Project Assistant, lignin chemistry (PA2022/2655)

Description of the workplace
The department of chemical engineering has extensive experience in catalysis and gas cleaning. Multiple technologies that are industrial standard methods today have been developed by the department. In recent years, the research has focused on the catalytic upgrading of biomass, and the research is performed at a high international level. The latter contribute to multiple close collaborations in the area with industrial as well as academic partners. 

The advertised position aims at the conversion of lignin, a biomass component, into sustainable chemicals and you will be collaborating with other lignin researchers and engineers in the department in the sustainable process industry group. The project you will participate in is funded by the Norwegian research council and is a collaborative effort involving other partners at Lund university, as well as in Norway and Germany. In the project, there will also be experiments performed on a larger scale in a pilot facility operated by one of the industrial partners. 

We offer 
Lund University is a public authority which means that employees get particular benefits, generous annual leave and an advantageous occupational pension scheme.
Read more on the University website about being a Lund University employee Work at Lund University 

Work duties
You will be working mainly experimentally with different catalyst types in converting lignin, in particular lignosulphonates, into sustainable chemicals. The work entails conducting experiments, and evaluating these with other researchers. It also entails performing analysis on the lignin products and characterizing the used catalysts with different methods such as HPLC, SEC, NMR, BET and TPR. Aside from this, there is a possibility to participate in teaching at the undergraduate level, as well as supervising master’s or bachelor’s thesis, if you are interested. Some administrative duties in connection to the work described above will also be included.  

Qualifications
Required qualifications for the position are:

• Good knowledge in speaking and writing English
• Experience in laboratory work, e.g. from a university education
• Masters’s degree in chemical or biochemical engineering
• A good ability to work independently and to collaborate with others

Additional qualifications for the position are:

• Insight into the conversion of renewable feedstocks into fuels or chemicals, e.g. from a master’s thesis, is an advantage.

Consideration will also be given to how the applicant’s experience and skills complement and strengthen ongoing research within the department, and how they stand to contribute to its future development. 

Further information 

The position is a term position for 12 months at 100 per cent of full time and starting in 1st of September 2022 or by agreement.

How to apply 
Applications are to be submitted via the University’s recruitment system. The application should include a CV and a personal letter justifying your interest in the position and how it matches your qualifications. The application should also include a degree certificates or equivalent and any other document to which you would like to draw attention (copies of grade transcripts, details of referees, letters of recommendation, etc.)”  

Welcome with your application!