Electrochemical Expert

As a Flemish, internationally recognized research center, VITO aims to accelerate the transition to a sustainable world. Intensification of industrial processes, a shift to alternative resources such as biomass or CO2, improved functionality of products, less waste, lower costs and increased efficiency: these are the challenges industry and society are facing nowadays.

The Electrochemical Excellence Centre at VITO develops novel electro-driven conversion processes and key electrochemical cell components, such as electrodes, separators, electrocatalysts and membrane electrode assemblies. Upon integration in electrochemical systems, processes and production processes are upscaled towards pilot electrolyser stacks. The technology makes use of low-carbon electricity to produce e.g. green hydrogen, chemical building blocks, high-value products and e-fuels. The focus is to invent novel electrochemical pathways, enabling electrocatalysts, low-cost/high performance components and bring these innovations to the market.

To strengthen our team and accelerate the transition to more sustainable metal value chains, we are looking for a colleague to bridge the gap between material and/or process science and engineering in electrochemical processes.

Would you like to contribute to this? Then read on!

A selection of your responsibilities:

• Apply your general knowledge of electrochemistry and its principles, with a thorough insight into electrochemical processes and/or the synthesis of components for electrochemical devices (e.g., electrodes and MEAs).

• Support lab-scale component or process development activities, including e.g. high-throughput screening of electrocatalysts, in-situ operando testing, performance studies, ex-situ characterization, and application testing with larger kW systems.

• Integrate insights from techno-economic analyses and be open to incorporating/cooperating to apply modeling and machine learning-derived insights into your developments.

• Support in determining technical objectives for R&D developments and defining research priorities based on literature insights and basic knowledge of physico-chemistry, energy, and mass balances.

• Generate, analyze and synthesize results from experiments to benchmark processes and products, and conduct additional experiments to validate findings in accordance with state-of-the-art research practices.

• Monitor project progress and make necessary adjustments, with the potential to grow into project management activities.

• A master's degree or doctorate in applied sciences/chemical engineering.

• Insight into (electro)chemical conversions, mass, and energy transport.

• Affinity for process and/or product development in an electrochemical context,

• Passion for technology and science, strong analytical skills, initiative, and creativity.

• A team-oriented attitude and strong communication skills.

• A strong theoretical background and/or industrial experience are considered a plus.

• Fluency in English; Dutch is a plus.

Offer

• A temporary contract with a duration of two years, a possible contract prolongation depending on evaluation and resources.

• An attractive salary package supplemented with extra-legal benefits such as allowances, insurance and a modular package of vacation days.

• Main work location for this function is Mol where the VITO head office is. Hybrid / Part-time working from home is possible when the activity allows it.

• Innovation is our core value, we give our employees the opportunity to train and keep up to date within their field, even more so; we expect this.

• A position in a leading, customer-oriented organization in the field of innovative technological research and scientifically based advice.

• The opportunity to contribute to sustainable development and to help put Flanders on the international map as an active knowledge region.