Job description:
The LSRE – Laboratory of Separation and Reaction Engineering – in partnership with the LCM – Laboratory of Catalysis and Materials – holds the statute of “Laboratório Associado” since December 2004. Both the LSRE and the LCM are located in the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto. The attribution of the statute of “Laboratório Associado” was based on the verification of the needs for developing certain areas of the national industrial tissue and the will of enlarging its influence area to the society in general, realizing missions of public interest which, beyond the R&D activities, can be classified as rendering services to the chemical and similar industries, with the objective of a sustained technological and industrial development.
Information about the past, recent and current research projects in which the LSRE and the LCM were involved, together with a short description of the achieved results, can be found in the Website of the Laboratório Associado (http://www.fe.up.pt/lcm).
The objectives of the LCM are the development of materials and chemical processes with applications in Nanotechnology, Fine Chemistry, Energy and Environment, as well as the advanced training in these domains. The activities of the LCM are centred in two main areas, namely Catalysis (enantioselective catalysts for Fine Chemistry, nanostructured catalysts for clean chemical processes, catalytic processes for the conversion of alternative feedstocks, environmental catalysis and photocatalysis) and Carbon Materials (nanotubes and carbon filaments for nanotechnologies, carbon molecular sieves for separation of gases, carbon fibres, activated carbons for adsorption and catalysis).
We are seeking a highly motivated, energetic, results-oriented research investigator to work in the area of heterogeneous catalysis applied to nanotechnologies, energy and environmental protection. The LCM intends to hire one researcher to work on the design, synthesis and characterization of nanostructured heterogeneous carbon catalysts and metal-oxide/carbon composite materials with enhanced catalytic properties. Some of the research topics may include a) study of applications involving efficient catalysts or adsorbents in environmental protection; b) incorporating carbon nanostructured materials in advanced textile products; c) heterogeneous catalysts for synthesis of fine chemicals and intermediates; d) supported catalysts for conversion of renewable feedstock; e) and novel methods of energy production. The candidate should have a PhD in Chemical Engineering or related areas, with preferably a minimum of 3 years of research experience, and a multidisciplinary skill set. Accountable skills in electrocatalysis may be used as a factor of preference. The open place will be effective only after the corresponding approval by FCT.
Besides the participation in ongoing projects, the activity of the successful candidate(s) will include the supervising of PhD students and other young researchers, the preparation of proposals to R&D projects both at national and international levels, the accompanying of master projects and the participation in the management of the Laboratory. It should be able to organize and maintain experimental documentation.
The initial selection is documental and based in the following items: (1) an application letter directed to the Director of the Laboratory stating the underlying reasons of the application; (2) detailed curriculum vitae; (3) one three-year R&D research program (maximum of two A4 pages); (4) reference letters; (5) graduation certificate. If necessary, the evaluation may be done in two phases. The second phase will consist of a personal interview, presentation of a seminar or elaboration of a specific research project, and is reserved to a limited number of candidates selected from the first phase.
The full application should be enclosed in an envelope, correctly addressed with the indication of the corresponding reference, and personally delivered or sent by registered surface mail to the given address until September 10, 2008. One CD with a digital copy of all the documentation should also be included.
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