Replacement of fossil fuels directly with renewable energy sources is essential in the decarbonization of our current economy. A significant part of our economy is the chemical industry, which currently relies heavily on the use the fossil fuels as the main energy source. An essential question to answer in the electrification of the chemical industry is how to design chemical plants so that they can operate according to the natural frequency of the renewables energy.

To this end, the FlexEchem project aims to study the design, control and operation technology for the electrochemical plant of the future that runs with high intensity current and is economically viable. More specifically, the overall project will develop a new integrated approach (integrated process design, control and operations) and a complete process system (reactor, sensors, actuators etc.) for the direct electrochemical conversion of CO2 to C2H4 under industrial conditions. FlexEchem is a collaboration between Delft University of Technology, Eindhoven University of Technology, and several industrial parties.

We are looking in total for three PhD Candidates.

In this position you will work on multiscale modelling of electrolysers. It will be crucial to consider the various scales that play a role, such as the catalyst scale (kinetics, deactivation, etc.) and the reactor scale (mass transfer, heat transfer, etc.). Moreover, the developed models have to be time-resolved, in order to be useful for this project. 

The model will be validated with "PhD Candidate #1" and used as input for the design strategy developed by "PhD Candidate #3".

This research will be executed within the Product and Process Engineering (PPE) group at the Delft University of Technology under supervision of Professor Ruud van Ommen.

You       

- have an MSc in a relevant field such as chem. engineering, mech. engineering or (applied) physics;

- combine creativity with a sound academic attitude;

- have critical thinking skills necessary to drive your projects forward;

- have strong modelling and programming skills;

- have excellent communication skills in English, and want to work in a multidisciplinary team.     

Doing a PhD at TU Delft requires English proficiency at a certain level to ensure that the candidate is able to communicate and interact well, participate in English-taught Doctoral Education courses, and write scientific articles and a final thesis. For more details please check the Graduate Schools Admission Requirements.

Doctoral candidates will be offered a 4-year period of employment in principle, but in the form of 2 employment contracts. An initial 1,5 year contract with an official go/no go progress assessment within 15 months. Followed by an additional contract for the remaining 2,5 years assuming everything goes well and performance requirements are met.

Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, increasing from € 2443 per month in the first year to € 3122 in the fourth year. As a PhD candidate you will be enrolled in the TU Delft Graduate School. The TU Delft Graduate School provides an inspiring research environment with an excellent team of supervisors, academic staff and a mentor. The Doctoral Education Programme is aimed at developing your transferable, discipline-related and research skills.

The TU Delft offers a customisable compensation package, discounts on health insurance and sport memberships, and a monthly work costs contribution. Flexible work schedules can be arranged. For international applicants we offer the Coming to Delft Service and Partner Career Advice to assist you with your relocation.

Delft University of Technology

Delft University of Technology is built on strong foundations. As creators of the world-famous Dutch waterworks and pioneers in biotech, TU Delft is a top international university combining science, engineering and design. It delivers world class results in education, research and innovation to address challenges in the areas of energy, climate, mobility, health and digital society. For generations, our engineers have proven to be entrepreneurial problem-solvers, both in business and in a social context. At TU Delft we embrace diversity and aim to be as inclusive as possible (see our Code of Conduct). Together, we imagine, invent and create solutions using technology to have a positive impact on a global scale.

Challenge. Change. Impact! 

Faculty Applied Sciences

With more than 1,000 employees, including 135 pioneering principal investigators, as well as a population of about 3,400 passionate students, the Faculty of Applied Sciences is an inspiring scientific ecosystem. Focusing on key enabling technologies, such as quantum- and nanotechnology, photonics, biotechnology, synthetic biology and materials for energy storage and conversion, our faculty aims to provide solutions to important problems of the 21st century. To that end, we train students in broad Bachelor's and specialist Master's programmes with a strong research component. Our scientists conduct ground-breaking fundamental and applied research in the fields of Life and Health Science & Technology, Nanoscience, Chemical Engineering, Radiation Science & Technology, and Engineering Physics. We are also training the next generation of high school teachers and science communicators.

Click here to go to the website of the Faculty of Applied Sciences.

The department of chemical engineering aspires to the pursuit and dissemination of knowledge in our discipline, and to shape that discipline as we do so. Our discipline is the art-turned-science of converting molecular understanding into products and processes that benefit mankind, using a healthy dose of chemistry, mathematics, physics, biology and material science whenever that is called for.

Chemical Engineering (tudelft.nl)