Postdoc position within HTC research

Information about the research/the project/the division

Information about the division
To meet the challenges of tomorrow's energy demands, the research at the division of Energy & Materials at the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering focuses on solving materials science problems that currently impede the use of new environmentally friendly technologies. We also host the High Temperature Corrosion center, a national center of excellence jointly sponsored by the Swedish Energy Agency, Chalmers University of Technology and around 20 member companies. HTC is known in the field as one of the leading labs worldwide.

Information about the research area
Material performance is one of the key barriers inhibiting the transition towards a more sustainable energy system. Material related problems limit lifetimes and reduce efficiencies, adversely affecting plant economy and consequently the utilization of green energy. To strengthen our research, we are looking for a post doc directed towards corrosion issues in combined heat and power plants using green fuels.

Research background for high temperature corrosion in combined heat and power plants using green fuels
Globally, fossil fuels such as coal and oil stand for a major share of the heat and power produced. Renewable fuels such as biomass and waste are however steadily increasing. Changing fuel is however from a corrosion point of in many times detrimental for the power plant. The harsh environment resulting from combustion of biomass and waste is rapidly destroying the construction materials used and as a consequence the material temperature within the boiler has been decreased. This results in a lower electrical output and higher maintenance costs.
Our research focuses on understanding the sequence of events leading to corrosion and thereby improving the lifetime of the installed components. This can be done by either making the materials more corrosion resistant or making the environment less corrosive (e.g. by additives, optimized operation or by new designs).

Central to the position is the link between well controlled laboratory experiments, advanced microstructural investigations and experience from the field gathered by our industry partners. We work with state of the art analytical electron and ion microscopy such as Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) equipped with Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX) and Electron Backscattered Diffraction (EBSD) detectors. We further employ Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) to analyze the specimens in more detail.

Major responsibilities
Together with members of your group and, presumably, industry partners, you will build a project team and jointly define a research strategy. Besides hands-on laboratory work to collect data, you will further optimize experimental setups in collaboration with our mechanical workshop as well as coordinate post-analysis with our analysis experts. In addition, some of the post-analysis (e.g. BIB, SEM-EDX, XRD) will be performed by you. To be able to perform these tasks efficiently, we expect you to have a solid knowledge of high temperature corrosion, chemistry, microscopy and materials science.

As a Post Doc, you will publish your findings in scientific journals and give presentations at international conferences and project meetings with industry partners. The position is meritorious for future research duties within academia as well as industry/the public sector.

Position summary
Full-time temporary employment. The position is limited to a maximum of two years (1+1).

Qualifications
You have a Ph. D. degree in high temperature corrosion, corrosion or materials science. As a person, you are curious and knowledge-driven experimentalist who appreciate laboratory work and working as part of a team, yet, you always take responsibility for your assigned tasks. Furthermore, you enjoy compiling and presenting your results and conclusions to a broad range of audience, both from academia and industry.
You will be involved in several projects and all projects are performed in collaboration with our partner companies, other departments at Chalmers as well as research groups at other universities. We are therefore looking for candidates who are team players but also take responsibility for their own tasks. You should further be able to collect and analyze information, to solve problems and to take decisions. Since the post doctoral position involves collaboration with Swedish companies, it is meritorious to speak Swedish. The position requires sound verbal and written communication skills in English. 

Chalmers continuously strives to be an attractive employer. Equality and diversity are substantial foundations in all activities at Chalmers.

Our offer to you
Chalmers offers a cultivating and inspiring working environment in the dynamic city of Gothenburg.  
Read more about working at Chalmers and our benefits for employees.

Application procedure
Please read more at Chalmers webpage.

Please use the button at the foot of the page to reach the application form. The files may be compressed (zipped).

Application deadline: 2nd of November - 2020

For questions, please contact:
Assoc. Prof. Jesper Liske, Energy & Materials,
jesper.liske@chalmers.se
+46 31 7722843

Assoc. Prof. Torbjörn Jonsson, Energy & Materials,
torbjorn.jonsson@chalmers.se
+46 31 7722835



Information about the department:
Chemistry and Chemical Engineering is the largest department at Chalmers and covers a large array of research from basic to applied. The fields of interest extend from DNA-research and biomaterials, solar cells and fuels, high temperature corrosion, and catalysis. The Department is heavily committed to teaching at the undergraduate, graduate, as well as postgraduate level in these areas. We have approximately 300 employees, divided into four research and one administrative division. We are situated at campus Johanneberg in the middle of Gothenburg. Our vision is “Through curiosity and knowledge towards a sustainable world”.

*** Chalmers declines to consider all offers of further announcement publishing or other types of support for the recruiting process in connection with this position. ***