Expression of interest for hosting MSCA-COFUND fellows under the research line ENERGY MATTERS: CATALYSIS FOR CHEMICAL HYDROGEN STORAGE within the research group DENDROCAT - Got Energy Talent MSCA-COFUND fellowship programme Second Call

Professor Cristina García-Yebra / Our research group DENDROCAT, from the Department of QUÍMICA ORGÁNICA Y QUÍMICA INORGÁNICA at the University of Alcalá, is interested in hosting fellows submitting research proposals under our research line Energy Matters: Catalysis for Chemical Hydrogen Storage, under Got Energy Talent MSCA-COFUND second call for fellowships. The information about the fellowship conditions, how to apply, eligibility criteria, selection and evaluation process is available on http://gotenergytalent.uah.es/second-call/. Call open until 2nd July 2019.

About the research line

To promote innovations toward solving energy and environmental problems that are expanding on a global scale today is a difficult challenge for scientists and engineers. Much effort is needed to develop technologies that reduce CO₂ emissions and help to overcome the present society depending on fossil fuels as primary energy. Hydrogen has attracted increasing attention as an alternative secondary energy resource, because the reaction of hydrogen with oxygen produces the requested energy and only water as by-product. However, storage and transportation of hydrogen is a difficult issue. Chemistry offers a convenient solution to this problem, by converting it to chemical substances such as NH₃, NH₃-BH₃, methylcyclohexane, and LOHC (Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carriers) such as formic acid (FA). FA has been considered to be a promising substance for the chemical hydrogen storage because it is a non-toxic, environmentally friendly liquid containing 4.4 wt% H₂. It is also advantageous that CO₂, a substrate to produce a FA, is inexpensive and ubiquitous. This research line aims to offer new possibilities to overcome the energetic problem by using metal-based catalysts for hydrogen storage as a tool. We are looking for talented researchers interested in developing materials for energy efficiency and renewable energy applications based on transition-metal complexes or chemistry.

About the programme and the call

GOT ENERGY TALENT (GET) is a fellowship programme co-funded by the EU as part of the H2020-MSCA-COFUND programme (Grant Agreement number 754382). GET is run by the University of Alcalá (UAH) as beneficiary of the action hand in hand with the University Rey Juan Carlos (URJC). Both universities co-fund the action in equal parts. Up to twenty one (21) fellowships are available under the second call. Out the 21 fellowships available, UAH will recruit eight (8) fellows and URJC will recruit thirteen (13) fellows.

The fellowships will provide an opportunity for experienced researchers from around the world to spend two years in Madrid, developing an independent research project and undertaking training that will help them develop into the next generation of research leaders. Fellows have to propose a comprehensive and innovative research project in the field of Smart Energy, in an area that aligns with UAH research areas. Our research group DENDROCAT participates in the programme with the research line: Energy Matters: Catalysis for Chemical Hydrogen Storage

Who can apply? Applicants of all nationalities are eligible to apply but must not have resided or carried out their main activity in Spain for over 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to the call deadline. Applicants should also be in possession of a PhD or 4 years of full-time equivalent research experience immediately prior to the call deadline.

Fellowships conditions. Fellows will be recruited under a two-year fulltime employment contract. The monthly allowance will be €4,490.00*. For those fellows who at the call deadline have family duties the monthly allowance will amount to €4,890.00*. Fellows will also have a yearly contribution of €4,200.00 towards the direct costs of their research. *These amounts correspond to the total amount before both employer contributions (economic rights and social costs) and employee contributions (fiscal obligations and social security and other taxes).

How to apply. All applications must be submitted via the online system on GET’s website (http://gotenergytalent.uah.es/second-call/). GET-COFUND will not accept applications submitted by any other means or applications that do not use the specified templates.

The call will be open from 3rd April 2019 and the deadline for submissions is 2nd July 2019 (12:00 Spanish time). No applications will be accepted after this deadline. Applications will be peer-reviewed after the call deadline and results will be communicated to applicants during December 2019. Fellows should start as soon as possible after the communication of results and no later than May 2020.

More information

For further information, please see GET-COFUND website or email tecnico.cofund@uah.es.