Post-doctoral position at University of Granada: Apply for an Athenea3i-2018 Research Fellowship at the Department of Chemical Engineering

Professor María Ángeles Martín Lara, from the Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of Granada, welcomes postdoctoral candidates interested in applying for an Athenea3i Research Fellowship in 2018 at this University. The information about the Fellowship conditions, how to apply, Eligibility Criteria, Selection Process, Evaluation Process, etc. is available in https://athenea3i.ugr.es/. Please note that applicants must comply with the Eligibility Criteria (https://athenea3i.ugr.es/?page_id=23).  

Brief description of the institution:

The University of Granada (UGR), founded in 1531, is one of the largest and most important universities in Spain. It serves more than 60000 students per year, including many foreign students, as UGR is the leader host institution in the Erasmus program. UGR, featuring 3650 professors and more than 2000 auxiliary personnel, offers a total of 75 degrees through its 112 departments and 28 centers.

UGR is also a leading institution in research, located in the top 5/10 of Spanish universities by a variety of ranking criteria, such as national R&D projects, fellowships awarded, publications, or international funding. UGR is one of the few Spanish Universities listed in the Shanghai Top 500 ranking (http://www.arwu.org/), and it is also well recognized for its web presence (http://www.4icu.org/top200/).

Internationally, we bet decidedly by our participation in the calls of H2020, both at partner and coordination. For the duration of the Seventh Framework Programme, the UGR has obtained a total of 66 projects, with total funding of 17.97 million euros, and for H2020, until 2015, more than 25 projects with total funding of more than 6 million euros. Our more than 3,000 researchers are grouped into 365 research groups covering all scientific fields and disciplines.

Brief description of the Centre/Research Group

The main research line of our research group is the investigation of the ability of residual biomass to retain metal ions and emergent contaminants from industrial effluents. We have some experience on optimization of the operation of packed bed reactor to improve the heavy metal removal from industrial wastewaters.

Our research group also has a research line on thermochemical conversion of lignocellulosic biomass to fuels and chemicals. We study physical and chemical characteristics of biomass (ultimate analysis, proximate analysis, lower calorific value between others, in compliance with Spanish Standard UNE, European CEN/TS and American Technical Norms ASTM). The main samples analyzed are residual and forestry biomass, collected from Andalucia Region, and solid biofuels such as pellets and chips. Also, analytical characterization of biomass intermediates and products obtained from biomass is carried out as a critical step in optimizing biomass conversion processes. For example, we analyze raw and upgraded bio-oils from biomass pyrolysis.

Our third research line is based on recycling of post-consumer plastics. Recycling of plastic is urged by the need for closing material loops to maintain our natural resources when striving towards Circular Economy, but also by the alarming observations of plastic scrap being spread in oceans and lakes due to both land-based and sea-based activities. The overall objective of this investigation is to improve the knowledge basis on the quantity and quality of plastic waste flows and processes for recovering the material in the waste flows.

Project description

The main research line of our research group is the investigation of the ability of residual biomass to retain metal ions and emergent contaminants from industrial effluents. We have some experience on optimization of the operation of packed bed reactor to improve the heavy metal removal from industrial wastewaters.

Our research group also has a research line on thermochemical conversion of lignocellulosic biomass to fuels and chemicals. We study physical and chemical characteristics of biomass (ultimate analysis, proximate analysis, lower calorific value between others, in compliance with Spanish Standard UNE, European CEN/TS and American Technical Norms ASTM). The main samples analyzed are residual and forestry biomass, collected from Andalucia Region, and solid biofuels such as pellets and chips. Also, analytical characterization of biomass intermediates and products obtained from biomass is carried out as a critical step in optimizing biomass conversion processes. For example, we analyze raw and upgraded bio-oils from biomass pyrolysis.

Our third research line is based on recycling of post-consumer plastics. Recycling of plastic is urged by the need for closing material loops to maintain our natural resources when striving towards Circular Economy, but also by the alarming observations of plastic scrap being spread in oceans and lakes due to both land-based and sea-based activities. The overall objective of this investigation is to improve the knowledge basis on the quantity and quality of plastic waste flows and processes for recovering the material in the waste flows.

Research Area

• Environmental Sciences and Chemistry (ENV-CHE)

For a correct evaluation of your candidature, please send the documents below to Professor María Ángeles Martín Lara (marianml@ugr.es):

• CV
• Letter of recommendation (optional)