Postdoc position: Pathways to a circular chemical industry - Exploring the potential of recycling,...

Postdoc position: Pathways to a circular chemical industry - Exploring the potential of recycling, CCU, and biomass utilization

The Energy and Process Systems Engineering (EPSE) Group at ETH Zürich is looking for a Postdoc exploring pathways to the circular chemical industry. The position focuses on integrating recycling, carbon capture & utilization, and bio-based technologies to shape a sustainable future chemical industry.

The research of the EPSE group at ETH Zürich, headed by Prof. Dr André Bardow, focuses on sustainability in energy and chemical process systems. We develop methods to advance sustainable energy and chemical process systems from the molecular to the scale of the system. In our work, we combine computer-aided molecular and process design to optimize molecules and processes simultaneously. To holistically evaluate the environmental impacts of chemicals and energy systems, we develop predictive methods for Life Cycle Assessment. Our technological focus currently lies in Power-to-X & sector coupling, sustainable carbon feedstock, and carbon capture, utilization & storage.

In the 21st century, the urgency of climate change increases our effort to minimize CO2 emissions and the dependence on fossil fuels. One of the most significant drivers of future global fossil fuel consumption is the production of chemicals and plastics. To reduce fossil fuel consumption and resulting greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, alternative carbon sources are investigated for chemicals and plastics, such as CO2 captured from stacks or air, biomass, or the recycling of chemicals and plastics.

This project aims to tackle the challenges of optimally integrating technologies for alternative carbon sources in the future chemical and plastic industry. For this purpose, optimal pathways to a circular chemical and plastics industry are investigated that exploit the technologies' full potential and synergies.

The project takes a comprehensive system view on the early-stage development of future pathways in the chemical and plastic industry. Your work will span the range from modelling single technologies for alternative carbon sources to the techno-economic assessment and life cycle assessment of integrated chemical and plastic production systems using mathematical optimization. More specifically, you will participate in:

• advancing in-house models covering the global production pathways of large-volume chemicals and plastics;
• integrating novel technologies for alternative carbon flows like chemical recycling, CCU, or biomass utilization;
• identifying sustainable supply chains of the chemical and plastic industry using mathematical optimization, and
• minimizing environmental impacts of the optimized supply chains to ensure carbon-neutrality while avoiding burden shifting.

The work will deepen your understanding of the chemical and plastic industry and its techno-economic and environmental assessment. You will learn how to identify optimal supply chains fulfilling environmental constraints and use these new opportunities to increase your knowledge of the environmental benefits of recycling, CCU, and bio-based technologies. Collaboration with partners from industry and academia will be a crucial success factor.

We offer you a full-time position for the duration of your postdoc, starting upon agreement with the earliest starting of 01 November 2022. You will work in an interdisciplinary team of researchers with in-depth experience in process design, energy system optimization, and life cycle assessment. As an integral partof your work, you will publish your results in peer-reviewed journals and present them at international conferences.

ETH Zurich is a family-friendly employer with excellent working conditions. You can look forward to an exciting working environment, cultural diversity and attractive offers and benefits.

We are looking for a proactive and motivated candidate who meets the requirements for a position at ETH Zurich and has a doctoral degree in chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, process engineering, or energy science & technology from a recognized university. Ideally, you already have strong experience in life cycle assessment, alternative carbon source technologies, and programming. You are highly motivated to learn and apply modern simulation and optimization techniques and work in a dynamic environment with other doctoral students and postdocs. The ability to work independently and excellent communication skills in English (both written and spoken) complete your profile.

ETH Zurich is one of the world’s leading universities specialising in
science and technology. We are renowned for our excellent education,
cutting-edge fundamental research and direct transfer of new knowledge
into society. Over 30,000 people from more than 120 countries find our
university to be a place that promotes independent thinking and an
environment that inspires excellence. Located in the heart of Europe,
yet forging connections all over the world, we work together to
develop solutions for the global challenges of today and tomorrow.

We look forward to receiving your online application with the following documents:

• Curriculum Vitae, max. 2 pages
• Motivational Letter, max. 2 pages
• Transcript of records
• If available: Grade statistics of the university
• Contact details of 2 referees

Please note that we exclusively accept applications submitted through our online application portal before 31 August 2022. We will not consider applications sent via email or postal services. We will get in touch with you after 2-3 weeks following the submission deadline.

For further information about the Energy and Process Systems Engineering (EPSE) Group, please visit our website, www.epse.ethz.ch . Questions regarding the position should be directed to Prof. Dr. André Bardow, [email protected] , or Dr. Johannes Schilling, [email protected] (no applications).