Postdoc VPX-Fellow: Electrochemical-stack Engineer – DTU Physics

If you are a talented and dedicated scientist who wants to join the exciting pre-stages of a start-up, and are ready to hit the ground running, consider joining Nitrofix Solutions. You will be joining a young, diverse, highly motivated, and focused team, who is looking for colleagues that share our vision of decarbonizing and decentralizing ammonia production worldwide.

We have received a Villum Power-to-X (VPX) accelerator grant over a 21 month period, starting October 2022 and ending June 2024. As part of the accelerator we will upscale a single flow cell to an electrolyzer type electrochemical stack. This system will produce ammonia (NH₃) in ~kg/day under near-ambient conditions from electricity, water, and air. The project is based on recent breakthroughs on lithium-mediated electrochemical ammonia synthesis, and we now aim at scaling up and commercializing the process.

We expect to incorporate at the end of the accelerator program, and are therefore also looking for individuals who want to join the start-up journey. This is not a position aimed for someone who intends to stay in academia, as the focus will not be on publications. The position will be at DTU Physics, VPX centre. 

Responsibilities and qualifications
We are looking to hire an engineer with experience in stack design and development for flow-cell based electrochemical systems. The science is proven to work on a single cell with nitrogen (N2) and hydrogen (H₂) as the gas input, two gas diffusion electrodes as cathode and anode, and a flowing non-aqueous electrolyte between them. This system needs to be upscaled into a multi-cell stack, capable of producing ~kg/day of ammonia (NH₃).

Qualifications and skills:

• ability to work independently and leadership are expected;
• experience with collaborations and team-based work style;
• a background working with, designing, and developing electrochemical stack is expected;
• experience and/or understanding of balance of plant design is expected;
• experience programming a hardware/software interface for lab-scale reactors is preferred;
• experience in non-aqueous based electrochemistry is not needed, but it will be considered a benefit;
• experience with modelling relevant for electrochemical reactor will be considered an advantage;

The successful candidate is driven, proactive, and curious, and also willing and able to work as part of a team. The project is expected to spin out and lead to the founding of a start-up, so if the candidate is willing, there is also an option to proceed and join this.

As a formal qualification, you must hold a PhD degree (or equivalent) in Physics, Chemistry, Engineering, or Materials Science.

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 terms of employment
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.

The period of employment is until June 2024.

You can read more about career paths at DTU here.

Further information
Further information may be obtained from Suzanne Zamany Andersen (suzan@fysik.dtu.dk) or Mattia Saccoccio (sacco@dtu.dk).

You can read more about DTU Physics at www.fysik.dtu.dk/english.

If you are applying from abroad, you may find useful information on working in Denmark and at DTU at DTU – Moving to Denmark.

Application procedure
Your complete online application must be submitted no later than 13 December 2022 (Danish time).

Applications must be submitted as one PDF file containing all materials to be given consideration. To apply, please open the link "Apply", fill out the online application form, and attach all your materials in English in one PDF file. The file must include:

• Application (cover letter)
• CV
• Academic Diplomas (MSc/PhD – in English)
• List of publications, patents or other merits
• Names and e-mail addresses or telephone numbers of 2 references

Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.

All interested candidates irrespective of age, gender, disability, race, religion or ethnic background are encouraged to apply.

Please write in your application that you've seen the job at Jobfinder.