Chemical & Process Engineering

Location: Guildford
Salary: £32,344 to £36,383 per annum
Fixed Term
Post Type: Full Time
Closing Date: 23.59 hours BST on Tuesday 31 May 2022
Reference: 029422

Applications are invited for a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the Department of Chemical and Process Engineering at University of Surrey. The position is funded by the EPSRC Adventurous Energy Research for a Sustainable Net Zero scheme. The project will be led by Dr Melis Duyar.

This project will develop dual function materials (DFMs) for a circular methanol economy by integrating direct air capture (DAC) of CO2 and utilisation through dynamic catalysis. Green hydrogen is used as co-reactant with captured CO2 in this approach to synthesise carbon negative chemicals. This project will target methanol synthesis, as a demonstration of a circular “methanol economy”. The first year of the project will focus on direct air capture/hydrogenation reactor design and materials synthesis, characterisation and testing. The project focus will then shift to computationally guided experimental optimisation.

The Research Fellow will be tasked with:

1. Designing and building a reactor for direct air capture of CO2 and hydrogenation
2. Synthesis, testing and characterisation of dual function materials for integrated CO2 capture and utilisation
3. Computationally guided optimisation of materials and operating conditions using optimisation software
4. Collaborating with and mentoring other researchers working on related projects
5. maximising impact of the research through knowledge dissemination activities

This position is initially for a duration up to 24 months. The preferred start date would be June 1^st, 2022.

Candidates must hold (or be close to completion of) a PhD in Chemical Engineering, or another relevant discipline. Prior experimental experience with packed bed reactors and catalyst or adsorbent synthesis is essential. Candidates should apply online, fully answer the application form questions and attach a curriculum vitae (with details on education, research experiences, successes and publications to date). As part of your application, please also upload one letter of recommendation as supporting document.

Prospective applicants can contact Dr Melis Duyar (m.duyar@surrey.ac.uk) if they need any specific further information on the post. 

Further details: Job Description

Please note, it is University Policy to offer a starting salary equivalent to Level 3.6 (£32,344) to successful applicants who have been awarded, but are yet to receive, their PhD certificate. Once the original PhD certificate has been submitted to the local HR Department, the salary will be increased to Level 4.1 (£33,309).