PhD Candidate on Transport-Reaction Interplay in Thermal Arc Plasma Source

Welcome to Maastricht University!
Are you passionate about realizing a sustainable and competitive chemical industry? Join our highly dynamic international team at the plasmalab at Maastricht University, working in close cooperation with industry. We are looking for a motivated PhD student to work on establishing and controlling the role of transverse transport in overall reactor heat and mass transfer towards a final goal of engineering a reactor for direct C2H4 production.
 

PhD Candidate on Transport-Reaction Interplay in Thermal Arc Plasma Source

• Our goal: to investigate and control the impact of transverse transport on heat and mass transfer in a thermal arc plasma reactor, with the goal of designing an optimized reactor for direct C2H4 production.
• Your colleagues: As a PhD Candidate, you will work in the plasmalab team in the Faculty of Science and Engineering located at Brightlands Chemelot Campus in Geleen. You will become part of a young international research group, specialized in plasma catalysis.

The development of innovative and green chemical processes is essential for transitioning to a carbon-neutral and energy-efficient society. Methane, a key component of natural gas and a by-product of numerous industrial processes such as naphtha cracking, presents a compelling opportunity. Current practices, such as combusting methane to sustain energy-intensive operations, are increasingly unsustainable in the context of decarbonization efforts and the EU Methane Strategy. The ability to upgrade methane into higher-value products, particularly through plasma-assisted or catalytic methods, is a game-changer for the chemical industries, enabling a dual focus on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and creating economically valuable outputs.

This PhD position is part of PRIME LEAP, a Horizon Europe Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Doctoral Network (MSCA-DN) on the next-generation intensified chemical processes integrating plasma and single-atom catalysis. In this position, the PhD candidate will establish and control the role of transverse transport in overall reactor heat and mass transfer in thermal arc plasma source to engineer a reactor for direct C2H4 production. Specific objectives include establishing evolution of species distributions by in situ line-of-site integrated supercontinuum laser based FTIR measurements in variation of the total arc length, establishing radial gas and plasma temperature profiles with laser scattering at/around the arc exit in variation of the total arc length to benchmark modelling estimates, realization and performance characterization of optimized plasma reactor model, as well as implementation of quench and its performance characterization to implement post catalysis processing.

What you do
In this project, the responsibilities of the PhD Candidate will entail:

• Pave the way towards engineering a thermal arc plasma reactor for direct C2H4 production
• Present your work at international conferences
• Write scientific papers for international peer-reviewed journals
• Provide teaching assistance and/or supervision of students

What we offer
As a PhD Candidate at Faculty of Science & Engineering, you will be employed by the most international university in the Netherlands, located in the beautiful city of Maastricht. In addition, we offer you:

• Good employment conditions. The position is graded in scale P according to UFO profile PhD Candidate, with corresponding salary based on experience ranging from €3.059 and €3.881 gross per month (based on a full-time employment of 38 hours per week). In addition to the monthly salary, an 8.0% holiday allowance and an 8.3% year-end bonus apply.
• An employment contract for a period of 12 months with a scope of 1.0 FTE. Upon a positive evaluation, an extension of 3 years will follow. 
• At Maastricht University, the well-being of our employees is of utmost importance, we offer flexible working hours and the possibility to work partly from home if the nature of your position allows it. You will receive a monthly commuting and internet allowance for this. If you work full-time, you will be entitled to 29 vacation days and 4 additional public holidays per year, namely carnival Monday, carnival Tuesday, Good Friday, and Liberation Day. If you choose to accumulate compensation hours, an additional 12 days will be added. Furthermore, you can personalize your employment conditions through a collective labor agreement (CAO) choice model. 
• As Maastricht University, we offer various other excellent secondary employment conditions. These include a good pension scheme with the ABP and the opportunity for UM employees to participate in company fitness and make use of the extensive sports facilities that we also offer to our students. 
• Last but certainly not least, we provide the space and facilities for your personal and professional development. We facilitate this by offering a wide range of training programs and supporting various well-established initiatives such as 'acknowledge and appreciate'. 

The terms of employment at Maastricht University are largely set out in the collective labor agreement of Dutch Universities. In addition, local provisions specific to UM apply. For more information, click here.

Maastricht University
Why work at Maastricht University?

At Maastricht University (UM), everything revolves around the future. The future of our students, as we work to equip them with a solid, broad-based foundation for the rest of their lives. And the future of society, as we seek solutions through our research to issues from all around the world. Our six faculties combined provide a comprehensive package of study programmes and research.

In our teaching, we use the Problem-Based Learning (PBL) method. Students work in small groups, looking for solutions to problems themselves. By discussing issues and working together to draw conclusions, formulate answers and present them to their peers, students develop essential skills for their future careers.

With over 22,300 students and more than 5,000 employees from all over the world, UM is home to a vibrant and inspiring international community.

Are you drawn to an international setting focused on education, science and scholarship? Are you keen to contribute however your skills and qualities allow? Our door is open to you! As a young European university, we value your talent and look forward to creating the future together.

Click here for more information about UM. 

Faculty of Science and Engineering  
At the Faculty of Science and Engineering (FSE), we focus on themes such as circularity and sustainability, future farming, digitisation and (scientific) instrument development.  FSE's leading projects, like the Einstein Telescope Pathfinder, are sure to grab anyone's attention.  The faculty is a vibrant hub of education and research in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) and Liberal Arts and Sciences (LAS).  At FSE, over 450 staff members and 3700 students gather to explore e exciting interdisciplinary research and educational programmes. Feel welcome, be part of our team and put your brilliant mind to work!  
 

FSE at the Brightlands Campuses  
Maastricht, Sittard-Geleen, Heerlen, and Venlo, the home of four creative Brightlands campuses, are bustling with 30,000 entrepreneurs, researchers, and students working diligently to solve global challenges. The Faculty of Science and Engineering is active on all four Brightlands campuses, and this is where our impact reaches its peak. To give you an idea of what is happening at each campus: Sittard-Geleen is home to the largest chemical site in the Euregion, while Venlo is a large hub for agri-food innovation. Maastricht is the site of the Health Campus, and Heerlen is the place to be for Smart Services.  
 
Curious?
Are you interested in this exciting position but still have questions? Feel free to contact Amir Khodabakhsh at amir.khodabakhsh@maastrichtuniversity.nl for more information. 

Applying?
Or are you already convinced and ready to become our new PhD Candidate? Apply now for this position. We accept applications until the vacancy is filled.

Please upload your CV, motivation letter, and grade list. Note that incomplete applications will not be considered.

The vacancy is open for internal and external candidates. In case of equal qualifications, internal candidates will be prioritized.

Maastricht University is committed to promoting and nurturing a diverse and inclusive community. We believe that diversity in our staff and student population contributes to the quality of research and education at UM, and strive to enable this through inclusive policies and innovative projects led by teams of staff and students. We encourage you to apply for this position.