PhD Studentship in Heterogeneous Catalysis

Offered

A 30-month predoctoral contract (with possible extension) at the Instituto de Tecnología Química (ITQ, UPV-CSIC).

The Institute

The Instituto de Tecnología Química (ITQ) is a joint research center of the Spanish Research Council (CSIC) and the Polytechnic University of Valencia (UPV), located in the excellent and vibrant UPV Campus at the seaside in Valencia (Spain). It is an international reference center in the area of catalysis and new materials which hosts 33 staff scientists alongside more than 75 PhD and postdoctoral researchers and technical staff members, and holds the Severo Ochoa Excellence accreditation since the creation of this program in 2011, which recognizes and supports Spanish research institutions, from all scientific and technological areas, which demonstrate international scientific leadership through high-impact innovations.

The institute has also a strong ties and long tradition of R&D and technology transfer activities with industrial partners. Visit the website for more information: http://itq.upv-csic.es/en/

The project

The project is supported as part of the funding program Scientific Excellence of Junior Researchers of the Regional Valencian government (SEJI/2018/011) and focuses on the design, synthesis and regio-selective functionalization of solid catalyst materials for processes of relevance in the valorization of carbon resources alternative to petroleum, such as (unconventional) natural gas or bio-syngas into platform chemicals. A central topic of the thesis will be the concept of tandem catalysis, a relevant process intensification strategy relying on the integration of two catalysts to effect sequential catalytic transformations in a single reactor. The ITQ is a multidisciplinary research institute which offers excellent working conditions, high-quality training in scientific, professional and soft skills as well as outstanding facilities to carry out the project.

Candidate qualifications

Candidates should hold a Master degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering or a related discipline. Candidates with a prospective MSc thesis dissertation within the next few months will also be considered. Skills in the synthesis of nanomaterials and/or porous materials, material science characterization methods such as electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, gas physisorption, etc, and catalysis would be highly appreciated albeit not mandatory. The candidate will enroll in a multidisciplinary and international working environment, thus good written and oral communication skills in English are necessary.

Conditions

Beginning: August-October 2018

Salary: ca. 17,000 €/year