SustAInLivWork (Centre of Excellence of Artificial Intelligence for Sustainable Living and Working) project team invites postdoctoral researchers with a track record of significant research achievement to collaborate with supervisor from SustAInLivWork partner institution (hosting institution Vytautas Magnus University) and apply to the MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships 2024 (HORIZON-MSCA-2024-PF-01) within deadline 11/09/2024.

The objective of PFs is to support researchers’ careers and foster excellence in research. The Postdoctoral Fellowships action targets researchers holding a PhD who wish to carry out their research activities abroad, acquire new skills and develop their careers.

• European Postdoctoral Fellowships are open to researchers of any nationality who wish to engage in R&I projects by either coming to Europe from any country in the world or moving within Europe (12-24 months).
• Global Postdoctoral Fellowships are open to European nationals or long-term residents who wish to engage in R&I projects with organisations outside EU Member States and Horizon Europe Associated Countries (12-24 months outgoing phase in a non-associated Third Country & 12 months mandatory return phase to a host organisation in Europe).

RESEARCH GROUP AND HOST INSTITUTION

Scientific research at VMU is carried out in five science areas (Humanities, Social Sciences, Natural Sciences, Technological Sciences and Agricultural Sciences) and Arts regarding the prioritized research and arts fields approved by the Senate.

University researchers are highly-qualified professionals whose competence has been recognised both nationally and internationally. This is evidenced by the VMU researchers’ activities as experts and commission members in various competitions, honorary titles awarded by foreign universities, and memberships in the Lithuanian Academy of Sciences, the Research Council of Lithuania and international organizations such as the European University Association. All of these activities have facilitated the formation of expert groups and development of expert services in different fields of science. VMU scientists’ achievements have also been rewarded with various prizes and scholarships.

Main research trends in the VMU Faculty of Informatics:

• artificial intelligence applications,
• language and speech technologies,
• semantic technologies
• neuroinformatics,
• bioinformatics,
• digital transformation and digitalization systems,
• smart systems and the Internet of Things.

RESEARCH TOPIC PROPOSED

FLEXIBLE ENERGY STORAGE SOLUTIONS FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY GENERATION

SUPERVISOR

Dr. Darius Milcius

The main activities on materials, components, and technologies development:

Development of metal hydrides for hydrogen storage, batteries, and smart windows applications; Development of thin electrolytes for SOFC (solid oxide fuel cells) and oxide-based PCFC (proton conductive fuel cells); Development of hydrogen separation membranes based on amorphous Nickel compounds; Development of thin oxide films on polymer substrates. Development and use of hydrolysis processes for hydrogen and heat generation.

The main interests and activities in system development:

Photovoltaics, energy prosumer, energy justice, computer simulations on renewables energy generation and energy storage technologies (batteries, hydrogen technologies) for the renewable’s integration into micro and macro grids.

Darius Milcius has been the author or co-author of more than 40 publications on metal hydrides and 15 publications on Solid Oxide Fuel Cells. He also has developed 8 patents and applications at the Lithuanian Patent Office, 2- EPO patent on energy storage technologies, and 1- PCT patent application on hydrogen production using direct reaction of activated aluminium with water. Dr. Darius Milcius has excellent experience in participation in international projects: he was a coordinator of two projects on development of energy storage technologies with Sandia National Laboratories (USA) which was funded by USA DoE; participant of 3 Nordic Energy Research Programme projects, 4 projects in EU FP6, 2 COST projects, leader of 2 projects funded by EU Structural Funds and a leader of the project on energy storage technologies implementation in military environment which was funded by NATO Energy Security Centre of Excellence. Darius Milcius is a member of FCH 2 JU States Representatives Group from 2016 till 2020. 2001 - 2020 he is expert of Tasks 17-32 of The International Energy Agency Hydrogen Implementing Agreement (IEA HIA) representing Lithuania.

Researcher profile: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9809-1777

ELIGIBILITY

Postdoctoral candidates must be in possession of PhD at the call deadline (2024-09-11), have up to 8 years full-time equivalent experience in research from the date of award of the doctoral degree at the call deadline. Also postdoctoral candidates not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the country of the beneficiary (for European Postdoctoral Fellowships), or the host organisation for the outgoing phase (for Global Postdoctoral Fellowships) for more than 12 months in the 36 months before the call deadline

APPLICATION PROCEDURE:

An expression of interest shall be sent directly to Dr. Darius Milcius (darius.milcius@vdu.lt)  latest at 05/06/2024. Contacting the supervisor, please provide:

1. Curriculum Vitae;
2. list of publications (significant research achievements);