Postdoctoral Position in Modelling and Optimization of Pyrolysis Plants with Integrated CO₂ Capture

Aarhus Universitet (AU); Aarhus; On-site; DKK 320,000 - 420,000; Full time

Job summary

Aarhus Universitet leder efter en postdoktor til at drive udviklingen af detaljerede modeller og optimering af pyrolyseanlæg i tæt samspil med CO₂-fangst. Stillingen omfatter opbygning af en modulær simulationsramme, der forbinder hovedenheder i pyrolyseværdikæden med CCUS og PtX-teknologier inden for universitetets platform.

Ansættelsen er fuldtids og forskningsfokuseret, med base ved Åbogade 40 og forskningsfaciliteter i Foulum samt besøg hos ECA Engineering ApS i Aalborg. Projektet startes 1.

Responsibilities

• Postdoktorforskeren vil få en central rolle i forsknings- og udviklingsaktiviteterne i projektet om detaljerede modeller til design og optimering af pyrolyseanlæg i samspil med CO₂-fangst.

Job description

Ansøgningsfrist 24. sep. 23:59 CEST

Forventet start 1. nov.

• Institut for Bio- og Kemiteknologi - Chemical Process Engineering, Burrehøjvej 43 Burrehøjvej 43 8830 Tjele
• Tidsbegrænset fuldtidsstilling 1. nov. 2026 - 31. okt. 2028 ID: 167597

The Department of Biological and Chemical Engineering, Aarhus University, invites applications for a postdoctoral position on advanced modelling and optimization of pyrolysis plants integrated with CO₂ capture (CCUS), conducted in close collaboration with ECA Engineering ApS in Aalborg. The position is sponsored by the Just Transition Fund to support green-transition initiatives in Northern Jutland. The goal of the project is to develop a state-of-the-art digital tool for assessing and designing current and next‑generation pyrolysis plants and their interaction with CCUS and PtX systems. In addition, a tool capable for determining the Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) credits as a function of feedstock, location, pyrolysis process and technology and will be validated by real‑world data.

You will be employed at the Department of Biological and Chemical Engineering, Aarhus University, with primary workplace in Åbogade 40, at experimental facilities in Foulum and selected industrial pyrolysis plants with regular presence at ECA Engineering ApS in Aalborg.

Expected start date and duration of employment

The position is a full‑time postdoctoral position expected to start on 1 November 2026, or as soon as possible thereafter, and is fixed‑term until 31 October 2028.

Job description

The postdoctoral researcher will play a central role in the research and development activities of the project “Development of detailed models for the design and optimization of pyrolysis plants in interaction with CO₂ capture.”

You will drive the development of a comprehensive, modular simulation framework that links all major unit operations in the pyrolysis value chain with downstream CCUS and PtX technologies, implemented in ECA Engineering’s existing software platform.

Tasks: