Postdoctoral position in Computational Catalysis

Stimulated by major needs and challenges in science and society, the ambition of the department of Applied Physics is to foster a creative environment for academic research, teaching and outreach. We provide a competitive advantage by linking top-level international and interdisciplinary academic performance in the areas of material science, nanotechnology and energy research with world-leading industrial R&D&I projects.

We address a wide array of experimental, computational, methodological and theoretical challenges, from fundamental physics research, through the development of new materials to direct industrial projects generating new inventions. We have a strong learning commitment on all levels from undergraduate to PhD studies where physics meet engineering.

We are situated in a stimulating and creative environment with 200 physics teachers and researchers, 120 PhD students and 550 undergraduate students.
Information about the division
The Computational Catalysis group within Chemical Physics at Applied Physics explores basic aspects of heterogeneous catalysis. The main focus is atomistic understanding of surface reactions and the possibility to design new catalyst on the basis of fundamental knowledge. The group works in close collaboration with experimental activities and the area of interest is the development of a sustainable society by exploring novel catalysts within environmental catalysis, including emission control and solar assisted fuel production.

The activity is a part the Competence Centre for Catalysis at Chalmers. The centre is since 1995 an interdisciplinary research centre within heterogeneous catalysis. The research is focused on catalysis for emission control with a growing share of energy related catalysis.

More information about Chemical Physics and the competence centre can be found on the web at: http://www.chalmers.se/en/departments/ap/research/chemicalphysics/Pages/default.aspx and
http://www.kck.chalmers.se/

Information about the project
To reduce greenhouse gas emissions, there is a growing interest to use oxygenates from different natural oil sources to produce renewable diesel fuels. Oxygenates, e.g. methyl esters, are upgraded in catalytic hydrogenation processes to improve the combustion properties and stability of the fuel product. The selectivity of these processes has a large influence on the quality of the products.

The current project is a part of a combined theoretical and experimental effort to unravel the governing principles for hydrogenation reactions. The objective is to control, in particular, the selectivity for hydrogenation of methyl esters. The successful applicant will be placed at the Department of Applied Physics and associated within the Competence Centre for Catalysis.

Your major responsibility as postdoc is to perform your own research in a research group. The position may also include supervision of master and/or PhD students. The position is meritorious for future research duties within academia as well as industry and the public sector.

Position summary
The position is a post-doc position of 1 year with the possibility of 1 year extension.

Qualifications
The successful candidate should have a PhD degree in computational Physics or Chemistry and have documented experience from density functional theory calculations. Skills in scripting and programming are mandatory. A solid background in quantum mechanics, solid state physics and thermodynamics is required. The candidate has to be able to work independently and have good skills in communicating scientific results in written and spoken English.

To qualify for the position of postdoc, you must have a doctoral degree in physics, chemistry or materials science; the degree should generally not be older than three years. You should have a documented track record of high level research.

Application deadline: 2014-03-02


For questions, please contact:
Henrik Grönbeck
E-mail: ghj@chalmers.se
Phone: +46 31 772 29 63




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Chalmers University of Technology conducts research and education in engineering sciences, architecture, technology-related mathematical sciences, natural and nautical sciences, working in close collaboration with industry and society.

The strategy for scientific excellence focuses on our eight Areas of Advance; Built Environment, Energy, Information & Communication Technology, Life Science, Materials Science, Nanoscience & Nanotechnology, Production and Transport. The aim is to make an active contribution to a sustainable future using the basic sciences as a foundation and innovation and entrepreneurship as the central driving forces. Chalmers has around 11,000 students and 3,000 employees. New knowledge and improved technology have characterised Chalmers since its foundation in 1829, completely in accordance with the will of William Chalmers and his motto: Avancez!