Postdoctoral Researcher – Heterogeneous catalysis for biomass conversion and plastics recycling

About the role

The RRES Center at NLR has an opening for a full time Postdoctoral Researcher within the Chemical Catalysis and Reaction Engineering group. Our group is conducting research to enable cost-effective processes for biomass and waste feedstock conversion and chemical recycling of waste plastics.

Responsibilities

• Work on projects focused on research and development of heterogeneous catalysts for conversion of multiple feedstocks, including bio-derived substrates and plastics into value-added target products.
• Design new heterogeneous catalysts and use spectroscopic characterization tools to understand how they function.
• Experience in flow chemistry.
• Design, characterize, and evaluate heterogeneous catalysts using authentic bio- and waste-derived feedstocks.
• Work safely and independently in a laboratory setting.
• Learn new techniques and protocols.
• Plan and execute research in collaboration with other researchers.
• Communicate scientific results effectively, both in written and oral formats.
• Author peer-reviewed publications.
• Work effectively in a large, multidisciplinary team of engineers, biologists, and chemists.

Requirements

• Must be a recent PhD graduate within the last three years.
• Must meet educational requirements prior to employment start date.
• Experience in heterogeneous catalysis design and characterization.
• Familiarity with mass transfer effects in reacting systems.
• Experience with heterogeneous catalysis characterization methods (e.g., TPD/TPR, XRD, BET, Raman spectroscopy).
• Troubleshooting and problem-solving skills, and attention to detail.
• Strong record of quality peer-reviewed publications.
• Strong safety record and ability to follow complex standard operating procedures.

Qualifications

• Fundamentally driven ability to design new heterogeneous catalysts.
• Experience in continuous flow reactors.
• Familiarity with bio-derived or waste-derived authentic feedstocks.
• Experience with continuous stirred tank reactors.

Skills

• Experience with relevant analytical methods (e.g., HPLC, GC-MS, NMR spectroscopy).

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• Short-term disability insurance.
• Pension benefits.
• 403(b) Employee Savings Plan with employer match.
• Life and accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) insurance.
• Personal time off (PTO) and sick leave.
• Paid holidays.
• Performance-, merit-, and achievement-based awards.
• Relocation expense reimbursement (if eligible).