The Laboratory for Building Energy Materials and Components at Empa develops advanced and low eco-impact porous materials for insulation, sorption, and energy-related applications. The research portfolio covers fundamental materials chemistry, process–structure–property relationships, and application-driven R&D, in close collaboration with academic and industrial partners. The position is part of the National Center of Competence in Research (NCCR) "Separations", a collaborative project led by EPFL and involving ETH Zurich, University of Fribourg, HES-SO, Northwestern University (USA), and University of Alberta (Canada).
The NCCR focuses on three key challenges: CO2 capture from air, high-temperature ammonia separation, and recovery of critical metals.
Tasks
- Contribute to project aims in the areas of shaped CO2 adsorbents and sorbent ageing within the NCCR-Network.
- Develop independent ideas, propose new concepts, and test them experimentally and/or computationally.
- Help coordinate project activities and develop synergies within the team and between project partners.
- Supervise intern students contributing to the project.
- Elucidate chemical and structural ageing mechanisms of structured and pure solid sorbents under different ageing conditions.
- Develop accelerated and high throughput sorbent ageing protocols.
- Help define mitigation strategies for sorbent ageing.
- Develop versatile, upscalable sorbent shaping/coating procedures.
- Help shape new, emerging scientific research lines within the project scope and publish/communicate scientific results.
Requirements
- A high level of curiosity, independence, teamwork skills, and motivation.
- Doctoral degree or equivalent research experience in porous materials, surface or adsorption/separation science, or a closely related field.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills in English.
- Experience or familiarity with one of the following topics:
- Characterization of sorbent/porous materials, e.g. nitrogen sorption (BET, BJH, NLDFT), breakthrough measurements, SEM, TEM, TGA, FTIR, NMR, thermal conductivity measurements.
- Synthesis and/or shaping of solid sorbents.
- Sorbent modelling and prediction of performance or ageing.
Benefits
- Stimulating, international, and collaborative research environment at a leading research institution with state-of-the-art infrastructure.
- Supportive and safe-to-fail work environment provided by the laboratory and supervisors.
- Attractive employment conditions and excellent opportunities for professional and personal development as part of the ETH Domain.
- Start date upon agreement for a duration of 2 years.
- Innovative, sustainable, and meaningful activities.
- Creating added value for society.
- International, multicultural working environment.
- Freedom to create and develop.
- Culture of inclusion and respect.
- Excellent balance between different areas of life.
- Multiple award-winning and certified employer.
- Benefits for rail, mobile, childcare, catering, etc.
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Über uns
Das Team
The Laboratory for Building Energy Materials and Components offers a collaborative environment and works closely with academic and industrial partners. Supervisors provide a supportive and safe-to-fail work environment.