Postdoc position in upcycling of alkaline solid wastes

The Department of Civil and Architectural Engineering, Aarhus University, invites applications for a postdoc position offering applicants an exciting opportunity to join a new research project on upcycling of alkaline solid wastes, with a special focus on designing and developing new strategies for high value uses of the final products.

Expected start date and duration of employment

The position is for 22 months. It is available from 1 April 2025 or as soon as possible thereafter.

Job description

This project focuses on finding innovative solutions for effective and efficient upcycling of alkaline solid wastes, such as demolished concrete and incineration ashes of municipal solid wastes. Novel strategies will be sought to ensure high value uses of the obtained final products (rather low value applications are NOT of interest in the project). This interdisciplinary project will involve close collaboration with esteemed colleagues, including those with a strong publication record in high-impact journals such as Nature and Science, and expertise spanning biology, bioengineering, and materials chemistry.
The successful candidate will join an ambitious international research team. As a Postdoc, you are expected to autonomously carry out research work assigned by the responsible PI. You co-supervise students (PhD, MSc and BSc) in their projects. You expand your research portfolio, and you represent our research group through publications and presentations at international conferences. You may also contribute to teaching activities.

Your profile

- Applicants should hold a PhD degree in material sciences, material chemistry, inorganic materials or relevant
- Strong expertise within experimental work, especially related to new material development and characterization
- Documented experience in scientific writing and publication in peer reviewed scientific journals
- Research experience in e.g. CO2 mineralization and calcium carbonate-based material systems is a plus
- Experience in developing competitive research applications is a plus
- Self-motivated, pro-active, team- and goal-oriented personality
- Full command of the English language

Note: Together with the required application materials, please submit a research plan/proposal based on the research subject.

Who we are

Department of Civil and Architectural Engineering was established on January 1, 2021 in connection with Aarhus University’s reorganization of the engineering area. The department employs around 100 people and is responsible for research and education within the department’s scientific areas. We educate both Bachelors and Masters of Science in Engineering and around 950 students are enrolled in our study programs. Furthermore, we also offer an ambitious PhD program. Our PhD students have high academic ambitions and deliver high-quality results for both the private and the public sectors.

Through research and development, we forge sustainable technological solutions to some of the biggest challenges facing industry and society. We strive to contribute to sustainable development and to create green solutions to challenges within construction, indoor climate, geotechnics, environmental and climate adaptation and many other areas.

Our research is both basic and applied, and we develop current knowledge into workable solutions in the business community. We collaborate with a wide range of public and private enterprises, and many of the department's research and development activities are based on the innovation needs of the business community. Through collaboration, we ensure that the knowledge and technology generated in the university's technical research environments are clearly anchored in reality and benefit the surrounding society. Based on our research on building materials, architectural design and technology, we also offer research-based public sector services and consultancy on technology to public agencies and ministries.

What we offer

The department/centre offers:

- a well-developed research infrastructure, laboratories and access to shared equipment
- an exciting interdisciplinary environment with many national, international and industrial collaborators
- a research climate encouraging lively, open and critical discussion within and across different fields of research
- a work environment with close working relationships, networking and social activities
- a workplace characterised by professionalism, equality and a healthy work-life balance.

Place of work and area of employment

The place of work is Inge Lehmanns Gade 10 (Navitas), 8000 Aarhus, and the area of employment is the Department of Civil and Architectural Engineering, Aarhus University.

Contact information

For further information, please contact Associate Professor Dr. Min Wu, +45 25683769, e-mail: mnwu@cae.au.dk.

Deadline

Applications must be received no later than 7 February, 2025.

Application procedure

Shortlisting is used. This means that after the deadline for applications – and with the assistance from the assessment committee chairman, and the appointment committee if necessary, – the head of department selects the candidates to be evaluated. All applicants will be notified whether or not their applications have been sent to an expert assessment committee for evaluation. The selected applicants will be informed about the composition of the committee, and each applicant is given the opportunity to comment on the part of the assessment that concerns him/her self. Once the recruitment process is completed a final letter of rejection is sent to the deselected applicants.

Letter of reference

If you want a referee to upload a letter of reference on your behalf, please state the referee’s contact information when you submit your application. We strongly recommend that you make an agreement with the person in question before you enter the referee’s contact information, and that you ensure that the referee has enough time to write the letter of reference before the application deadline.
Unfortunately, it is not possible to ensure that letters of reference received after the application deadline will be taken into consideration.

If you wish to add a referee after you have submitted your application, you must send this person’s details (name, job title, place of work, and email address) as well as the name of the position you have applied for to: HR.Nattech@au.dk

Formalities and salary range

Technical Sciences refers to the Ministerial Order on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Danish Universities under the Danish Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation.

The application must be in English and include a curriculum vitae, degree certificate, a complete list of publications, a statement of future research plans and information about research activities, teaching portfolio and verified information on previous teaching experience (if any). Guidelines for applicants can be found here.

Appointment shall be in accordance with the collective labour agreement between the Danish Ministry of Taxation and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations. Further information on qualification requirements and job content may be found in the Memorandum on Job Structure for Academic Staff at Danish Universities.

Salary depends on seniority as agreed between the Danish Ministry of Taxation and the Confederation of Professional Associations.

Aarhus University’s ambition is to be an attractive and inspiring workplace for all and to foster a culture in which each individual has opportunities to thrive, achieve and develop. We view equality and diversity as assets, and we welcome all applicants.

Research activities will be evaluated in relation to actual research time. Thus, we encourage applicants to specify periods of leave without research activities, in order to be able to subtract these periods from the span of the scientific career during the evaluation of scientific productivity.

Aarhus University offers a broad variety of services for international researchers and accompanying families, including relocation service and career counselling to expat partners. Read more here. Please find more information about entering and working in Denmark here.

Aarhus University also offers a Junior Researcher Development Programme targeted at career development for postdocs at AU. You can read more about it here.

The application must be submitted via Aarhus University’s recruitment system, which can be accessed under the job advertisement on Aarhus University's website.

Aarhus University

Aarhus University is an academically diverse and research-intensive university with a strong commitment to high-quality research and education and the development of society nationally and globally. The university offers an inspiring research and teaching environment to its 38,000 students (FTEs) and 8,300 employees, and has an annual revenues of EUR 935 million. Learn more at www.international.au.dk/