PhD Candidate in Electrodialysis and CO2 reduction

This is NTNU NTNU is a broad-based university with a technical-scientific profile and a focus in professional education. The university is located in three cities with headquarters in Trondheim. At NTNU, 9,000 employees and 43,000 students work to create knowledge for a better world. You will find more information about working at NTNU and the application process here. Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KHQjc4ndas&t=41sAbout the position In mitigating CO2emissions, capturing and reusing CO2is a key path. In turn, CO2 electroreduction enables the production of new chemical compounds. Imagine a renewable energy-driven electroconversion process that not only captures and converts CO2 into chemical industry precursors, but also upgrades the products to industry-grade concentrations. Further, imagine doing this in collaboration with industry partners who are also pioneering this field, and helping show how it can be done. If this imagination reflects your visions and career dreams, this exciting opportunity is excellent for you! Are you motivated to take a step towards a doctorate and open exciting career opportunities? As a PhD Candidate with us, you will work to achieve your doctorate and, at the same time, gain valuable experience that qualifies you for a further career in higher education and research, in and outside academia. The position is funded through ICAF, a Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Action coordinated by NORCE Research AS. The successful candidate will join a team working on the direct electrochemical conversion of captured CO2into formate and formic acid, with laboratory work feeding into an industrial pilot campaign at Heroya Industry Park in Norway.

About the project In this project,14 knowledge development and industry partners across Europe come together to drive a carbon-neutral, environmentally friendly society into the future. The PhD project focuses on production of industrial grade formate derivatives from CO2capture solution via electrochemical methods. The PhD project is, in this way, experimental, theoretical ,and numerically oriented. By deploying electrochemical techniques under non-reversible thermodynamic considerations and alongside numerical and machine learning analysis methods, this work will advance a high-level scientific path toward a sustainable future.

Duties of the position

• Complete the doctoral education required to obtain a doctorate • Carry out high-quality research within the framework described above • Participate in or lead writing of academic publications and popular science dissemination • Participate in the research group of sustainable energy systems • Participate in international activities such as conferences and/or research stays at foreign educational institutions • Supervision of related master or bachelor thesis projects • Other career-promoting work is sometimes added during the PhD study and compensated by an extension of the contract period according to effort (depends on interest and talent of the candidate and is not guaranteed). Be prepared for opportunities for changes to your work duties after employment.

Required selection criteria

• You must meet the requirements for admission to the faculty's Doctoral Programme, see Section 6-1 of the PhD regulations for more information. • You must have a Master of Science degree, or equivalent, in chemical engineering, electrochemistry, chemistry, materials science, process technology or a closely related discipline with specialization in experimental efforts on electrochemical devices (e.g., batteries, fuel cells, electrolysis, electrodialysis, and similar). Your degree must include a major independent project (minimum 30 ECTS) equivalent to a master’s thesis.

• •Master’s students can apply, but the master's degree must be obtained and documented before starting the position.
• •You must have a strong, relevant academic background from your previous studies and an average grade from your master's degree studies, or equivalent education, equal to a B or better on NTNU's grading scale. If you do not have letter grades from previous studies, you must have an equally good academic foundation. If you have a weaker academic background, you may be considered if you can document that you are exceptionally suited for a PhD education, for example through relevant work experience and/or peer-reviewed academic works.
• •You must have relevant courses covering electrochemistry at a master's level.
• •Documented experimental competence in electrochemistry and general chemistry.
• •The appointment is to be made in accordance with NTNUs guidelines for recruitment positions for general criteria for the position.

Preferred selection criteria

• •Masters thesis/project in experimental electrochemistry specially electrolysis will be given preference.
• •Journal publications (published or draft with group leader statement attached).
• •Experience in research deploying transport phenomena or thermodynamics for modelling.
• •Experience in deploying machine learning in research.
• •Experience with non-equilibrium thermodynamics and Onsager coupling coefficients.
• •Good oral and written presentation skills in Norwegian/Scandinavian equivalent level.
• •Confidence in public speaking.

Personal characteristics To complete a doctoral degree (PhD), it is important that you are able to:

• Work independently • Work in a structured way, set goals and make plans to achieve them • Present and discuss your research with other professionals • Get involved and contribute constructively with feedback • Work constructively under pressure or in the face of adversity • Show curiosity and a strong motivation for the subject • Analysedata, assess different perspectives and draw well-founded conclusions • Be flexible and open to adjusting the plan for the project as needed Emphasis will be placed on personal qualities.

We offer

• An exciting job with an important mission in society • Developing tasks in a strong and international professional environment • Career guidance and follow-up during the PhD period • Open and inclusive working environment with committed colleagues • Working capital that can be used to implement the project • Mentor programme as a new employee at NTNU • Favorable terms as a member of the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund (SPK) • Free Norwegian language training at a basic level (A2) As a PhD Candidate at NTNU, you will have access to employee benefits.

Diversity Diversity is a strength, and at NTNU we aim to be an employer that reflects the diversity in society and that makes use of the potential of the population's collective skills. Our vision is Knowledge for a better world and our values ​​are creative, critical, constructive and respectful. We believe that an organization that is equal, diverse, and gender-balanced is essential for us to achieve our goals. We strive to attract employees with different skills, life experiences and perspectives to contribute to even better problem solving of our societal mission in research and education. If you think this position is relevant and interesting, we encourage you to apply, regardless of gender, functional ability ,and cultural background, or whether you have been out of work for a period of time. At NTNU we want to increase the proportion of women in scientific positions. We have a number of measures to promote equality.

Salary and conditions In the position of PhD Candidate, code 1017, your gross salary will normally be NOK 580 000,-per annum depending on qualifications and seniority. A 2% statutory contribution to the State Pension Fund is deducted from the salary. The employment period is 3 years. For employment as a PhD Candidate, it is a prerequisite that you gain admission to the PhD programme in (at the Faculty of Engineering Science) within three months of your employment contract start date, and that you participate in an organized doctoral programme throughout the period of employment.