PhD Stipend in hydrothermal oxidation of spent H2S scavengers (18-23002)

PhD Stipend in hydrothermal oxidation of spent H2S scavengers (18-23002)

At the Faculty of Engineering and Science, Department of Chemistry and Bioscience, a PhD stipend is available within the general study program Biotechnology, Chemistry and Environmental Engineering. The PhD stipend is open for appointment from 1 April 2023 or as soon as possible thereafter. The position is for 3 years. The Department consists of two sections with research and teaching in Biotechnology, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Environmental Technology and Biology. Place of employment of the position is the Section of Chemical Science and Engineering in Esbjerg. The Section of Chemical Science and Engineering consists of 80 people of which about 20 is associate- and full professors. The section conducts internationally competitive research within a range of topics within Chemistry and Chemical Engineering and publishes more than 80 peer reviewed publications annually. The section is responsible for the educations in Chemistry and Chemical Engineering and is located in both campus Aalborg and campus Esbjerg.

Job description

The PhD stipend is announced in connection to the ZeroH2S project funded by the Danish Offshore Technology Center and led by Associate Professor Marco Maschietti. In offshore oil and gas production, hydrogen sulfide (H2 S) is removed from natural gas streams by injecting chemicals (H2 S scavengers) into the gas, which react with H2 S converting it into by far less harmful species. This process leads to the generation of wastewater streams, called spent H2 S scavengers, whose discharge into the sea contributes remarkably to the environmental impact factor of offshore oil and gas production. The ZeroH2S project aims at eliminating the discharge of chemicals related to H2 S scavenging by means of a combination of membrane recovery of the unspent scavengers and hydrothermal oxidation of the spent scavengers.

The prospective PhD student will focus on the design of efficient hydrothermal reactors for the oxidation of the spent H2 S scavengers prior to discharge. Core of the research will be experimental studies focused on the effect of different operating parameters (e.g., temperature, reaction time, excess of oxidant) on the quality of the treated water, as well as the modelling and design of continuous-flow reactors to be tailored for implementation in topside offshore oil and gas installations. Furthermore, the design of the integrated process (membrane recovery + hydrothermal oxidation) will also be subject of investigation. The tasks will be carried out in close collaboration with researchers on associated work packages of the project, as well as technical specialists from the Danish Offshore Technology Center. Collaboration with oil and gas operators and specialist companies dealing with the scale-up of the hydrothermal oxidation process is also expected.   

The prospective PhD student should have an interest in chemical reaction engineering, both with respect to laboratory experiments and modelling. As the position is part of a collaborative research project, the candidate should show excellent interpersonal and communication skills and team spirit to solve problems together with different stakeholders.    

Requirements:

• A master's degree in chemical engineering or a closely related field;
• Documented experience with laboratory work;
• Excellent oral and written English language skills;
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills and willingness to interact with both academia and industry partners;
• Experience with experimental work with high-pressure equipment is an advantage;
• Experience with modelling of chemical reactors is an advantage.

Application:

The application must contain: (1) Cover letter of 1-2 pages describing the motivation for applying and an account of the applicant’s background in relation to the announced position; (2) Project description, which is required for technical reasons – in this case, where you apply for a specific project, you may upload a copy of the project description above; (3) CV; (4) Diploma and transcripts of records; and (5) Other relevant information.

All interested candidates are encouraged to apply, regardless of their personal background. We value diversity and see it as a strength.

You may obtain further information about the scientific aspects of the project from Associate Professor Marco Maschietti, +45 3055 3456, [email protected] .

The Department of Chemistry and Bioscience advances regional, national, and global knowledge build-up, while contributing to the solution of societal challenges through innovative research, problem-based education and knowledge-based collaborations. We produce excellent research in engineering and natural science and Aalborg University constantly ranks top of the World within engineering research and education. In the workplace, we strive for diversity in nationality, culture, and gender, growth as a team effort, maintaining an inspiring physical work environment, and ensuring a good work-life balance.

PhD stipends are allocated to individuals who hold a Master's degree. PhD stipends are normally for a period of 3 years. It is a prerequisite for allocation of the stipend that the candidate will be enrolled as a PhD student at the Doctoral School of Engineering and Science in accordance with the regulations of Ministerial Order No. 1039 of August 27, 2013 on the PhD Programme at the Universities and Certain Higher Artistic Educational Institutions. According to the Ministerial Order, the progress of the PhD student shall be assessed at regular points in time.
Shortlisting will be applied. This means that subsequent to the deadline for applications the head of department supported by the chair of the assessment committee will select candidates for assessment. All applicants will be informed whether they will be assessed or not.
For further information about stipends and salary as well as practical issues concerning the application procedure contact Ms. Vigdis Skomager-Bohnfeldt, The Doctoral School at The Faculty of Engineering and Science, email: [email protected] ,  phone: +45 9940 7408.
For more information of The Doctoral School of Engineering and Science: www.phd.engineering.aau.dk  

The application is only to be submitted online by using the "Apply online" button below.
AAU wishes to reflect the diversity of society and welcomes applications from all qualified candidates regardless of personal background or belief.

Agreement

Appointment and salary as a PhD fellow are according to the Ministry of Finance Circular of 15 December 2021 on the Collective Agreement for Academics in Denmark, Appendix 5, regarding PhD fellows, and with the current Circular of 11 December 2019 on the employment structure at Danish universities.

Vacancy number

18-23002

Deadline

31/01/2023

Apply online
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on LinkedIn

Online application - some good advice

Aalborg University uses an electronic recruitment system for receiving applications. Towards the bottom in the respective job advertisement you will find a link, which you need to use when applying for the position. Before uploading your application it is important that you have all relevant documentation ready in a Word or PDF format, as you need to upload all material at the same time. You cannot leave the application and return to it a couple of hours later without having to start over.

The system does not support ZIP or images files. Filenames can only contain numbers and letters, and each document must take up no more than 20 MB.
If you experience technical problems, we encourage you to try again. If the technical problems, contrary to expectation, cannot be solved, please contact the member of staff listed as the contact person in the job advertisement.