Postdoc position Chemical Engineering, mathematical modelling gas transport - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

Background
One of the research milieus at the Department of Engineering and Chemical Sciences at Karlstad University is Pro2BE (Processes and Products for a Circular BioEconomy), https://www.kau.se/en/pro2be. The research focuses on sustainable solutions for process technology and product applications for the forest industry and society.

Karlstad University is one of the participants in a research project MultiBarr, funded by the Knowledge Foundation and participating companies addressed to barrier coatings of paper and paperboard packaging material.. Beside Karlstad University, the other project participants are industrial companies. Karlstad University’s part of the project is mainly carried out by the research group Functional Surfaces and Sustainable Materials, which is a part of Pro2BE. The members of the research group are active in international, national and regional networks and collaborative projects. The research group's website is https://www.kau.se/en/pro2be/research-areas/functional-surfaces-and-sustainable-materials. The MultiBarr project is interdisciplinary and Karlstad University’s groups for Applied Mathematics and Fundamental Separation Science (FSSG) are involved as well.

The current position is focused on mathematical modelling of gas transport through packaging materials, and is a close collaboration between Applied Mathematics and Functional Surfaces and Sustainable Materials. In order to understand the transport of gas molecules in barrier coatings, we need to recruit a postdoc in Chemical Engineering with expertise in mathematical modelling for mass transport in anisotropic microstructures. The postdoc will work in a group of researchers doing computational science, which includes researchers from both the Department of Engineering and Chemical Sciences and the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science.

Duties 
The main focus is to develop mathematical multiscale models for mass transport of gas molecules in anisotropic microstructures. Two mathematical models will be developed: (i) one upscaled model based on diffusion and solubility models (thermodynamics- and lattice-Boltzmann-based) and (ii) one partially upscaled model, based on multiscale – hybrid (continuum-discrete-stochastic) models. The modelling work will include multi-layer coatings and issues as such structures may induce.

The postdoc will also work closely together with the researchers in computational fluid dynamics for understanding flow of complex fluids in process-oriented steps and influence of coating defects on the overall gas and water vapour transport trough the barrier layer.

Qualification requirements
To be eligible for the position, applicants are required to hold a PhD in Applied Mathematics, Chemistry, Physics, or Chemical Engineering or another area relevant for the project, with a significant proportion of research and education in the field of computational engineering.

Eligible for the position are those who have obtained their doctoral degree or achieved equivalent qualifications abroad, at the most three years prior to the end of the application period, unless special ground exists.

The applicant must have a good command of English (written and oral).

Assessment criteria
Considerable weight is given to applicants’ academic merits including publications in international peer-reviewed scientific journals related to the current research areas. The evaluation will be based on an assessment of the applicant’s ability to successfully perform advanced research addressed to mathematical modelling for mass transport of gas molecules in anisotropic microstructures such as barrier coated paper.

Knowledge or experience in some of the following areas is valuable: programming (MATLAB, Python, FeNiCS, ANSYS Fluent, etc.), modeling with particle systems and / or partial differential equations, computational technology (Monte Carlo, SPH, FD, FEM, etc.).

Good ability to work in teams and a positive attitude towards colleagues are of considerable weight. The evaluation will also be based on the applicant’s ability to work in an innovative research network consisting universities, institutes and industrial enterprises of different size.

Terms of employment
The position is a full-time, fixed term employment for 12 months, with the possibility to be prolonged. Starting date preferable before 1 June, 2020.

Application
Application should include well documented qualifications. Applicants are responsible for submitting a complete application in accordance with the advertisement and for ensuring that the documentation allows for objective and qualitative assessments. A complete application should be submitted no later than the application deadline.

The application should include:

• Application letter briefly describing the applicant’s qualifications and research interests in relation to the duties of the position
• Detailed list of qualifications/CV
• List of publications
• Copies of relevant transcripts, degree certificates, employment certificates and letters of recommendation
• Copy of doctoral thesis and other relevant publications
• Other documents the applicant wants to submit
• Information on language skills
• Contact information to at least two references

Submit your application via the university’s web based recruitment tool and attach all the documents and publications you wish to be considered to the electronic application (do not provide links to them).

One copy of documents that cannot be submitted electronically should be sent to

Karlstads universitet
Registrator
651 88 Karlstad

State ref.no: REK2020/2

Application deadline: 17 February

We look forward to your application!

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