{"id":5935,"date":"2013-06-04T00:58:11","date_gmt":"2013-06-04T00:58:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/africa-and-science.com\/?p=5935"},"modified":"2013-09-14T22:28:00","modified_gmt":"2013-09-14T22:28:00","slug":"3-phd-fellowships-in-environmental-engineering-and-process-modelling-denmark","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/africa-and-science.com\/?p=5935","title":{"rendered":"3 PhD Fellowships in Environmental Engineering and Process Modelling (Denmark)"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"Drapeau<\/a>The Department of Environmental Engineering is looking for 3 PhD students for an international and cross-disciplinary research project (LaGas), with the objective to untangle the mystery behind biological production and consumption of N2O in waste water treatment operations. Laughing gas (N2O) is a greenhouse gas 300 times stronger than CO2 and a dominant ozone destroying chemical. Biological processes – the same that are essential for removing polluting reactive nitrogen from wastewaters – are potential sources of N2O.
\nFor further information on the project, visit the preliminary homepage (LaGas<\/a>)<\/p>\n

Positions at the Technical University of Denmark are available on the topics:
\n<\/strong>
\nPhD 1: Development and implementation of a novel whole-plant quantification tool to estimate GHG emissions based on gas plume measurements.<\/strong>\u00a0The student will use a very promising gas plume method to measure downwind N2O gas concentrations using a dynamic sampling approach. The concept behind this approach has earlier been applied to measure methane emissions from landfills. Emphasis will be on the development of a best practice guide for quantification of N2O emission from full-scale wastewater treatment plants by conducting measurements under different tracer configuration and meteorological conditions, and the best practice guide will be used to measure gas emissions at several sites under different management conditions of the plants.<\/p>\n

PhD 2: Investigations on N2O production and emission at reactor-scale from conventional and innovative mainstream and side-stream nitrogen removal technologies.<\/strong>\u00a0In collaboration with PhD 1, the student will measure and analyze N2O production and emission at reactor-scale at several full-scale WWTPs and in controlled laboratory settings. Comprehensive real-time on-line N2O measurements will be performed in both liquid and gas phase to continuously monitor and record the overall N2O emissions at WWTPs using different process configuration for nitrogen removal, and at different nitrogen loads, operational conditions and different seasons. The ultimate goal is obtain rigorous N2O footprints across a representative set of process configurations and operations.<\/p>\n

PhD 3: Development and validation of physiochemical and biokinetic process models for N2O dynamics in wastewater.<\/strong>\u00a0The PhD fellow will develop biokinetic process models for mixed autotrophic nitrifying, heterotrophic denitrifying and anammox communities, which will explicitly include dissolution and liquid-to-gas mass-transfer of N2O. Lab-scale experiments will be performed in collaboration with a post doctoral associate to estimate model parameters for all studied systems and calibrate and validate models. Model identification, calibration and evaluation exercises are carried out using laboratory- and full-scale measurements in close collaborations with PhD 2 and the PhD student at The University of Southern Denmark (please see Job Opportunities at\u00a0LaGas<\/a>). The models are subsequently explored for individual scenario analysis to identify best- and worst-case operational conditions. The candidate will mainly use several simulation platforms (Matlab\u00ae, Simulink\u00ae and WEST\u00ae).<\/p>\n

Qualifications
\n<\/strong>At the date of appointment, the successful candidates must have obtained a M.Sc. in Environmental, Biochemical, or Chemical Engineering, Environmental Sciences or related discipline. The ideal candidates will have shown evidence for research experience, laboratory and field experience, and a strong interest and training in one or more of the following fields: bioreactor\/bioprocess technology, inorganic chemistry, analytical chemistry, fluid dynamics, process modeling and computational analysis applied to environmental\/microbial systems. A high motivation for research and solid written and good oral communication skills in English are prerequisites of any successful application.<\/p>\n

Approval and Enrolment
\n<\/strong>The scholarships for the PhD degree are subject to academic approval, and the candidates will be enrolled in one of the general degree programmes of DTU. For information about the general requirements for enrolment and the general planning of the scholarship studies, please see the\u00a0DTU PhD Guide<\/a>.<\/p>\n

We offer
\n<\/strong>The applicants will enjoy working in an international and cross-disciplinary research team involving both scientific and industrial partners. English is the operational language of the apartment. The project benefits from several interactions and possible research exchanges with other leading research groups in EU and USA, and interactions with leading-edge technology providers. The Technical University of Denmark is ranked as one of the foremost technical universities in Europe, with high levels in publication records, close collaboration with industry and long history in public sector consultancy. The Department of Environmental Engineering offers state-of-the art chemical, microbial and molecular analytical facilities, process laboratories and equipment to execute these projects.<\/p>\n

Salary and appointment terms
\n<\/strong>The salary and appointment terms are consistent with the current rules for PhD degree students.<\/p>\n

The period of employment is 3 years and is supported by a research grant from The Danish Council for Strategic Research.<\/p>\n

The positions are available from September 1st 2013 (PhD 2) and January 1st 2014 (PhD 1 and 3), with earlier or later starting dates possible.<\/p>\n

Application
\n<\/strong>We must have your online application no later than\u00a015 June 2013<\/strong>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Applications must be submitted as\u00a0one PDF file<\/strong>\u00a0containing all materials to be given consideration. To apply, please open the link \u00ab\u00a0Apply online,\u00a0\u00bb fill in the online application form, and attach\u00a0all your materials in English in one PDF file<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

In the field \u201cPlease indicate which position(s) you would like to apply for\u201d please indicate which project you are applying for (title from Phd projects list or individual research projects list above).<\/p>\n

The file must include:<\/p>\n