Chemistry PhD vacancy: electrochemical upgrading of small waste molecules to valuable products (# of pos: 2)

About the project:

PhD positions are available for talented researchers with interests in nanoscience, catalysis and sustainability. The project focuses on electrochemical upgrading of small waste molecules (carbon dioxide, ammonia and others) to value-added chemicals and fuels. The work will involve targeted catalyst, reaction and system design using experimental and computational techniques. The vision behind this project is to further reduce waste and derive value from by-products of organic waste processing facilities.

Funding information:

The positions are fully funded for 4 years according to the standard PhD student salary in the department (~$24,000 CAD); in case of good academic and research performance, additional funding can be obtained (e.g., $10,000 Nanofellowship and various GWC2 Awards ). Please consult Guelph-Waterloo Centre for Graduate Work in Chemistry and Biochemistry for information on requirements and applications process for graduate degrees in Chemistry and collaborative degrees in Chemistry and Nanotechnology. More information about funding, tuition and living costs can be found here .

Research environment:

The Nanoscience and Catalysis lab is a part of the Department of Chemistry at the University of Waterloo and a member of the Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology (WIN), the Interdisciplinary Centre on Climate Change and the Waterloo Institute for Sustainable Energy . University of Waterloo is the 3rd best reputation and the 2nd most innovative university in Canada and WIN is Canada’s largest nanotechnology institute. The University of Waterloo is also a home to Velocity , the largest free technology start-up incubator in North America. Our laboratory is fully equipped for nanochemistry, catalysis and electrochemistry research, and we have access to excellent material characterization facilities, machine shops, and clean rooms located on campus. Due to proximity to the University of Toronto and McMaster University, we also have access to unique infrastructure available at their facilities.

The proximity of the campus to the city of Kitchener, Grand River Parks, ski resorts (Chicopee, Blue Mountain), Niagara Falls (1.5 hour drive), and the city of Toronto (1+ hour drive or 2 hour train) is ideal for balancing intensive academic research with social life and various outdoor activities.