recognized chemistry and molecular research, curiosity driven as well as application driven. This is done in close cooperation with the chemical, flavor & food, medical and high-tech industries. Research is organized into four themes: Analytical Chemistry , Computational Chemistry , Synthesis & Catalysis and Molecular Photonics .

The Synthesis & Catalysis encompasses organic synthesis and all aspects of catalysis, including homogeneous catalysis, heterogeneous catalysis, biocatalysis, organocatalysis, and catalysis engineering. Projects range from fundamental to applied research, with strong valorization aspects. The Synthesis & Catalysis represents these research groups:
-    The Biocatalysis Group is part of the UvA Research Priority area in “Sustainable Chemistry” and carries out cutting-edge research at the interphase between the chemical and the biological sciences.
-    The Catalysis Engineering Group focus to develop sustainable chemical processes. We combine knowledge from the fields of Materials Science and Chemical Science with expertise in the field of Reactor Engineering.
-    The Flow Chemistry Group’s mission is to expand the available chemical space by embracing technology to the fullest extent. The aim of the Flow Chemistry group (a.k.a. the Noël Research Group) is to build bridges between chemical engineering and organic synthetic chemistry. Consequently, long-standing problems in synthetic chemistry can be overcome, which includes scalability, gas-liquid reactions, photochemistry, electrochemistry and the generation and use of hazardous reagents. This allows us to effectively expand the available chemical space by bringing overlooked or avoided reagents into play.
-    The Functional Materials Group focuses on developing fundamental knowledge and materials that enable low-energy routes for the synthesis of chemicals, efficient molecular separations and selective chemical sensing.
-    The Heterogeneous Catalysis and Sustainable Chemistry Group’s mission is to discover new catalysts and materials for sustainable chemistry and energy applications.
-    The Homogeneous, Supramolecular and Bio-Inspired Catalysis Group main research objective is the development of novel catalytic processes driven by our knowledge of the relationship between structure and performance of the catalyst. Research projects span from fundamental to applied catalysis, the latter in collaboration with industry and via spin-off companies.
-    The Industrial Sustainable Chemistry Group focuses on the transition to a circular economy and more specifically the transition from a fossil-based to a bio-based economy, connecting sustainable development and production of energy and chemicals. The group’s focus is on future polymers with bulk volume potential. We are active in projects involving biorefinery technology (industrial sugars), and monomers from biomass and from CO2 (the only two alternatives for fossil feedstock when making polymers).
-    The Synthetic Organic Chemistry Group aims at the development of new synthetic methodologies and the (enantioselective) synthesis of biologically active molecules, using methodologies developed in our own group or in other groups
In several research projects they cooperate with national and international chemical and pharmaceutical companies, sharing their expertise.

To work at the University of Amsterdam is to work in a discerning, independent, creative, innovative and international climate characterized by an open atmosphere and a genuine engagement with the city of Amsterdam and society. Here you can read more about working at the University of Amsterdam.

Questions?

Do you have any questions or do you require additional information? Please contact:

Job application

The UvA is an equal-opportunity employer. We prioritise diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for everyone. We value a spirit of enquiry and perseverance, provide the space to keep asking questions, and promote a culture of curiosity and creativity.

Do you recognize yourself in the job profile? Then we look forward to receiving your application by 1 July 2024. You may apply online by using the link below.

Applications in .pdf should include:
•    a curriculum vitae;
•    a letter of motivation.

We will recruit until the position is filled and close the position when a suitable candidate is found.

The UvA is an equal-opportunity employer. We prioritize diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for everyone. We value a spirit of enquiry and perseverance, provide the space to keep asking questions, and promote a culture of curiosity and creativity.

No agencies please.