Post Doctoral Researcher- Advancing 3D Printed Catalysts for CO2 Hydrogenation

University of Doha for Science and Technology (UDST) is the first national applied University in the State of Qatar, offering applied bachelor’s and master’s degrees in addition to certificates and diplomas in various fields. UDST has over 50 programs in the fields of Engineering Technology and Industrial Trades, Business Management, Computing and Information Technology, Health Sciences, Continuing and Professional Education and more.

With more than 700 staff and over 8,000 students, UDST is the destination for top-notch applied and experiential learning. The University is recognized for its student-centred learning and state-of-the-art facilities. Our faculty are committed to delivering pedagogically-sound learning experiences with the incorporation of innovative technological interventions, to further enhance students’ skills and help develop talented graduates that can effectively contribute to a knowledge-based economy and make Qatar’s National Vision 2030 a reality.

The Applied Research, Innovation and Economic Development Directorate invites applications for the position of Post Doctoral Researcher to work on of the UDST Advancing 3D Printed Catalysts for CO₂ Hydrogenation.

The project is funded by QRDI and co-funded by Qatar Shell Research and Technology Center (QSRTC) focusing on designing, development, characterization, and testing of catalysts and/or reactors fabricated by 3D printing for chemical sequestration of CO₂ into useful products. The selected candidate will contribute to the synthesis, characterization and testing of diverse catalysts using advanced synthesis techniques. Emphasis will be placed on investigating novel catalytic materials and novel 3D designs for the process. Special attention will be given to the design and developments of 3D printed catalyst with novel geometries and features. The prospective candidate will thus play a key role in advancing research to identify new materials, explore innovative methods of synthesis and novel 3D designs to enhance the catalytic, pushing the boundaries of current technology. Responsibilities will also include characterization and testing of the developed materials. The successful candidate will engage collaboratively with researchers and stakeholders, in alignment with the goals of the project.

Applicants must hold a Ph.D. in in Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, materials science, catalysis, or related fields. Fluency in written as well as spoken English is required. The successful candidates should have experience in catalysis synthesis using advances synthesis methods. Characterization of materials using state of the art analytical techniques such as SEM-EDX, XRF, XRD, FTIR and BET is essential. The candidates must have experience with 3D printing using various techniques. Experience with catalysts testing employing high pressure flow reactor is crucial. We are looking for bright and motivated candidates who can conduct fast-paced research activities in a team-oriented environment.

Preferable research experiences

• Significant experience in materials synthesis using advance techniques such as solution combustion synthesis (SCS), strong electrostatic adsorption (SEA) and sol-gel methods tc.
• Materials characterization and results interpretation using various analytical techniques, such as XRF, XRD, BET, FTIR, XPS and GC-TCD/FID.
• Design, synthesis, formulation, and characterization of new material (inks) for 3D printing.
• Experience with CAD software (graphic designing tools) to prepare 3D printed catalysts with novel geometries and structures.
• Experience in operating, maintain and troubleshooting high pressure and low-pressure reactors.
• Experience with planning and conducting independent research and ability to work effectively as a part of a multi-disciplinary research team.
• A good publication record of the position-related papers published in peer-reviewed journals.
• Advanced written and oral English communication skills.
• Experiences in scientific writing for preparation of reports, scientific manuscripts for publication and for presentations local and international conferences.
• Team oriented and willingness to cooperate and support other researchers in the research laboratory.
• Experience in working and supervising undergraduate students.

Skills

• Catalyst and support material selection and integration (compatibility with 3D printing technology).
• Materials synthesis and characterization.
• Skills in CAD software to prepare and optimize novel design for 3D printing.
• Operate, maintain, and troubleshoot high pressure flow reactors for catalyst testing.
• Skills in Gas Chromatography (GC) to operate and maintain the online GC-FID/TCD systems.
• Skills in analyzing and interpret the GC results.

Application procedure

The application should be in English. The application should be sent electronically and be attached as PDF-file

Cover letter: (Please name the document as: Personal letter, Family name, Ref. number) 1-3 pages where you:

• Introduce yourself.
• Describe your previous research fields and main research results.
• Relate your qualifications, experience, and skills with the job requirements.
• Describe your future goals and future research focus.

CV:(Please name the document as: CV, Surname, Ref. number) including:

• A complete list of publications
• Previous research experiences
• Two references who can be approached to write letters of reference/recommendation.