Postdoc position: Towards a chemical industry within the planetary boundaries

The Energy and Process Systems Engineering (EPSE) Group at ETH Zürich is looking for a Postdoc exploring pathways to a circular chemical industry. The position focuses on integrating recycling, carbon capture & utilization, and bio-based technologies to shape a sustainable future chemical industry.  

The research of the EPSE group at ETH Zürich, headed by Prof. Dr. André Bardow, focuses on sustainability in energy and chemical process systems. We develop methods to advance sustainable energy and chemical process systems from the molecular to the systems scale. In our work, we combine computer-aided molecular and process design to optimize molecules and processes simultaneously. To holistically evaluate the environmental impacts of chemicals and energy systems, we develop predictive methods for life cycle assessment. Our technological focus currently lies in Power-to-X & sector coupling, sustainable carbon feedstock, and carbon capture, utilization & storage.

Climate change necessitates reducing CO2 emissions and the dependence on fossil fuels. A major driver of future global fossil fuel use is the production of chemicals and plastics. To reduce fossil fuel consumption and resulting greenhouse gas emissions, alternative carbon sources are explored, such as biomass, or recycling of chemicals and plastics, and CO2 captured from air and industrial point sources.  

This project aims to integrate technologies for alternative carbon sources into the future chemical and plastic industry. The project investigates optimal pathways for creating a circular industry that maximizes the alternative technologies' potential and synergies by employing carbon capture and utilization (CCU), biomass and recycling. This analysis will identify the future potential and performance targets for novel technologies, aiding the chemical industry’s transition towards safe operation within the planetary boundaries.

The project adopts a comprehensive systems perspective on the early-stage development of future technologies in the chemical and plastic industry. Your work will range from modeling individual technologies for alternative carbon sources to conducting techno-economic and life cycle assessment of integrated chemical and plastic production systems using mathematical optimization. Specifically, you will participate in: 

• advancing in-house models covering the global production pathways of large-volume chemicals and plastics
• integrating novel technologies for alternative carbon flows focusing on chemical recycling, carbon capture and utilization, and biomass utilization
• identifying sustainable supply chains of the chemical and plastic industry using mathematical optimization and assessing trade-offs between environmental targets.  

The work will deepen your understanding of the chemical and plastics industry and its techno-economic and environmental assessment. You will learn to identify optimal technologies that meet environmental constraints, enhancing your knowledge of the environmental benefits of recycling, carbon capture and utilization, and bio-based technologies. Collaboration with partners from industry and academia will be crucial for success. 

We offer you a full-time position for the duration of your postdoc, starting upon agreement with the earliest starting of 01 October 2024. You will work in an interdisciplinary team of researchers with in-depth experience in process design, energy system optimization, and life cycle assessment. As an integral partof your work, you will publish your results in peer-reviewed journals and present them at international conferences.

We are looking for a proactive and motivated candidate who meets the requirements for a position at ETH Zurich and has a doctoral degree in chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, process engineering, or energy science & technology from a recognized university. Ideally, you already have strong experience in life cycle assessment, alternative carbon source technologies, process design and programming. You are highly motivated to learn and apply modern simulation and optimization techniques and work in a dynamic environment with other doctoral students and postdocs. The ability to work independently and excellent communication skills in English (both written and spoken) complete your profile.

ETH Zurich is a family-friendly employer with excellent working conditions. You can look forward to an exciting working environment, cultural diversity and attractive offers and benefits.