EngD Position: RWE – Carbon Capture optimization (1.0 FTE) (V24.0330)

The University of Groningen is committed to strengthening the Northern Netherlands by addressing modern challenges such as energy transition and sustainability. The Faculty of Science and Engineering (FSE) contributes to this mission by training skilled professionals through our new EngD programme in Sustainable Process Design. This 2-year post-master design programme, closely collaborating with local companies, focuses on the direct needs of the industry.

The Engineering and Technology Institute Groningen (ENTEG-part of the FSE) of the University of Groningen is offering a fully funded 2-year position to master graduates leading to the award of an EngD (Engineering Doctorate) degree. The EngD programme includes specialized EngD and professionalization courses at the University of Groningen and a design project which will be performed at RWE. The offered position is in the context of the project RWE – Carbon Capture optimization. The appointment is for two years starting in September 2024.

RWE is one of the world's leading players in the field of energy generation from renewable sources such as wind and solar. The company develops, builds and operates in more than 20 countries on five continents and aims to rapidly expand the number of sustainable energy generating processes.

RWE is developing BECCUS (Bio- Energy, Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage) at their Amer and Eemshaven power stations. With this development, a total of 14 million tons of CO2 can be removed from the atmosphere every year, resulting in negative emissions while providing power and heat for the Dutch market.

While RWE is developing the design for the Eemshaven and Amer power stations with their partners, the system design is to be evaluated and optimization options are to be explored. As a EngD, you will be the link between the academic insights in carbon capture technology, the proposed design by the partners of RWE, and provide system analyses, optimization options, and design proposals for the carbon capture plant. The goal of the project at RWE will give insights into the optimization options for the amine-based carbon capture system and their impact on the CapEx and OpEx.

The project will be executed in hybrid mode at the power station in Eemshaven (NL), at the headquarters in Essen (D) and from home. You will be working with an international Strategic Development team and RWEs international engineering team.

Organization
The University of Groningen (UG) is a research university with a global outlook, but deeply rooted in Groningen, City of Talent. Quality has been a top priority for over four hundred years, and with success: the university is currently in the top 100 of several influential ranking lists.

The Faculty of Science and Engineering (FSE) offers education and research in a wide range of science disciplines, from traditional disciplines such as physics and biology to interdisciplinary disciplines such as artificial intelligence, industrial engineering and management. The FSE is one of the largest faculties of the UG, home to 14 BSc programmes and 27 MSc programmes. Within the FSE, the Graduate School of Science and Engineering (GSSE) is responsible for hosting the faculty’s 1200 or more PhD candidates and the new EngD trainees, the majority of whom are from abroad.

We are looking for candidates who meet the following requirements:

• Master’s degree in Chemical Engineering (or related).
• Excellent marks on the master diploma.
• Highly command of English language (verbally and written).

Applicants whose first language is not English must submit evidence of competency in English, please see University of Groningen’s English Language Requirements for details.

• In addition to the selection criteria, the following personal competences/skills are important:

o highly motivated towards the project and EngD programme;o creative and design skills;
o team player;
o ability to work in an international team and collaborate with different levels of companies’ employees in a professional way.

You feel responsible for your EngD project and can work in sociable autonomy. Your proactive attitude enables you to identify bottlenecks and to approach them in a positive, problem-solving manner. You have strong communication skills and know how to get things done.

The University of Groningen offers you in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities:

• a salary, depending on work experience and qualifications, with gross monthly salary of € 2,618 per month (salary scale TOIO) for a 2-year full-time position
• a holiday allowance of 8% gross annual income
• an 8.3% end-of-the-year allowance
• pension and healthcare benefits
• entitlement to a minimum of 29 holidays per year for full-time employment
• eligibility for the 30% tax compensation scheme for international candidates
• access to RUG's campus facilities, including sports amenities
• you will receive a certified Engineering Doctorate (EngD) degree after completing the programme successfully and recognition by the Royal Institution of Engineers in the Netherlands (KIVI).

Preferred start date: 1 September 2024

Consider our website for more information about the conditions of employment at the University of Groningen: https://www.rug.nl/feb/organization/work-with-us/terms-benefits/terms-of-employment?lang=en

You may apply for this position until 7 July 11:59pm / before 8 July 2024 Dutch local time (CEST) by means of the application form (click on "Apply" below on the advertisement on the university website).

Please provide the following application documents:

• motivation letter in which you indicate why you would like to work on that particular project and why you like to start the EngD programme
• Curriculum Vitae (CV) with passport photo
• proof of English proficiency
• Master certificate with grades and courses taken (translated by the certification institute)
• course descriptions of the Master programme of the certification institute (University) with links to the course descriptions
• detailed summary of the Master’s thesis
• two letters of recommendation from academic staff or from the last supervisor(s). The letter can be scanned and send with together with all other application documents.

The time and day of the interview with the potential candidates will be announced after the application deadline.

The University of Groningen strives to be a university in which students and staff are respected and feel at home, regardless of differences in background, experiences, perspectives, and identities. We believe that working on our core values of inclusion and equality are a joint responsibility and we are constructively working on creating a socially safe environment. Diversity among students and staff members enriches academic debate and contributes to the quality of our teaching and research. We therefore invite applicants from underrepresented groups in particular to apply. For more information, see also our diversity policy webpage: https://www.rug.nl/about-ug/policy-and-strategy/diversity-and-inclusion/

Our selection procedure follows the guidelines of the Recruitment code (NVP): https://www.nvp-hrnetwerk.nl/nl/sollicitatiecode and European Commission's European Code of Conduct for recruitment of researchers: https://euraxess.ec.europa.eu/jobs/charter/code

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