Role highlights

• Advance next-generation Direct Air Capture (DAC) technology
• Develop a bespoke solvent-reclamation process to support technology scale-up
• Join CSIRO - Australia's leading scientific research organisation!

About CSIRO

As Australia's national science agency, CSIRO is solving the greatest challenges through innovative science and technology. Many of our iconic innovations were once considered impossible until someone, just like you, joined us and took on the challenge.

The opportunity

CSIRO Early Research Career (CERC) Postdoctoral Fellowships provide opportunities to scientists and engineers who have completed their doctorate and have less than three years of relevant postdoctoral work experience. These fellowships aim to develop the next generation of future leaders of the innovation system.

We are seeking a talented postdoctoral researcher to join our project team. You will contribute to the development of the Ambient CO2 Harvester (ACOHA) technology, which uses liquid absorbents and thermal regeneration to capture CO2 directly from air. Your work will focus on designing and implementing a reclamation process for novel capture agents, ensuring process efficiency, economic viability, and minimal environmental impact. This is a unique opportunity to work at the forefront of climate technology and help scale up solutions for global emissions reduction.

Your high-level duties will include:

• Assessment of currently available process concepts for liquid absorbent reclamation including experimental evaluation of the most relevant ones.
• Development of novel reclamation process concepts through theoretical and practical analysis.
• Development of unit operation simulation models and tools to assist in understanding equipment operation and support equipment design.
• Performance of techno-economic evaluation for selected reclamation processes.
• Assist in the conduct of experimental programs such as absorbent degradation studies and development of analytical methods at the Newcastle Energy Centre as needed.

Role particulars

Location and office arrangements: Newcastle, NSW (Awabakal Country)

Salary: AU$103,390 - AU$113,251 pa (pro rata for part-time), plus 15.4% superannuation

Tenure & work schedule: Specified term of 3 years, Full-time

Reference: 101876

As the successful candidate, you will bring:

Essential criteria

• A doctorate (or will shortly satisfy the requirements of a PhD). The doctorate must be in a relevant discipline area, such as chemical engineering, physics or industrial chemistry. Please note: To be eligible for this role you must have no more than 3 years (full-time equivalent) of relevant research experience.
• An understanding of and experience with separation processes and their associated mass transfer phenomena without and with chemical reaction.
• Demonstrated understanding of and/or practical or modelling experience with liquid absorbent-based CO2-capture processes.
• Demonstrated laboratory skills including the design and engineering of bench-scale experimental facilities.
• Excellent analytical skills and practical knowledge of methods for gas and liquid analysis (NMR, LCMS, FT-IR, etc.).

Eligibility

Applications for this position are open to Australian/New Zealand Citizens, Australian Permanent Residents and Australian temporary residents currently residing in Australia who either hold, or be able to obtain, a valid working visa for the duration of the specified term (visa sponsorship may be offered to eligible onshore candidates).

Appointment to this role is subject to provision of a national police check and may be subject to other security/medical/character requirements.