Position Description
Area: Design and Assessment of CDR Technologies
Duration: One year, with possibility of renewal
Start Date: Immediate
Salary: $55,000 CAD per year, plus a comprehensive benefits package
The Schulich School of Engineering at the University of Calgary is accepting applications for up to three (3) Postdoctoral Scholars focusing on design and assessment of carbon dioxide removal (CDR) technologies. These Postdoctoral Scholars will be housed in the Departments of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering or Civil Engineering depending on the candidate’s background and experience. They will be part of an interdisciplinary team working to assess the potential of CDR technologies to meet Canada’s 2050 net-zero goal and to identify policy options that could enable sustainable, equitable, and rapid deployment of CDR in appropriate contexts.
Job Description:
The successful applicants will focus on system-level design and optimization, techno-economic assessment (TEA), and life cycle assessment (LCA) of Direct Air Capture (DAC), Enhanced Mineralization (EM), or biomass-based (e.g., BiCRS, BECCS) technologies. They will work closely with project investigators, who have expertise in the science and engineering of DAC and EM technologies and in LCA and TEA of emerging technologies and systems, to convert early-stage technology concepts into practical systems and assess the prospective environmental and economic performance of such systems. They will primarily conduct modeling studies but will have the opportunity to collaborate with researchers conducting laboratory experiments. In addition, they will have the opportunity to mentor graduate (PhD and MSc) students working on related projects. The initial appointment is for one year and may be renewable for a second year, contingent on satisfactory performance and availability of funding.
Qualifications:
The successful candidate will have a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering or another relevant engineering discipline and will have demonstrated skills in system-level modeling and analysis (i.e., LCA or TEA). Clear interest in innovation and interdisciplinary work in the area should be expressed in the cover letter. Preference will be given to applicants who can start immediately.
In addition, the candidate should have the following qualifications:
• The candidate must have been awarded a PhD or equivalent within the five years immediately preceding the job posting date.
• Demonstrated knowledge of separations processes, particularly as applied in point source or direct air CO2 capture technologies; mineralization reactions, particularly as applied to enhanced weathering; or, bioenergy systems.
• Experience with process simulation (e.g., using Aspen Plus/HYSYS, Symmetry) and life cycle assessment tools (e.g., OpenLCA, Brightway2), databases (e.g., ecoinvent), and methods.
• Strong written communication skills, preferably demonstrated in writing of peer-review publication and technical reports.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively with an interdisciplinary group involving students and faculty from a range of backgrounds, as well as external stakeholders.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to interact with internal and external stakeholders.
• Advanced skills in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Efficient organizational and time management skills in setting priorities and accomplishing tasks within deadlines.
Application Details:
Apply via the UCalgary Careers web portal before June 30, 2023 at 11:59 pm (MDT). All applications must include:
• A cover letter that explains your motivation and fit for the role, including a brief summary of past, current and future research interests and accomplishments, and a firm date of availability.
• Your current curriculum vitae (CV).
• An official (or unofficial) copy of diploma(s)/university certificate(s).
• The name and contact information including email addresses for at least two (2) referees who have knowledge of your research and academic experience.
Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.
Only those applicants selected for interviews will be contacted further. In accordance with Canadian Immigration requirements, priority will be given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada, although others are encouraged to apply.
Additional Information
To learn more about postdoctoral scholar opportunities at the University of Calgary and all we have to offer, view our Postdoc Careers website. For more information visit Careers in the Schulich School of Engineering.
The University strongly recommends all faculty and staff are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
About the University of Calgary
The University of Calgary is Canada’s leading next-generation university – a living, growing and youthful institution that embraces change and opportunity with a can-do attitude. Located in the nation’s most enterprising city, the university is making tremendous progress on its Eyes High journey to be recognized as one of Canada’s top five research universities, grounded in innovative learning and teaching and fully integrated with the community it both serves and leads. The University of Calgary inspires and supports discovery, creativity and innovation across all disciplines. For more information, visit ucalgary.ca.
To succeed as one of Canada’s top universities, where new ideas are created, tested and applied through first-class teaching and research, the University of Calgary needs more of the best minds in our classrooms and labs. We’re increasing our scholarly capacity by investing in people who want to change the world, bringing the best and brightest to Calgary to form a global intellectual hub and achieve advances that matter to everyone. For more information visit research.ucalgary.ca/postdocs.
About Calgary, Alberta
Calgary is one of the world's cleanest cities and has been named one of the world's most livable cities for years. Calgary is a city of leaders – in business, community, philanthropy and volunteerism. Calgarians benefit from the strongest economy in the nation and enjoy more days of sunshine per year than any other major Canadian city. Calgary is less than an hour’s drive from the Rocky Mountains and boasts the most extensive urban pathway and bikeway network in North America.
The University of Calgary has launched an institution-wide Indigenous Strategy in line with the foundational goals of Eyes High, committing to creating a rich, vibrant, and culturally competent campus that welcomes and supports Indigenous Peoples, encourages Indigenous community partnerships, is inclusive of Indigenous perspectives in all that we do.
As an equitable and inclusive employer, the University of Calgary recognizes that a diverse staff/faculty benefits and enriches the work, learning and research experiences of the entire campus and greater community. We are committed to removing barriers that have been historically encountered by some people in our society. We strive to recruit individuals who will further enhance our diversity and will support their academic and professional success while they are here. In particular, we encourage members of the designated groups (women, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, members of visible/racialized minorities, and diverse sexual orientation and gender identities) to apply. To ensure a fair and equitable assessment, we offer accommodation at any stage during the recruitment process to applicants with disabilities. Questions regarding [diversity] EDI at UCalgary can be sent to the Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion ([email protected]) and requests for accommodations can be sent to Human Resources ([email protected]).