Postdoctoral Research Associate - Alternative Fuels

Northeastern University•Boston, MA

112d•$60,315 - $85,193•Onsite

About The Position

Under the direction of the Principal Investigator, the Postdoctoral Research Associate designs and conducts research developing alternative fuels and advancing energy-innovation technologies. Applying catalysis and reaction-engineering approaches, the role targets low-carbon fuel pathways—such as hydrogen, ammonia, synthetic and electro-fuels, sustainable aviation fuel, and fuels derived from biomass, waste plastics, or carbon dioxide (CO₂)—spanning catalyst and process development, reactor design and scale-up, and performance and techno-economic assessment. The position contributes to scholarly publications, sponsored-research deliverables, and the training of graduate and undergraduate researchers.

Requirements

PhD in Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Materials Science, or a closely related field
Knowledge of catalysis, reaction kinetics, thermodynamics, and reactor/reaction engineering relevant to fuel synthesis and energy conversion
Ability to design and operate catalytic and/or electrocatalytic reactors
Ability to synthesize and characterize materials
Ability to model and analyze process performance
Proficiency in Python or an equivalent programming language
Ability to work independently and across disciplines

Responsibilities

Develop catalytic and/or electrocatalytic routes and materials for alternative-fuel production (e.g., hydrogen, ammonia, electro-fuels, and CO₂- or biomass-derived fuels), including synthesis, testing, and kinetic measurement
Design, build, and operate bench- and laboratory-scale reactors and energy-conversion testbeds, evaluating activity, selectivity, stability, and energy efficiency under realistic operating conditions
Develop reaction and reactor models and conduct process analysis, including techno-economic and life-cycle assessment, to guide designs toward scalable, low-carbon fuel pathways
Characterize materials and analyze performance data to establish structure–performance and process–performance relationships
Disseminate results through peer-reviewed publications and presentations, contribute to proposals and reports, and help mentor graduate and undergraduate researchers and steward shared instrumentation