Seeking post-doc fellow to study the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by means of Deep Eutectic Solvents (DES)

Professor Fèlix Llovell, established at the Chemical Engineering Department of University Rovira I Virgili (Tarragona, Spain), is interested in receiving Expressions of Interest of potential candidates for the Marie Sklodowska – Curie Individual Fellowship (MSCA – IF) 2020 call. Selected candidates will receive dedicated support from my group to write a successful proposal.

The European Union (EU) has taken regulatory action as part of its policy to combat climate change. In 2014, the European parliament voted binding 2030 targets on emissions and energy efficiency: a 40% cut in greenhouse gases (GHG), compared with 1990 levels, and a 40% improvement in energy efficiency.

The overarching goal of our group is to design new sustainable processes from the understanding of the physicochemical behaviour using a multiscale approach. For this purpose, several computational tools are used, with special focus on molecular-based equations of state and simulations. In this context, we are currently studying a fascinating new family of compounds called Deep Eutectic Solvents (DESs), based on the combination of several molecules forming a network of interactions that provide them unique properties.

Our research is in line with the current European Union (EU) policy to combat climate change, pursuing to provide solutions to achieve the binding 2030 targets assumed by the EU: a 40% cut in greenhouse gases (GHG), compared with 1990 levels, and a 40% improvement in energy efficiency. Consequently, the applications currently studied are focused on the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by absorption on DESs, as well as in energy applications related to biomass treatment for the design of new low-energy intensive processes. Based on the multiple possible combinations of DESs, a full thermodynamic study combining several techniques will be performed to select the best combination to form DESs with the adequate properties for the selected application. This information will be later used to build and optimize a process model to evaluate its reliability to be implemented industrially.

For the Marie Curie IF call of 2020, we are looking for postdoc(s) with experience in:

• The use of SAFT or similar equations of state and molecular dynamics or Monte Carlo simulations for the study of the thermophysical behaviour of complex systems
• The study of Ionic Liquids or Deep Eutectic Solvents either from an experimental or computational perspective.
• The use of process models and energy optimization applied to gas separation or biomass treatment.

We are looking for talented and innovative young scientists, strongly committed to high quality frontier research and able to add new insights to the existing URV core expertise. Only candidates with an outstanding record of research achievements and publications in top-quality journals will be considered.

URV as Hosting Institution located at Scientific Campus of Universitat Rovira i Virgili (Tarragona, Spain), has all the technical and scientific facilities for carry out this project.

Universitat Rovira i Virgili (URV) is well positioned both nationally and internationally due to the Excellence of its research and the commitment and internationally recognised staff. URV is made up of 12 Faculties and Schools, with 24 Departments, which welcome annually 11.400 undergraduate, 1.500 master and 1.200 PhD students (20% of them full time employees). In 2019, it was named World’s 78th Best Young University aged less than 50 years and 401-500 Best University in the World (by Times Higher Education World University Rankings), and 501-600 by Academic Ranking of world Universities. Being the within the top 10% universities in number and impact of its publications is a clear measure of the quality of the research we can offer to the future MSCA-IF fellows.

Testament to the quality of its research is the fact that URV is host for around 100 MSCA fellows, in different programmes (COFUND, ITN, IF), displaying a strong bond to the principles of the MSCA programme.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

At the deadline for the submission of the proposals (09/09/2020), researchers:

• Shall be in possession of a doctoral degree or 4 years of full-time equivalent experience;
• Must not have resided or carried out their main activities in Spain for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to the above mentioned deadline.
• Must be fluent in English (both written and spoken).

SELECTION PROCESS

Researchers willing to apply should check that they fulfil the eligibility criteria and then send an expression of interest, consisting of:

• A Curriculum Vitae
• A summary presentation of their research proposal / A motivation letter

Expressions of interest must be submitted to uspir@urv.cat (Title of the e-mail “URV- MSCA - IF - Prof. Fèlix Llovell”).

Proposals will be pre-selected on the basis of internal evaluation. Candidates will be informed of the results of the pre-selection a week after the deadline.