Job Description

The Universite de Sherbrooke and Pyrowave are currently seeking PhD students and post-doctoral fellows to join this project on the development of a new microwave process for the production of cement without CO2 emissions into the atmosphere.

Under the supervision of Professor William Wilson in collaboration with the industrial partner Pyrowave, the multidisciplinary team will lead the development of clinkers and a new clinkerization technology to meet the current need for low-carbon construction materials.

Qualifications:
We are looking for researchers with expertise and/or interest in laboratory clinker and cement production, advanced cement characterization, microwave reactor development, or industrial-scale microwave process design.

Candidates invited to apply may be from the fields of materials science and engineering, chemical engineering, physics engineering, civil engineering, high temperature processes, metallurgical engineering, or another relevant field.

Background:
The proposed project aims to develop a method to produce a Portland cement without CO2 emissions into the atmosphere. The approach is to electrify the process on an industrial scale using microwave technology, allowing: (a) the replacement of fossil fuels with renewable electrical energy and (b) the production of a compressed CO2 off-gas for sequestration (in the absence of combustion, the off-gas can be very pure in CO2). Since the microwave-produced cement will be a Portland cement that meets Canadian standards, it can be quickly adopted by the industry. Ultimately, the application of this technology could potentially contribute to the elimination of GHG emissions from the cement sector, which represents annually approximately 3 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent worldwide.

Skills and know-how required:
- Excellent scientific rigor and research methodology;
- Ability to define problems and creativity in finding new solutions to technical problems;
- Professionalism, self-reliance, good communication skills and team spirit;
- Experience in conducting laboratory-scale experiments at high temperature;
- Experience in the production or characterization of clinkers (an asset);
- Experience in conducting pyrolysis or high temperature chemistry experiments (an asset);
- Experience with Design of Experiments (DOE) and Good Laboratory Practices (GLP);
- Good knowledge of English, both oral and written (knowledge of French is an asset);
- Dynamism, positive attitude and ability to adapt to changing tasks and priorities.

You are the person we are looking for if you are creative and autonomous, if you have a sense of organization and an ability to communicate. You must also have a high level of scientific rigor and an impeccable attention to detail.

What we offer:
Students and researchers will join the Faculty of Engineering of the Universite de Sherbrooke, a leading university in cement and green chemistry research located in the vibrant city of Sherbrooke (Canada).

The researchers will split their time between the Sherbrooke facilities and those of Pyrowave, our industrial partner located in the vicinity of Montreal. Pyrowave is a pioneer in the electrification of microwave-based chemical processes with a low carbon footprint and has a center of excellence for R&D in green chemical processes.

Benefits to selected candidates include:
- A very competitive base salary;
- A PhD student position (4 years);
- A collaborative project with stays at Pyrowave facilities;
- A flexible schedule with hybrid work options.

How to apply:
If you feel you are qualified, send your CV, transcripts, a one-page research statement (past and future research interests, if available), and a sample publication (if available).

Requirements

• Essential - Masters in Engineering

Knowledge and abilities

• Essential - Excellent scientific rigor & research methodology
• Important - Experience in Design of Experiments
• Important - Sound knowledge of Good Laboratory Practice
• Essential - Have autonomy and a sense of resourcefulness
• Essential - Good communication skills and teamwork spirit

Pyrowave

Pyrowave is a pioneer in the electrification of chemical processes and innovative recycling of plastics. Pyrowave\'s R&D Team has developed a patented technological platform and a unique microwave-based process that breaks down plastics into...

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