Climate change brings with it urgent challenges, especially for the carbon cycle. The CO2 problem can be addressed through Carbon Capture & Storage (CCS) and/or Carbon Capture & Utilisation (CCU). Chemistry and physics can provide us with technological solutions (e.g., storing CO2 in aquifers or its electrochemical conversion into value-added products), but technology alone is not enough. History, social sciences and political science are needed to understand the societal impacts of the various solutions. This understanding is essential for a successful implementation and acceptance of the new technologies.
We will explore and evaluate CCS, CCU and CCUS technologies and develop them into conceivable socio-technical scenarios, with special emphasis on electrochemistry as an enabler of CCUS. Starting with a historical analysis of the innovation context, we will analyse the scope and impact of the technologies based on regional and national resources in the Netherlands, Greece and Norway. The European data will be compared with data from Zhejiang province in China and from Brazil. Our overall goal is designing an integrated CCUS process with a high degree of social, political, and technological acceptance.
The social sciences aspects of the project will be aligned with the experimental part related to integrated carbon-capture utilisation. We are looking for a result-oriented chemist scientist with an open mind to social aspects who can work independently and drive their research project forward. The
Heterogeneous Catalysis and Sustainable Chemistry Group (HCSC) has an opening for postdoctoral researcher within the
Van ‘t Hoff Institute for Molecular Sciences (HIMS) at the
University of Amsterdam. Do you want to make a difference in the fight against Global Climate Change? To evaluate the different scenarios in CCUS, collaborations with experimental and social & behavioral groups within University of Amsterdam are foreseen. The position is for 1.5 years starting as soon as possible. Candidates must have a PhD in Chemistry or Social & Behavioral Sciences. This post-doc will be based at the Van ‘t Hoff Institute for Molecular Sciences, and will be jointly supervised by dr Amanda Garcia from the Faculty of Sciences and prof. dr John Grin from the Faculty of Social Behavioral and Sciences.
What are you going to do? The current, social-science vacancy is for a post-doc position to assess, ex ante, for the abovementioned applications the societal and technological impacts of CCS and CCU technologies and scenarios, with special emphasis on the impacts of electrochemical conversion options for CO2 in the Netherlands and Western Europe. To obtain a balanced view and examine the transferability of the conclusions across countries and societies, you will compare the European data with data for Zhejiang province in China, obtained via our connection to the Shanghai Institute for Cleantech Innovation and Brazil. Findings are to be translated into design criteria for the further technical development of innovations, so as to promote their successful introduction.
Task and responsibilities - Write articles for publication and present papers/ posters at national and international conferences as directed by the head of laboratory.
- Demonstrate excellent communication skills in English;
- Collaborate with the postdoc at the experimental group;
- Contribute a dynamic group of students and researchers;
- Provide general assistance as needed with other research related activities;
- Write progress reports and prepare results for publication and dissemination via journals, presentations and the web;
- Oversee, supervise and train, in association with the supervisor, undergraduate and postgraduate students.