PhD Student (f-m-d) for Electrochemical Reduction of Oxidized Nitrogen Species
The Department of Process Systems Engineering (Director: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Kai Sundmacher) at the Max Planck Institute for Dynamics of Complex Technical Systems is inviting applications for the PhD Student (f/m/d) position.
Research topic: “Electrochemical reduction of oxidized nitrogen species”
The position is to be filled as soon as possible and is limited to three years.
The research topic contributes to the concept of a sustainable circular economy. Human activities have disturbed the global nitrogen (N-) cycle, due to a mismatch between the atmospheric N2 fixation and denitrification rates. Fixed-N-species accumulate by the energy-intensive Haber-Bosch process, industrial and transportation combustion processes, over-cultivation of crops that promote the biological N2 fixation, and over-fertilization practices. However, reactive N-forms are essential to sustain the global food supply of a steadily growing human population. It is thus imperative to deploy efficient recycling concepts of already fixed-N compounds, supplementing with N2-fixation strategies to compensate for conversions back to unreactive N2, thus balancing the N-cycle.
Ammonia (NH3), a nitrogen-hydrogen compound that is widely used in agriculture and industry, is not only a compelling candidate for storing and distributing H2, but also a potential fuel and a valuable chemical. On the aforementioned ground, recycling oxidized N-forms back to NH3 with the use of green electrons and water can contribute to fixed-N recycling concepts and inhibit the accumulation of reactive-N-species in the ecosystem. Meanwhile, the increasing availability of renewable electricity renders its direct usage via electrocatalytic processes attractive in the context of power-to-X circular scenarios.
Your Tasks
- Electrochemical and analytical experimental methods, with focus on the relations between reactions’ activity/selectivity and catalyst structures, reaction environment and reactor designs
- Simulations of reaction schemes and transport phenomena to understand the reaction mechanisms and stir the selectivity towards hydrogenated N-forms, while suppressing the formation of undesirable products
- Detailed modelling, simulation and optimization of an electrochemical reactor, e.g. in Matlab and/or Python
Suitable candidates
- hold a master's degree in the engineering or natural sciences, preferentially in chemical or process engineering, physics, chemistry or related disciplines with grades above average,
- have strong interest in combining theoretical and experimental work for reaction engineering and chemical analysis,
- have strong communication skills and motivation for the cooperation with colleagues
- have a very good knowledge of English
Knowledge and experience in chemical engineering laboratory work as well as model-based simulations are advantageous.
We offer:
- Job with a fixed-term employment contract for three years in the public sector
- Salary Class 100% E13
- Structured and established staff development program
- Versatile and varied activities in a scientific environment
- Compatibility of family, career and caring for relatives through flexible working hours and appropriate conditions
- Health-promoting and health-maintaining measures as part of our occupational health management
The Max Planck Society is committed to equal opportunities, gender equality, and diversity. What counts for us are your qualifications, professional strengths, and the candidates’ attitude. We, therefore, welcome all applications regardless of gender, cultural or social background, disability, religion, age, lifestyle, ideology or sexual identity.
Increasing the proportion of women in areas where women are underrepresented is a primary goal of the Max Planck Society. We are therefore particularly interested in applications from qualified women and expressly encourage them to apply.
The Max Planck Society has set itself the goal to employ more severely disabled people. Severely disabled persons and persons of equal status will be given special consideration if they are equally qualified. Applications from severely disabled people are, therefore, expressly encouraged.
Applicants will be assessed on an ongoing basis until the position is filled. Please register to our online application portal and upload your personal application documents containing letter of motivation, CV, and Bachelor's and Master's certificates. Also please name two academics willing to prepare reference letters.
Contact person for further information on the job advertisement:
Dr. Georgios Papakonstantinou,
