Job description

Tianjin, China

Post-doctoral Associate positions are available in the School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University. Start date and term of appointment will vary according to the time and duration of grants and contracts. the annual base salary for this position is 42,000 to 83,000 USD depending on the candidate’s experience and qualification upon discussions with current faculty members. The post-doctoral associate conducts research or service that provides further development of career skills or allows them opportunities to learn new research techniques. They are trained by and work in conjunction with a faculty mentor who determines the training agenda. Post-doctoral associates may supervise graduate students and laboratory personnel.

Detailed Research Directions:

1. AI for chemical reactions
   1. Develop efficient catalyst performance prediction models and descriptors based on first-principles calculations.
   2. Explore the application of large-scale AI models in high-throughput catalyst screening and performance simulation.
2. Thermal Catalysis
   1. Conduct catalyst scale-up preparation for alkane dehydrogenation and CO₂ hydrogenation; optimize reactor design and process workflows.
   2. Develop novel green and low-carbon reaction pathways and processes for alkane conversion, olefin epoxidation, and electric-field-coupled transformations.
3. Electrocatalysis
   1. Develop scale-up processes for electrocatalytic CO₂ reduction reactors and achieve stable system operation.
   2. Establish characterization methods for MEA-based electrocatalytic reaction conditions and elucidate in-situ microscopic mechanisms of the reaction process.
4. Solid waste Recycling
   1. Design new catalysts and reaction processes (microwave, plasma, Joule heating) for value-added conversion of plastics, tires, and other materials.
   2. Develop advanced characterization techniques to investigate mass transfer, heat transfer, and reaction mechanisms during the catalytic process.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. obtained within the past five years or near completion.
• Independent research capability, strong motivation for innovation and interdisciplinary work, and willingness to tackle challenging tasks.
• Responsible, motivated, excellence-driven, with craftsmanship spirit and teamwork awareness.
• Strong English skills in reading, writing, listening, and speaking
• At least one high-level first-author publication in a related field.

About the Team
The Post-doctoral Associate position is in the Energy & Catalysis Adventure Team (ECAT), School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University. Our team focuses on fundamental and applied research in the field of new energy chemical engineering, concentrating on industrial catalysis, chip chemical engineering, new energy, hydrogen energy, and artificial intelligence. Using a parallel approach of experimentation and theory, we conduct research on topics such as propane dehydrogenation, photocatalytic water splitting, thermal/electro-catalytic CO2 reduction, battery energy storage, and plastic resource utilization. For more information, please visit our website: http://gonglab.tju.edu.cn/. Welcome young talents who are interested in making contributions in the fields of heterogeneous catalysis, surface chemistry, and chemical reaction engineering to join us.

How to apply

Interested candidates should send their application materials to [email protected]. Please use the subject line: “[Name] + [EYSFP (Overseas)] + [University] + [Major].” Qualified applicants will be notified for interviews.

Application materials should include:

1. Curriculum Vitae (including a list of academic achievements)
2. Statement of research interests, proposed postdoctoral research plan, and future career goals
3. A one-page summary of the doctoral dissertation and other documents demonstrating research capability
4. Three letters of recommendation