Post-doctoral position in Net-zero: Modelling of emerging electrolysis systems

ICFO is offering a postdoctoral position to highly motivated and dynamic young scientists who wish to work at the interface of academy and industry to abate global warming. The successful candidate will be joining the CO2 Mitigation Accelerated by Photons group led by Prof. Dr. Pelayo García de Arquer. This project focuses on the development of electrochemical anodic valorization reactions such as ethylene and propylene oxidation. This project combines multiscale modeling at the system, reactor level; environmental and technoeconomic assessments of emerging decarbonizing technologies such as: - CO2 capture - CO2 electroreduction - Water splitting for hydrogen electrosynthesis - Upgrade of carbon and nitrogen-containing feedstock - And complementary cathodic/anodic reactions We model and analyze the prospects of scalability of these technologies to address the global challenge of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. The main tasks will include: - Multiscale modelling of the physicochemical properties governing the performance of the reactions previously described. - Assessing the performance state of the art systems, including those published in the scientific literature and ongoing industrial developments. - Developing detailed technoeconomic (TEA) and life cycle analysis (LCA) models based on this information - Coupling these models to offer a combined prospect of viability. - Projecting the combined models into different future global scenarios and scales to assess the best paths to scalability and net zero. The candidate should hold a PhD and degree(s) [and/or proven expertise, e.g. patents and high quality publications] in areas such as chemical engineering, process engineering, sustainability or economics. The prospective candidate should have proven experience (e.g. excellent track record of publications) in some of the next: - Technoeconomic analysis, including the development of accurate quantitative models - Life cycle analysis and software suites typically employed to carry out these analysis (e.g. ASPEN, SimaPro, etc) CO2 electroreduction, water splitting, and other electrochemical technologies - Economies of scale - Artificial intelligence, with focus on forecasting and Bayesian estimation - Analytical characterization; - Spectroscopies including operando (e.g. Raman) ICFO is an equal opportunity employer. Candidates are selected exclusively on merit and potential on the basis of submitted application material. No restrictions related to disabilities, citizenship or gender apply to ICFO positions. ICFO abides by the principles of openness, efficiency, transparency, supportiveness, and international comparability as stated in the European Charter for Researchers and the European Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers. Salary is offered according to the institutional salary scales. The contract is offered for a period of 1 year. Additionally, a family allowance is also available on request and after corresponding approval for people with family charges in the terms described in the corresponding policy.

The formal application should be submitted online via https://jobs.icfo.eu/?detail=708 Suitable candidates are requested to submit: Presentation letter with a declaration of interest, Curriculum Vitae, including contact details, The contact e-mail of two potential referees. Candidates will be assessed as they apply and the call will remain open until the suitable candidate is identified. Candidates may contact jobs@icfo.eu for formal enquiries regarding the application, as well as address scientific enquiries to pelayo.garciadearquer@icfo.eu. For update information about the hosting group, please visit https://www.icfo.eu/research-group/30/co2map/home. For updated information about ICFO, please visit https://www.icfo.eu.