Structured Sorbent Development for Direct Air Capture
Organization: National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL)
Reference Code: NETL-PGRP-2024-Sekizkardes
Application Deadline
5/15/2024 11:59:00 PM Eastern Time Zone
Description
The National Energy Technology Laboratory's (NETL's) record of success has been built on understanding the future of energy and the technologies required to make that future possible. We’ve long touted our success in developing the technologies that took on acid rain in the 1970s and mercury in the early 2000s. More recently, NETL has a leading role in President Biden’s ambitious climate goals, including a carbon emission-free power sector by 2035 and a net-zero economy by 2050.
Program Goals
The NETL Postgraduate Research Program (PGRP) is a high-intensity program designed to identify recent Master’s and Doctoral graduates of high promise and to foster advanced skill development. It allows the postgraduate to systematically outline career goals and helps provide the means of achieving these goals. NETL principal investigators and leads serve as mentors to PGRP participants during the program. This interaction affords the postgraduate a unique opportunity to develop critical skills needed to become an independent professional.
The program goals include providing the opportunity to participants to:
Develop skills and knowledge in their field of study
Engage with new areas of basic and applied research
Network with world-class scientists
Exchange ideas and skills with the Laboratory community
Use state-of-the-art equipment
Contribute to answers for today's pressing scientific questions
Collaborate with the broader scientific and technical communities
Project Details
Through the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE), this posting seeks a post-Doctoral researcher to engage in projects with the Research Innovation Center (RIC) at the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) in the area of carbon capture under the mentorship of Ali Sekizkardes. This project will be hosted by the NETL Pittsburgh, PA campus.
The goals of this project are to: (1) carry out the synthesis and characterization of sorbents including aminated porous polymers; (2) carry out analytical testing including volumetric sorption analysis and breakthrough sorption analysis; (3) gain experience in collaborative research within supportive interdisciplinary teams; and (4) improve technical writing and oral presentation skills. Peer-reviewed publication is strongly encouraged and will be supported by the mentor and other collaborators, as it an important step for emerging researchers to establish themselves and contribute to the advancement of the state-of-understanding in their field of endeavor. It is not, however, a requirement for this opportunity.
The learning objectives will be:
Novel sorbent synthesis and characterization
Sorbent processing techniques for gas capture applications
Porosity characterization of porous materials
Breakthrough sorption analysis characterization
Gain expertise on direct air capture technologies
Stipend: The selected participant will receive a monthly stipend commensurate with educational level and experience.
Post-Master's stipends start at $3,720 per month.
Post-Doctoral stipends start at $5,518 per month.
Actual stipend rate offered may be increased based on experience.
Deliverables: To document the effectiveness of the program, participants are required to submit a pre-appointment and post-appointment survey, as well as a reflection on their appointment experience when they renew or end their appointment. The reflection should summarize their project(s), additional activities, and overall experience. Details are provided as the appointment end date approaches.
Participants may also have the opportunity to contribute to manuscripts, journal articles, book chapters, conference presentations, posters, patents, and other publications as a part of their appointment. Such achievements should also be reported to ORISE; additional details are provided after an offer has been accepted.
The National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), part of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) national laboratory system, is owned and operated by the DOE. NETL supports the DOE mission to advance the energy security of the United States. This is an educational opportunity offered by NETL and administered by the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education. Participants in the program are not considered employees of NETL, DOE, the program administrator, or any other office or agency.
Qualifications
To be eligible, you must either:
have received a Doctoral degree within the last five years or be currently enrolled in a Doctoral degree program and complete the degree prior to the appointment start date.
have received a Master's degree within the last three years or are currently enrolled in a Master's degree program and complete the degree prior to the appointment start date.
The ideal candidate would have some, but not necessarily all, of the following:
Good understanding of polymer synthesis and simple organic chemistry laboratory techniques
Experience with materials characterization such FTIR, NMR, TGA and DSC
Familiarity with porosity measurement techniques
Knowledge of gas adsorption and breakthrough adsorption analysis
Experience with writing scientific articles
Familiarity with concepts and practical application of carbon capture, especially related to direct air capture
Strong affinity for team-based, inter-disciplinary collaboration on complex research topics in polymer chemistry and carbon capture
Well-developed communication skills
Eligibility Requirements
Degree: Master's Degree or Doctoral Degree received within the last 60 months or currently pursuing.
Discipline(s):
Chemistry and Materials Sciences (12 )
Communications and Graphics Design (2 )
Computer, Information, and Data Sciences (17 )
Earth and Geosciences (21 )
Engineering (27 )
Environmental and Marine Sciences (14 )
Life Health and Medical Sciences (51 )
Mathematics and Statistics (11 )
Physics (16 )
Science & Engineering-related (2 )
Social and Behavioral Sciences (29 )
Age: Must be 18 years of age
Affirmation
I certify that I attend or attended a regionally accredited college or university and:
Have an earned a Doctoral degree no more than five years before the date of application.
OR
Have earned a Master's degree no more than three years before the date of application.
OR
Will receive a Doctoral or Master's degree by the appointment start date
For more information, please visit the job posting at https://zintellect.com/Opportunity/Details/NETL-PGRP-2024-Sekizkardes