University of Strathclyde
Location
Glasgow | United Kingdom
Job description
Salary: £36,024 - £44,263 per annum
FTE: 1.0 Term: Fixed to 05 September 2027 Closing Date: 25 March 2024 The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering seeks to recruit a talented researcher for a 42-month Research Associate position to work on mechanochemical carbon capture in silicate rocks. This position is funded by the EPSRC MACO2 project: ‘Mechanochemical processing of silicate rocks for direct carbon capture’ led by Prof Rebecca Lunn. The aim of the project is to develop a mechanochemical carbon capture process to decarbonize traditionally difficult-to-decarbonize processes such as cement manufacturing and mining. The project is based on our exciting new finding (published in Nature Sustainability) that we can use mechanical energy to trap CO2 into common rocks, such as granite and basalt. Once trapped, the CO2 remains insoluble and thermally stable, making this a promising carbon capture technique during rock crushing. The research will focus on identifying where and how the CO2 is chemically trapped within rocks during mechanochemical reactions and to understand the factors that affect trapping efficiency (e.g. temperature, rock type, humidity, gas composition and pressure). The successful researcher will be an enthusiastic individual who is keen to work as part of a multi-disciplinary team conducting laboratory-based research in a new field that has the potential to increase our ability to meet net zero carbon targets by 2050. The project will investigate mechanochemical reactions under different pressures, temperatures, and gas compositions. The candidate will be required to deploy a number of laboratory techniques, including: Elemental Analysis, Mass Spectrometry, X-Ray Diffraction, X-Ray Photoemission Spectroscopy, Infrared Reflection Absorption Spectroscopy (IRRAS), Scanning Electron Microscope, and X-Ray Microtomography. We do not expect candidates to already be proficient in these techniques, however, experience of some would be advantageous. The successful researcher will be based in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, UK and will have the opportunity to integrate and work alongside our industrial project advisory board, which includes Weir Group, Satarla and Drax. They will also have the opportunity to conduct research using spectroscopy equipment and Brookhaven National Laboratories in the USA, who are supporting the project. You will join a diverse and multidisciplinary team composed of three academic staff, two post-doctoral researchers, and two PhD students. The Department has over £6.2 million of current UKRI research projects in the Centre for Ground Engineering and Energy Geosciences and the researcher will join an enthusiastic and friendly team of postgraduate and postdoctoral researchers that research a range solutions increasing climate resilience and meeting Net Zero carbon targets. To be considered for the role, you should have a relevant undergraduate degree (e.g. Materials science, Chemistry, Environmental Chemistry, Physics, Geoscience or another relevant Science or Engineering degree) and have successfully completed a PhD in a relevant or transferable field (e.g. Direct air capture, mineral chemistry, crystalline materials, physical chemistry, mineralogy). You should be creative, with the ability to apply initiative and problem solve and have excellent communication skills. Informal enquiries about the post can be directed to Professor Rebecca Lunn, Professor of Ground Engineering, ([email protected]).Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme
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Job tags
Salary
£36.02k - £44.26k per annum
