PhD in Electrically Heated Reactors for Dry Methane Reforming

Opportunita; Eindhoven; On-site; EUR 36,000 - 45,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension scheme

Holiday allowance

Flexible working conditions

Job summary

Eindhoven University of Technology invites applications for a PhD position within the HyCARB project to study electrically heated reactors for dry methane reforming. The role combines hands-on experiments at ~10 kW scale with CFD modelling, under joint supervision by TU/e and TU Delft.

Based in the Sustainable Process Technology group, you will develop computational models, test reactor concepts, and optimize performance for scalable, electricity-driven heating.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, applied physics, or a related discipline.
• Strong transport phenomena knowledge and interest in chemical reaction engineering and process electrification.
• Experience with experimental reactors, numerical modeling, CFD, finite-element methods or scientific programming welcomed.

Responsibilities

• Test electrically heated reactors at ~10 kW scale, with and without catalytic dry methane reforming.
• Develop coupled CFD models of heating, transport and reactions.
• Compare surface and volume heating concepts, including 3D-printed structures.
• Combine experiments and simulations to optimize reactor performance and guide scale-up.

Skills

Transport phenomena

CFD

Numerical modeling

Laboratory work

Team collaboration

Education

Master's degree in chemical or mechanical engineering

Experience with experimental reactors

Tools

Finite-element methods

Numerical programming

Scientific programming

Job description

# PhD in Electrically Heated Reactors for Dry Methane ReformingEindhoven University of Technology · University Eindhoven, NetherlandsPosted 11 Nov 2026Apply on official website Opens tue.nlSalary: EUR 3,204 – 4,051per monthApplication deadline: December 11, 2026 In 30 daysContract duration: 4 yearsEmployment type: Full time## At a glanceGenerated summaryEindhoven University of Technology invites applications for a PhD position in Electrically Heated Reactors for Dry Methane Reforming within the HyCARB project. This role, based in the Sustainable Process Technology group, focuses on replacing fossil-fired heating with renewable electricity to improve chemical reactor efficiency. The candidate will investigate resistive, impedance, and inductive heating techniques, combining hands-on experiments at approximately 10 kW scale with coupled CFD modeling. Key responsibilities include testing reactor concepts, developing computational models, and optimizing performance for dry methane reforming. Candidates require a master’s degree in chemical or mechanical engineering, strong transport phenomena knowledge, and English fluency. The position offers a four-year contract with a salary ranging from €3,204 to €4,051 gross per month, plus benefits including pension, holiday allowance, and flexible working conditions. Applications are due by December 11, 2026.Generated from stored offer content. Always confirm details in the official posting.## DetailsPosition type: PhDDepartment: Department of Chemical Engineering and ChemistryResearch field: Chemical engineeringDate posted: November 11, 2026Contact email: [e-mail]## About this positionOfficial opportunity text, in English · about 9 min read### PhD in Electrically Heated Reactors for Dry Methane Reforming* Personal type: Scientific staff* Field of expertise: PhD* Organisation: Department of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry* Apply no later than: 11-12-2026* equivalent:* Salary: € 0 - € 0Apply now#### IntroductionHow can renewable electricity turn CO2 into valuable chemical building blocks? Combine hands-on experiments and advanced modeling to develop electrically heated reactors within HyCARB at TU/e, in collaboration with TU Delft.#### Job DescriptionReplacing fossil-fired heating with renewable electricity offers exciting opportunities to redesign chemical reactors. By generating heat directly in the reactor wall or within the catalyst bed, electrical heating can improve heat delivery and enable compact, efficient processes. Achieving this requires a detailed understanding of how electrical energy input, fluid flow, heat and mass transfer, and chemical reactions interact.In this PhD project, you will investigate resistive, impedance, and inductive heating within tasks C1 and C2 of HyCARB. Your main application will be dry methane reforming: the conversion of methane and CO2 into synthesis gas, a building block for producing chemicals and fuels.You will investigate how surface and volume heating affect temperature distributions, transport phenomena, and catalytic performance during dry methane reforming, combining experiments at approximately 10 kW with coupled CFD modeling. You will develop and test electrically heated reactor concepts and build computational models that explain their behavior and guide their improvement. Experiments will validate the models, while simulations will help identify promising geometries, heating strategies, and operating conditions.You will be based in the Sustainable Process Technology group at TU/e, supervised by Prof. Martin van Sint Annaland, with Prof. Johan Padding at TU Delft as joint supervisor. Within HyCARB, you will collaborate with researchers, technology developers, and industrial partners working on sustainable carbon conversion and electrification.Your activities will include:* Testing electrically heated reactors at approximately 10 kW scale, with and without catalytic dry methane reforming.* Developing coupled CFD models of heating, transport and reactions.* Comparing surface and volume heating concepts, including integrated 3D-printed structures.* Combining experiments and simulations to optimize reactor performance and guide scale-up.#### Job Requirements* A master’s degree (or an equivalent university degree) in chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, applied physics, or a closely related discipline.* A strong foundation in transport phenomena and an interest in chemical reaction engineering and process electrification.* Enthusiasm for both practical laboratory work and quantitative analysis. Experience with experimental reactors, numerical modeling, CFD, finite-element methods or scientific programming is welcome.* A research-oriented attitude, scientific curiosity and initiative.* Ability to work in an interdisciplinary team and an interest in collaborating with industrial partners.* Motivation to develop your teaching skills and coach students.* Strong communication skills and fluency in spoken and written English (C1 level).#### Conditions of EmploymentA meaningful job in a dynamic and ambitious university, in an interdisciplinary setting and within an international network. You will work on a beautiful, green campus within walking distance of the central train station. In addition, we offer you:* Full-time employment for four years, with an intermediate assessment after nine months. You will spend a minimum of 10% of your four-year employment on teaching tasks, with a maximum of 15% per year of your employment.* Salary and benefits (such as a pension scheme, paid pregnancy and maternity leave, partially paid parental leave) in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, (min. € 3,204 - max. € 4,051 gross base salary per month (full-time)).* In addition to your base salary, you will receive an 8% and an 8.3% , both calculated based on your annual gross base salary.* Generous leave options: a standard 29 days (based on a 38 hour working week) per year that you can increase to 41 days by working two hours more per week (flexible working hours). This is prorated if you work part-time.* As a TU/e employee, you participate in the ABP pension scheme, providing retirement pension and pension benefits for surviving dependents and occupational disability. TU/e pays 70% of the pension premium, while employees contribute the remaining 30%.* High-quality training programs and other support to grow into a self-aware, autonomous scientific researcher. At TU/e we challenge you to take charge of your own learning process.* An excellent technical infrastructure, and on-campus children's day care.* Unlimited access to the modern on-campus TU/e Student Sports Center at an exceptionally affordable rate.* We support your wellbeing with free 24/7 access to OpenUp, providing you and your family with mental health support, expert guidance, and online training.* An allowance for commuting, working from home and internet costs.* A Staff Immigration Team and a tax compensation scheme (the Expat Scheme) for international candidates.On our website you can discover even more information about our conditions of employment. Build on your career at TU/e!#### About usWe are a leading international university where scientific curiosity meets a hands-on mindset. We work in an open and collaborative way with high-tech industries to tackle complex societal challenges. Our responsible and respectful approach ensures impact — today and in the future. TU/e is home to over 13,000 students and more than 7,000 staff, forming a diverse and vibrant academic community. Discover what *Light Up* means to TU/e in our short company video.Our university is located in Brainport Eindhoven — a world-leading tech region with more than 7,000 high-tech companies and strong R&D activity. Known for breakthroughs in AI, photonics, semiconductors and advanced manufacturing, Brainport is a place where technology serves people and society. Learn more about the Brainport region here.The Department of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry bridges science and engineering to create sustainable solutions for society. By combining expertise in molecules, materials, and processes, we drive innovations that address global challenges in energy, circularity, health and future technology. Through world-class research, interdisciplinary collaboration, and strong industry partnerships, we educate engineers and scientists who turn scientific discoveries into technologies with lasting societal impact. Together, we create chemistry for a better world.#### InformationDo you recognize yourself in this profile and would you like to know more? Please contact the hiring manager Prof. Martin van Sint Annaland, Sustainable Process Technology group, TU/e, .