Vacancy Postdoctoral Researcher (VUB-CHIS-VAC-X11) - “Development of an experimental and modelling approach for the study of binary gas separation in dynamic conditions”
VUB - Department of Chemical Engineering
The Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB, Belgium), Department of Chemical Engineering, is seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Researcher to join our research activities in the field of adsorption-based gas separation processes for industrial and sustainable process applications.
The successful candidate will develop a method to study of binary gas separation in dynamic conditions. The position involves close collaboration with an industrial partner and offers the opportunity to bridge fundamental research and industrial innovation.
Key responsibilities
- Develop and implement an experimental method for dynamic mixture experiments at elevated pressure, by adapting and optimising an existing experimental setup.
- Develop a model for this system, with as major aim the extraction of transport parameters.
- Conduct parameter estimation, model calibration and validation using experimental data.
- Investigate competitive adsorption equilibria, mass transfer and heat transfer.
- Design, execute and analyse laboratory and pilot-scale experimental campaigns
- Collaborate closely with an industrial partner to address application-driven research challenges
Candidate Profile
Required diploma
- Doctoral degree in Chemical Engineering, Process Engineering or a related discipline. Preference will be given to candidates with a doctoral thesis (PhD) focused on adsorption phenomena and adsorption-based process technologies.
Required experience and competences
- Demonstrated expertise in Adsorption is essential.
- Strong expertise in adsorption equilibrium and kinetics.
- Strong expertise in modeling, process modeling and simulation of adsorption-based separation systems
- Solid background in adsorption science, transport phenomena, separation engineering and numerical modeling techniques
- Strong experience in scientific programming and modeling tools (e.g. MATLAB, Aspen Adsorption, COMSOL or equivalent)
- Proven publication record in peer-reviewed international journals
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
- Excellent communication skills and ability to work in multidisciplinary teams
- Excellent written and oral communication skills in English
Preferred Qualifications
Preference will be given to candidates with:
- Profound knowledge of gas separation technologies such as CO2 capture, hydrogen separation and purification, biogas upgrading, air separation, and related chemical process technologies
- Familiarity with commercial process simulators, custom simulation frameworks, and machine-learning-assisted process modeling
- Experience in operating and analysing laboratory or pilot-scale adsorption units
- Expertise in adsorption characterization and experimental data interpretation.
- Experience in integrating experimental and modeling activities
- Previous collaboration with industrial stakeholders or participation in industry-oriented research projects
- Experience in project reporting and proposal development
- A strong publication record in the field of adsorption, separation processes or process systems engineering
What We Offer
- A full-time postdoctoral position in an internationally recognized research environment
- Opportunities to work on both advanced modeling and experimental research
- Access to state-of-the-art research facilities and computational resources
- Opportunities to collaborate with industrial and academic partners
- A stimulating and multidisciplinary research environment
- Competitive salary and benefits according to VUB regulations
Contract: Full time, effective start as soon as possible
Application procedure:
- Applicants should submit
- motivation letter
- CV
- a list of their 5 most relevant publications, briefly indicate their contribution to each work and explicitly highlight relevance to the advertised position (ref. VAC-X11)
Contact: Send email
- including subject-reference “VUB-CHIS-VAC-X11/postdoctoral researcher”
- to Prof. Joeri Denayer, joeri.denayer@vub.be, and Prof. Tom Van Assche, tom.van.assche@vub.be
Vacancy Postdoctoral Researcher (VUB-CHIS-VAC-X10) - “Modeling and Experimental Validation of Adsorption-Based Separation Processes”
VUB - Department of Chemical Engineering
The Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB, Belgium), Department of Chemical Engineering, is seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Researcher to join our research activities in the field of adsorption-based gas separation processes for industrial and sustainable process applications.
The successful candidate will take a leading role in the development of advanced process models and simulation tools for cyclic adsorption (PSA/VSA/TSA/…) and hybrid separation processes, while also contributing to experimental activities and technology validation. The position involves close collaboration with industrial partners and offers the opportunity to bridge fundamental research and industrial innovation.
Key responsibilities
Develop and validate dynamic process models for cyclic adsorption processes, including Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) and related technologies
Develop and implement numerical methods for solving systems of coupled partial differential and algebraic equations
Conduct parameter estimation, model calibration and validation using experimental data
Perform process simulations and optimization studies for gas separation applications
Investigate adsorption equilibria, mass transfer, heat transfer, and cyclic process performance
Design, execute and analyse laboratory and pilot-scale experimental campaigns
Collaborate closely with industrial partners to address application-driven research challenges
Candidate Profile
Required diploma
Doctoral degree in Chemical Engineering, Process Engineering or a related discipline. Preference will be given to candidates with a doctoral thesis (PhD) focused on adsorption phenomena and adsorption-based process technologies.
Required experience and competences
Demonstrated expertise in Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) modeling is essential
Strong expertise in adsorption equilibrium and kinetic modeling, process modeling and simulation of adsorption-based separation systems
Solid background in adsorption science, transport phenomena, separation engineering and numerical modeling techniques
Strong experience in scientific programming and modeling tools (e.g. MATLAB, Aspen Adsorption, COMSOL or equivalent)
Proven publication record in peer-reviewed international journals
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
Excellent communication skills and ability to work in multidisciplinary teams
Excellent written and oral communication skills in English
Preferred Qualifications
Preference will be given to candidates with:
Profound knowledge of gas separation technologies such as CO2 capture, hydrogen separation and purification, biogas upgrading, air separation, and related chemical process technologies
Familiarity with commercial process simulators, custom simulation frameworks, and machine-learning-assisted process modeling
Experience in operating and analysing laboratory or pilot-scale adsorption units
Expertise in adsorption characterization and experimental data interpretation.
Experience in integrating experimental and modeling activities
Previous collaboration with industrial stakeholders or participation in industry-oriented research projects
Experience in project reporting and proposal development
A strong publication record in the field of adsorption, separation processes or process systems engineering
What We Offer
A full-time postdoctoral position in an internationally recognized research environment
Opportunities to work on both advanced modeling and experimental research
Access to state-of-the-art research facilities and computational resources
Opportunities to collaborate with industrial and academic partners
A stimulating and multidisciplinary research environment
Competitive salary and benefits according to VUB regulations
Contract: Full time, effective start as soon as possible
Application procedure:
Applicants should submit
motivation letter
CV
a list of their 5 most relevant publications, briefly indicate their contribution to each work and explicitly highlight relevance to the advertised position (ref. VAC-X10)
Contact: Send email
including subject-reference “VUB-CHIS-VAC-X10/postdoctoral researcher”
to Prof. Joeri Denayer, joeri.denayer@vub.be, and Prof. Tom Van Assche, tom.van.assche@vub.be
Spontaneous applications
Spontaneous applications are always welcomed and reviewed with interest.
We offer a young, dynamic and stimulating work environment, contacts and collaboration with leading research groups and companies, the possibility to present research results at international conferences, and extra-legal benefits such as free public transport, biking fee for work traffic, use of sports facilities and student restaurant at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel.
The research areas within our research group can be found on this website, so feel free to check them out.
Profile for post-doc: Preferably, you own a PhD in (Chemical) Engineering, Chemistry or Bio-engineering. You have the necessary skills and expertise to work in the department’s research areas. You are able to work independently and accurately. You can work together with other people and when necessary guide fellow researchers in the research topic. You have good communicative skills (written and oral). You have a good knowledge of English, good knowledge of Dutch is a plus.
Application and contact: According to the desired research topic, the candidates should contact the relevant lead scientist (check our staff page for all contact details).