PhD within Thermodynamics of CO₂-rich mixtures relevant for transport of CO₂ from industrial source

About the position

We have a vacancy for a PhD candidate position at the Department of Chemical Engineering. The period of employment is 3 years.

The Department of Chemical Engineering covers a wide variety of research areas including biorefinery and fiber technology, catalysis, colloid and polymer chemistry, environmental engineering and reactor technology and process systems engineering. The Environmental Engineering and Reactor Technology group is the largest group at the department with long tradition within the research topic of CO2 capture from exhaust gases and natural gas sweetening. The CO2 capture research includes theoretical and experimental activities within screening of new absorbents, measurements and modeling of phase equilibria, thermal properties, transport properties and kinetics, characterization of environmental impacts, and testing and validation in laboratory scale and in pilot plants. Further information about the department is available at: https://www.ntnu.edu/chemeng

For a position as a PhD Candidate, the goal is a completed doctoral education up to an obtained doctoral degree.

The announced PhD projects aims to improve the understanding of the impact of impurities on phase equilibria of CO2-rich streams at different conditions relevant for CO2 transport. A comprehensive study is planned to measure phase equilibrium data, critical for CO2 transport networks from industrial sources, and to validate existing models by comparing them and fitting their parameters to experimental data.

The PhD position is a part of the MACON CCS project https://www.sintef.no/en/projects/2021/macon-ccs/ . The PhD research work will be undertaken in close collaboration with SINTEF Energy Research (SER) and in dialogue with the four industry partners of MACON CCS. Advanced ECCSEL facilities of SER will be used for the experimental work of the PhD candidate (https://www.eccsel.org/catalogue/112,  https://www.eccsel.org/catalogue/169  ).

You will report to your supervisor.

Duties of the position

The PhD research work will involve:

• Selection of the chemical systems to be experimentally examined based on data situation in open literature sources and relevance for the scope of the project
• Preparation and execution of experimental measurements of thermodynamic properties and behaviour
• Data assessment and data fitting of existing thermodynamic property models

The candidate is further expected to:

• Participate actively in group, institute, and project activities
• Collaborate with other students and research partners
• Mentor and co-supervise MSc students
• Present project results at project meetings, workshops, and conferences
• Write scientific papers

Required selection criteria

The PhD-position’s main objective is to qualify for work in research positions. The qualification requirement is that you have completed a master’s degree or second degree (equivalent to 120 credits) with a strong academic background in chemical engineering, thermodynamics, physics, or equivalent education with a grade of B or better in terms of NTNU’s grading scale . If you do not have letter grades from previous studies, you must have an equally good academic foundation. If you are unable to meet these criteria you may be considered only if you can document that you are particularly suitable for education leading to a PhD degree.

The appointment is to be made in accordance with the regulations in force concerning State Employees and Civil Servants and national guidelines for appointment as PhD, post doctor and research assistant.

You must have:

• A professionally relevant background in chemical engineering, thermodynamics, physics, or associated fields
• Knowledge of thermodynamic fundamentals and data handling
• Experience with experimental work
• Experience with writing scientific reports and papers
• Experienced with preparing and delivering scientific presentations
• Good written and oral English and Scandinavian language skills

Applicants who do not master a Scandinavian language must provide evidence of good English language skills, written and spoken. The following tests can be used as such documentation: TOEFL, IELTS or Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English (CAE) or Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE). Minimum scores are: TOEFL: 600 (paper-based test), 92 (Internet-based test); IELTS: 6.5, with no section lower than 5.5 (only Academic IELTS test accepted); CAE/CPE: grade B or A. (In extraordinary circumstances, formal documentation of language skills can be relinquished. In such cases, the candidate’s language skills will be assessed in a personal interview).

Personal characteristics

• Practical and creative
• Self-driven and persistent
• Good communicator
• Relation builder and team player
• Enthusiastic and positive

We offer

Salary and conditions

PhD candidates are remunerated in code 1017, and are normally remunerated at gross from NOK 491 200 per annum before tax, depending on qualifications and seniority. From the salary, 2% is deducted as a contribution to the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund.

The period of employment is 3 years.

Appointment to a PhD position requires that you are admitted to the PhD programme in Chemical engineering (Department of Chemical Engineering – NTNU )  within three months of employment, and that you participate in an organized PhD programme during the employment period.

The engagement is to be made in accordance with the regulations in force concerning State Employees and Civil Servants, and the acts relating to Control of the Export of Strategic Goods, Services and Technology. Candidates who by assessment of the application and attachment are seen to conflict with the criteria in the latter law will be prohibited from recruitment to NTNU. After the appointment you must assume that there may be changes in the area of work.

The position is subject to external funding.

It is a prerequisite you can be present at and accessible to the institution daily.

About the application

The application and supporting documentation to be used as the basis for the assessment must be in a Scandinavian language or English.

Publications and other scientific work must follow the application. Please note that applications are only evaluated based on the information available on the application deadline. You should ensure that your application shows clearly how your skills and experience meet the criteria which are set out above. 

The application must include:

• CV, certificates and diplomas
• Transcripts and diplomas for bachelor’s and master’s degrees. If you have not completed the master’s degree, you must submit a confirmation that the master’s thesis has been submitted.
• A copy of the master’s thesis. If you recently have submitted your master’s thesis, you can attach a draft of the thesis. Documentation nof a completed master’s degree must be presented before taking up the position.
• If you have publications or another relevant research work
• Name and contact information of three referee

If all, or parts, of your education has been taken abroad, we also ask you to attach documentation of the scope and quality of your entire education, both bachelor’s and master’s education, in addition to other higher education. Description of the documentation required can be found here . If you already have a statement from NOKUT, please attach this as well.

Joint works will be considered. If it is difficult to identify your contribution to joint works, you must attach a brief description of your participation.

In the evaluation of which candidate is best qualified, emphasis will be placed on education, experience and personal and interpersonal qualities. Motivation, ambitions, and potential will also count in the assessment of the candidates.

NTNU is committed to following evaluation criteria for research quality according to The San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment – DORA.

General information

Working at NTNU

A good work environment is characterized by diversity. We encourage qualified candidates to apply, regardless of their gender, functional capacity or cultural background. 

The city of Trondheim is a modern European city with a rich cultural scene. Trondheim is the innovation capital of Norway with a population of 200,000. The Norwegian welfare state, including healthcare, schools, kindergartens and overall equality, is probably the best of its kind in the world. Professional subsidized day-care for children is easily available. Furthermore, Trondheim offers great opportunities for education (including international schools) and possibilities to enjoy nature, culture and family life and has low crime rates and clean air quality.

As an employee at NTNU, you must at all times adhere to the changes that the development in the subject entails and the organizational changes that are adopted.

Information Act (Offentleglova), your name, age, position and municipality may be made public even if you have requested not to have your name entered on the list of applicants.

If you have any questions about the position, please contact Prof. Jana P. Jakobsen via email jana.p.jakobsen@ntnu.no .
If you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact HR Adviser Nina Sandberg, e-mail: nina.sandberg@ntnu.no

Please submit your application electronically via jobbnorge.no with your CV, diplomas and certificates. Applications submitted elsewhere will not be considered. Diploma Supplement is required to attach for European Master Diplomas outside Norway. Chinese applicants are required to provide confirmation of Master Diploma from China Credentials Verification (CHSI) .

If you are invited for interview you must include certified copies of transcripts and reference letters. Please refer to the application number NVD 111/22 when applying.

Application deadline: 01.11.2022

NTNU – knowledge for a better world

The Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) creates knowledge for a better world and solutions that can change everyday life.

Department of Chemical Engineering 

We take chemistry from laboratory scale to industrial production. This demands a wide range of knowledge, from molecular processes and nanotechnology to building and operation of large processing plants. We educate graduates for some of Norway’s most important industries. The Department of Chemical Engineering is one of eight departments in the Faculty of Natural Sciences.  

Deadline 1st November 2022
Employer NTNU – Norwegian University of Science and Technology
Municipality Trondheim
Scope Fulltime
Duration Temporary
Place of service Gløshaugen Trondheim