The Danish Hydrocarbon Research and Technology Centre (DHRTC – DTU), Technical University of Denmark (DTU), invites applicants for a PhD position in materials chemistry. DHRTC was established by the Danish Underground Consortium and DTU. The research centre has a targeted effort to reduce the environmental impact of oil and gas production from the Danish North Sea during the green transition.
The position is within the program on produced water management. Produced water (PW) is a by-product of oil extraction and contains a mixture of dispersed and dissolved oil. Reinjection of PW into the reservoir is an important tool to reduce the discharge of potentially harmful substances. The PW is
mixed with seawater containing high levels of dissolved oxygen which causes corrosion and bacterial growth. Currently, the removal of oxygen relies on the excessive use of chemical additives.
To mitigate this, the project aims to develop new types of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) tailored for oxygen adsorption. MOFs are porous coordination polymers that form via the self-assembly of inorganic nodes and organic linkers. The surface area and chemical functionality can be tuned by careful choice of building blocks. This makes MOFs attractive materials for use as selective adsorbents. Specifically, the project aims to prepare MOFs based on linkers that integrate accessible secondary metal sites. Such sites can bind molecular oxygen via partial electron transfer similar to biological oxygen-transport proteins.
Responsibilities and qualifications
We are looking for a chemist to join a project at the interface of fundamental and applied research. You will join a newly established research group working with various aspects of functional materials and
analytical chemistry (adsorption, separations, sensors). The group is part of a larger cross-disciplinary team of researchers, and collaboration is expected both with internal and external partners.
The PhD candidate will carry out 1) the synthesis of organic linkers and 2) the preparation and characterization of their corresponding MOFs. A strong emphasis will be put on understanding how chemical structure influences molecular-level interactions and adsorption kinetics.
Characterization of the materials will be done by spectroscopic and crystallographic techniques. Furthermore, the chemical stability of the materials will be evaluated in degradation studies.
Dissemination of the obtained results, in scientific articles and through participation in national and international conferences, is an integral part of the job. Participation in the supervision of M.Sc. students is expected.
Candidates should have a two-year master's degree in chemistry (120 ECTS points) or similar degree with an academic level equivalent to a two-year master's degree. The ideal candidate has a background in synthetic inorganic or organic chemistry. This includes a broad understanding of chemical and materials characterization (e.g. X-ray diffraction, mass spectrometry and spectroscopy). Good communication skills in both written and spoken English are expected.
Approval and Enrolment
The scholarship for the PhD degree is subject to academic approval, and the candidate will be enrolled in one of the general degree programmes at DTU. For information about our enrolment requirements and the general planning of the PhD study programme, please see the DTU PhD Guide.
Assessment
The assessment of the applicants will be carried out by researcher Jonas Sundberg, researcher Ali A. Eftekhari and professor (MSO) Simon I. Andersen. Applicants will be reviewed continuously. Interviews are expected to be held in week 42.
We offer
DTU is a leading technical university globally recognized for the excellence of its research, education, innovation and scientific advice. We offer a rewarding and challenging job in an international environment. We strive for academic excellence in an environment characterized by collegial respect and academic freedom tempered by responsibility.
Salary and appointment terms
The appointment will be based on the collective agreement with the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations. The allowance will be agreed upon with the relevant union.
You can read more about career paths at DTU here.
Further information
Further information may be obtained from Jonas Sundberg, e-mail: jonsun@dtu.dk
You can read more about the centre’s activities here: http://www.oilgas.dtu.dk/english/Research
If you are applying from abroad, you may find information on working in Denmark and at DTU at DTU – Moving to Denmark.
Application
Please submit your online application no later than the 17October 2021 (Danish time). Apply at www.career.dtu.dk