Postdoc within advanced Zinc air flow batteries and catalyst design

Are you interested in green energy, and do you want to contribute to the development of the future technologies for the green transition?

At the Department of Biological & Chemical Engineering (BCE), Aarhus University, we are executing a broad portfolio of projects within electrochemical energy conversion and storage technologies. Applications are invited for a 2 year postdoc position in the field of development of electro-catalysts for novel zinc-air flow batteries. 

 
Expected start date and duration of employment

This is a 2-year position from January 2024 or as soon possible.

Job description

The project is part of an EIC-Pathfinder Challenge-Horizon 2022 EU project (ReZilient) across 7 countries and 11 partners. The overall project aims at developing new concepts for Zn-air flow batteries for mid- to long-term storage of electricity. This specific position is related to both fundamental development of the technology and up-scaling.

Tasks include

• Synthesis & characterisation of oxygen reduction catalysts
• Building up an experimental proof-of-concept for assessment of the basic working principles the technology
• Quantification of reaction rates and conversion efficiencies for different redox chemistries tested in proof-of-concept setup
• Address and solve technical challenges related to upscaling of the technology
• Dissemination of results through both academic and non-academic channels
• Work in a team with external partners

 
Your profile

The applicant should have demonstrated excellence and have a relevant PhD degree in chemical or materials engineering, chemistry or similar. A general interest in technology application, societal challenges, and techno economics is a further qualification. Relevant skills are:

• Solid knowledge within electrochemical characterization
• Experience with chemical and materials synthesis and characterization
• Experience with either electrolysers or flow batteries
• Experience with construction of experimental setups
• Good skills in communication of research results & publication experience
• Ability to work in a team - collaboration and/or management skills
• Ability to work independently

Who we are

The Department of Biological and Chemical Engineering was established in 2021 in connection with Aarhus University’s reorganization of the engineering area. The department employs around 240 people and is responsible for research and education within the department’s scientific areas. We educate both Bachelors and Masters of Science in Engineering and around 825 students are enrolled in our study programs. Furthermore, we also offer an ambitious PhD program. Our PhD students have high academic ambitions and deliver high-quality results for both the private and the public sectors.

At the Department of Biological and Chemical Engineering, focus is on living systems, the biology of organisms, efficient production, and transformation of chemicals, materials and energy. We translate knowledge within biotechnology, food technology, environmental technology, chemical engineering, industrial biotechnology, medical biotechnology and 

electrochemical engineering, and more into new technologies and value-creating solutions that can also be used in the business community.

Many of our research and development activities are based on companies' specific innovation needs or specialist application areas. Close collaboration with the public sector and private businesses ensures that the knowledge and technology generated in the department's research environments has a clear anchoring in reality and benefits the surrounding society. We also provide research-based public sector consultancy and advice on technology in agriculture and food.   

What we offer

The department/centre offers:

• A well-developed research infrastructure, laboratories and access to shared equipment
• An exciting interdisciplinary environment with many national, international and industrial collaborators
• A work environment with close working relationships, networking and social activities
• Opportunities for career development

Place of work and area of employment

The place of work is Aabogade 40, 8200 Aarhus, Denmark, and the area of employment is Aarhus University with related departments. 

Contact information

For further information, please contact: Jonathan Quinson (

jquinson@bce.au.dk

) or Head of section, Prof.  Anders Bentien, bentien@bce.au.dk, +45 30 36 95 15

Deadline

Applications must be received no later than 31st October 2023.

Application procedure

Shortlisting is used. This means that after the deadline for applications – and with the assistance from the assessment committee chairman, and the appointment committee if necessary, – the head of department selects the candidates to be evaluated. All applicants will be notified whether or not their applications have been sent to an expert assessment committee for evaluation. The selected applicants will be informed about the composition of the committee, and each applicant is given the opportunity to comment on the part of the assessment that concerns him/her self. Once the recruitment process is completed a final letter of rejection is sent to the deselected applicants.

Letter of reference

If you want a referee to upload a letter of reference on your behalf, please state the referee’s contact information when you submit your application. We strongly recommend that you make an agreement with the person in question before you enter the referee’s contact information, and that you ensure that the referee has enough time to write the letter of reference before the application deadline.

Unfortunately, it is not possible to ensure that letters of reference received after the application deadline will be taken into consideration.

Formalities and salary range

Technical Sciences refers to the

Ministerial Order on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Danish Universities under the Danish Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation

.

The application must be in English and include a curriculum vitae, degree certificate, a complete list of publications, a statement of future research plans and information about research activities, teaching portfolio and verified information on previous teaching experience (if any). Guidelines for applicants can be found here.

Appointment shall be in accordance with the collective labour agreement between the Danish Ministry of Taxation and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations. Further information on qualification requirements and job content may be found in the Memorandum on Job Structure for Academic Staff at Danish Universities .

Salary depends on seniority as agreed between the Danish Ministry of Taxation and the Confederation of Professional Associations.

Aarhus University’s ambition is to be an attractive and inspiring workplace for all and to foster a culture in which each individual has opportunities to thrive, achieve and develop. We view equality and diversity as assets, and we welcome all applicants.

Research activities will be evaluated in relation to actual research time. Thus, we encourage applicants to specify periods of leave without research activities, in order to be able to subtract these periods from the span of the scientific career during the evaluation of scientific productivity.

Aarhus University offers a broad variety of services for international researchers and accompanying families, including relocation service and career counselling to expat partners. Read more here . Please find more information about entering and working in Denmark here .

Aarhus University also offers a Junior Researcher Development Programme targeted at career development for postdocs at AU. You can read more about it here .

The application must be submitted via Aarhus University’s recruitment system, which can be accessed under the job advertisement on Aarhus University's website.