Full-time Junior assistant(PhD student) in environmental catalysis and technology

Full-time junior assistant (PhD student) in environmental catalysis and technology
Ghent University – Ghent University Global Campus, Korea

– Last application date: the vacancy remains open until a suitable candidate is found. A first evaluation of the received applications will be done on February, 28, 2019.
– Department: KR01 – Centre for Environmental and Energy Research, Ghent University Global Campus
– Contract: 1 year contract, renewable (max. 4 years).
– Degree: Master of Science degree with strong focus on chemistry and engineering.
– Occupancy rate: 100%.
– Vacancy type: Academic Assisting Staff.

Ghent University Global Campus, Korea (GUGC-K) has a vacancy for a position of junior assistant, starting from April, 1, 2019. It concerns a temporary full-time position for a renewable period of max. 4 years.

Profile of the candidate
 You hold from April 2016 (or earlier) a Master of Science degree with strong focus on chemistry and engineering and you have (at least) 3 years of experience;
 You have a good knowledge on chemical/environmental catalysis and technology – biology background is an ad-vantage;
 Having practical laboratory experience with performing catalytic processes and/or have publications in catalysis and characterization of catalysts is an advantage;
 You are strong in mathematical (kinetic) data interpretation and analysis;
 You have good knowledge and skills regarding mathematics and modeling, and you feel comfortable with pro-gramming;
 You are highly motivated to conduct scientific research in preparation of obtaining a PhD degree in the area of experimental catalysis and modeling, with special attention to environmental applications;
 You have an independent research and strong self-learning ability; a creative and inquisitive attitude is a must;
 You have strong didactic, communicative and management skills and a large interest in providing and supporting academic education;
 Educational experience and participation on extra-curriculum training, conferences,… is recommended;
 You have an excellent academic track record, an excellent command of English (a minimum score of 80 on the TOEFL iBT test), and good academic writing and presentation skills.

Job description
 Outlining and performing experiments to characterize metal organic framework (MOF) materials, amongst other catalytic materials. This characterization includes experimental work, performing adsorption and reaction tests (e.g. on a Micromeritics equipment), determining active sites etc… as well as the mathematical analysis of the ac-quired data, i.e., unraveling the ongoing reaction mechanisms.
 The goal of the project is to develop optimal types of MOF for esterification, transesterification, Knoevenagel and/or metathesis reactions. An important (industrial) innovative aspect of the research is the qualification and quantification of reaction products distribution in order to link measured catalytic properties to final products. Turn-over rates, using active sites, will determine state-of-the-art materials in their catalytic performance.
 The scientific research includes both experimental laboratory work and the mathematical analysis of the acquired data;
 You publish your research results in peer-reviewed international journals and actively participates in (in-ter)national conferences;
 You assist actively in writing proposals and grants – together with the promoter;
 Outreach activities are included. This corresponds to an occasional support for recruitment activities, open houses etc…
 You assist your supervisor in teaching undergraduate such as Process Engineering and Chemistry courses at Ghent University Global Campus, Korea.

Starting date: April, 1, 2019.

GUGC-K is the first campus of Ghent University outside Belgium. This brand new campus is located in Incheon, South-Korea. GUGC-K integrates educational and research facilities in a single building. Ghent University has the ambition to organize a first-rate, truly European education in Asia and to develop excellent research in the fields of Molecular biotechnology, Environmental and Food technology.

The terms of employment at GUGC-K are comparable to those at the campus in Ghent. However, free student accommodation and a yearly travel budget are foreseen. GUGC-K is an equal opportunities employer. This position allows promising scientists to carry out research for a period of 4 years. Co-supervision is foreseen from the Ghent University home campus. Research and collaboration at/with Wuhan University of Technology, China, together with one of the colleagues of Prof. Heynderickx is also included in the PhD program. PhD degree diploma will be from Gent University, Belgium.