Postdoc in hydrogenation of bioethanol products (Technology development)

Job description

Bio-based ethanol could be used to fully replace fossil-derived chemicals through efficient carbon coupling reactions and become one of the main renewable raw materials in tomorrow’s biorefineries. n-butyraldehyde is a very important product deriving from ethanol conversion and is a building block for production of a plethora of important C4+ chemicals. The project focuses on the production of crotonaldehyde from bioethanol and its selective hydrogenation to butyraldehyde. In this project, you will play a crucial role in advancing the bioethanol conversion technologies for future biorefineries. The work involves developing heterogeneous catalysts and comprehensive understanding of the chemical transformations as well as modelling and developing of the catalytic reactors required for these specialized conversions. The work is a part of CROSS project funded by the Bioplus programme of the Swedish energy agency. Read more here. 

What we offer

• A position at a leading technical university that generates knowledge and skills for a sustainable future
• Engaged and ambitious colleagues along with a creative, international and dynamic working environment
• Work in Stockholm, in close proximity to nature
• Help to relocate and be settled in Sweden and at KTH

Read more about what it is like to work at KTH

Qualifications

Requirements

• A doctoral degree or an equivalent foreign degree in chemical engineering. This eligibility requirement must be met no later than the time the employment decision is made.
• Previous experience in heterogeneous catalyst characterization and catalytic reaction engineering.
• Excellent skills in English, in both speech and writing, as it is required in daily work. 
• Independence
• Collaborative abilities
• Awareness of diversity and equal opportunity issues, with specific focus on gender equality.

Preferred qualifications

• A doctoral degree or an equivalent foreign degree, obtained within the last three years prior to the application deadline

• Mathematical modeling skills (e.g MATLAB, Julia Python, FORTRAN)·
• Use of process simulation tools such as gPROMS, Aspen Plus or HYSYS is meritorious. 
• Teaching and supervision abilities.
  

  Great emphasis will be placed on personal skills.

Trade union representatives

You will find contact information to trade union representatives at KTH's webbpage.

To apply for the position

Log into KTH's recruitment system in order to apply for this position. You are the main responsible to ensure that your application is complete according to the ad.

The application must include:

• CV including relevant professional experience and knowledge.
• Copy of diplomas and grades from your previous university studies. Translations into English or Swedish if the original documents have not been issued in any of these languages.
• Brief account of why you want to conduct research, your academic interests and how they relate to your previous studies and future goals. Max two pages long.

Your complete application must be received at KTH no later than the last day of application, midnight CET/CEST (Central European Time/Central European Summer Time).

About the employment

The position offered is for, at the most, three years.

A position as a postdoctoral fellow is a time-limited qualified appointment focusing mainly on research, intended as a first career step after a dissertation.

Others

The position may include security-sensitive activities. To become authorized, you therefore need to pass a security check.

Striving towards gender equality, diversity and equal conditions is both a question of quality for KTH and a given part of our values.

For information about processing of personal data in the recruitment process please read here.

We firmly decline all contact with staffing and recruitment agencies and job ad salespersons.
Disclaimer: In case of discrepancy between the Swedish original and the English translation of the job announcement, the Swedish version takes precedence.

About KTH

KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm has grown to become one of Europe’s leading technical and engineering universities, as well as a key centre of intellectual talent and innovation. We are Sweden’s largest technical research and learning institution and home to students, researchers and faculty from around the world. Our research and education covers a wide area including natural sciences and all branches of engineering, as well as architecture, industrial management, urban planning, history and philosophy. Read more here

Type of employment: Temporary position
Contract type: Full time
First day of employment: February 1, 2024 or according to agreement
Salary: Monthly salary
Number of positions: 1
Full-time equivalent: 100%
City: Stockholm
County: Stockholms län
Country: Sweden
Reference number: C-2023-2355
Contact:

1. Efthymios Kantarelis, ekan@kth.se

Published: 2023-12-08
Last application date: 2024-01-12