Postdoctoral fellow

ABOUT GHENT UNIVERSITY

Ghent University is a world of its own. Employing more than 15.000 people, it is actively involved in education and research, management and administration, as well as technical and social service provision on a daily basis. It is one of the largest, most exciting employers in the area and offers great career opportunities.

With its 11 faculties and more than 85 departments offering state-of-the-art study programmes grounded in research in a wide range of academic fields, Ghent University is a logical choice for its staff and students.

ABOUT THE RESEARCH UNIT PLASMA TECHNOLOGY
RUPT has built up recognized expertise in the field of atmospheric pressure plasmas and plasma technology. The successful development of different plasma concepts has launched RUPT into numerous interdisciplinary collaborations exploring a wide range of applications in environmental technology and materials science with Plasma for waste management and green technology considered as strategic extensions to explore new plasma physics.

YOUR TASKS

The overall goal of the SUSPLASM project is to design and develop innovative, sustainable, fully electrified, green advanced thermal plasma-based gasification with zero or even negative CO2 footprint for the treatment of challenging waste streams containing complex organic pollutants and (micro)plastics. The main purpose of plasma gasification of complexed organic waste is to produce syngas, a valuable precursor to different renewable chemicals and fuels. This is a radical difference with combustion (incineration) where the main purpose is material decomposition to CO2 and water with no added value foreseen. Although non-plasma gasification technologies also enjoy the advantage of producing syngas, such processes are constrained by the fact that they are unsuitable for removal of recalcitrant organic pollutants or synthetic materials, whereas plasma technology has the benefit of combining both the removal of pollutants and producing valorisable off-gas.The latter can be used as a renewable source of H2 and CO for the synthesis of valuable chemicals and materials, the reduction of iron in steel manufacturing, and the production of fertilizer, combined with the recovery of value-added inorganic substances such as phosphorus (i.e. combined valorisation of waste energy and materials). The potential of thermal plasma technology is groundbreaking and attractive because it contributes to a circular economy model, in which value can be assigned to waste, while at the same time producing syngas and using a technology that perfectly matches clean, renewable energy.

SUSPLASM is a joint initiative of partners from Ghent University, University of Antwerp, and Institute of Plasma Physics, Prague, with the intention to establish a new technology in the field of thermal plasma processing of complex organic waste streams with zero or even negative CO2 footprint and synthesis of valuable chemicals, and the production of syngas to feed the growing demand of the hydrogen chemistry economy. The main objective of this multidisciplinary project is the experimental and computational (through plasma chemistry and reactor modelling) investigation of possible approaches to process complex organic waste streams with the aid of plasma high-temperature gasification for the generation of syngas as a valuable chemical

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

• You hold a doctoral degree or a diploma or certificate recognized as equivalent by law or in application of the guidelines of the European Union or a bilateral agreement.
• In exceptional circumstances and based on detailed scientific justification, researchers who do not hold such a degree may also be considered, provided they have demonstrated exceptional scientific merit.
• Exceptional scientific merit is defined as having excelled in scientific research and publications at a level at least equivalent to a doctoral degree.
• The grant can only be awarded within the framework of international scientific mobility. This is the case if:
  • the researcher has resided abroad for at least 24 months out of the 3 years prior to the start date of the postdoctoral fellowship and has not worked or studied in Belgium during that period. However, short-term stays in Belgium are allowed during 24 months, such as holidays, participation in conferences or a short stay to prepare for the period as a postdoctoral researcher
  • the researcher is funded by the Marie- Sklodovska-Curie Action (MSCA) and thus meets the associated mobility conditions.
  • Only for postdoctoral researchers in international mobility

We are looking for a candidate to study a novel pathway in organo-synthetic waste utilization by microwave plasma technology. The research will be performed in RUPT (Research Unit Plasma Technology, Ghent University), Belgium.

RUPT is seeking candidates with a PhD in chemical engineering, applied physics, or electrical engineering. Candidates must demonstrate a strong background in plasma physics and the design of plasma (chemical) reactors. Previous experience with microwave (MW) plasma and the design of MW reactors for the gasification of solids is highly desirable.
Applicants are required to possess English language proficiency at level B2, which must be demonstrated by the time of enrolment. Additionally, candidates must have at least three publications in peer-reviewed journals related to the project's scope. These publications must be either published or accepted for publication by the application deadline.

WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU

• RUPT offers a full time position as a post-doctoral fellow, with a minimum period of 2 years. 
• In deviation the above, an EEA national, who has previously received a postdoctoral grant in the 12 months prior to an MSCA grant, can exceed the maximum term of 36 months under this MSCA grant provided that the entire term does not exceed 48 months.
• The position will focus on development of microwave thermal plasma in the content of complex waste utilization and transfer the waste to valuable products. The work consists of:
  (i) Design of microwave (MW) plasma reactor
  (ii) supervision of the reactor installation
  (iii) investigation of chemical kinetics of MW plasma, coupled with optical emission diagnostics of the plasma properties
  (iv) gas phase analysis of the stable products.
  The candidate is employed as a post-doc and will coordinate the work of PhD students and scientific part of the project execution related to MW reactor installation and process diagnostics.
  
  
• Work for an interdisciplinary project on cutting edge science; international recognized team; very competitive scholarship; access to state-of-the-art equipment and plasma diagnostics platform at RUPT. The candidate will be able to gain experience in the areas of chemical engineering, waste management by plasma gasification, and plasma technology.
• The grant amount is equal to the net salary of a doctoral assistant (AAP 5) with the same level of education and seniority and based on the same family situation as the doctoral assistant. The supervisor may deviate from this and assign a higher level based on acquired experience, professional career and demonstrated competences. The grant amount will not be revised in the current year except in case of indexation. Click here for more information about our salary scales
• All Ghent University staff members enjoy a number of benefits, such as a wide range of training and education opportunities, 36 days of holiday leave (on an annual basis for a full-time job) supplemented by annual fixed bridge days, bicycle allowance and eco vouchers. Click here for a complete overview of all the staff benefits.

INTERESTED?

APPLICATION:
Please send to:
Dr. Karen Leus (Karen.Leus@UGent.be)
and Dr. Anton Nikiforov (Anton.Nikiforov@UGent.be):

• CV (with publication list, if available, and contact details of 3 referees)
• Motivation letter
• Official proof of English language skills
• Deadline: 10/12/2025