Nano-Science Center > NanoGeoScience Jobs

Modern oil production methods often get only 25% of the oil trapped in the reservoir. Current efforts to develop sustainable energy alternatives will take at least a decade or two before they can replace hydrocarbons, so we must develop the reservoirs we already have, efficiently. The NanoGeoScience group is running two rather large projects that use an exciting, new approach to discover the properties of reservoir rocks at the nanometer-scale, and then apply that knowledge to develop an envi-ronmentally friendly method for improving oil recovery. We are more than 30 re-searchers and support staff working together in a dynamic, international and interdis-ciplinary environment. The NanoGeoScience team consists of chemists, physicists, biologists, geologists, mineralogists and engineers. We are currently filling several new posts:

6 to 8 positions as:

PhD Student

on the topics:

The positions

Academic positions in Denmark are not tenured; employment is based on perform-ance.  The Associate and Assistant Professor positions that will be filled in the NanoGeoScience Group are funded for at least 5 + 5 years.  There is a possibility for teaching, or not, as the successful candidates desire.  Associate Professors are as-sumed to have > 6 years experience after a PhD; Assistant Professors are assumed to have 3 to 6 years.

Post-doctoral Fellow positions usually last for 1 + 2 years, but these can be ex-tended or converted to an Assistant Professor position, depending on performance.  Teaching is possible but not required.  A Post-doc Fellow is assumed to have < 3 years experience following a PhD.

Danish PhD positions last 3 years; they include course-work, research and an op-portunity to teach. A PhD student is assumed to have completed an MSc. In some exceptional cases, where the candidate has an extremely strong academic record, a 4-year PhD position can be taken up directly following a BSc.

The research scope

The materials of interest are chalk, sandstone, aqueous solutions, gases, oil, poly-mers and trace organic and inorganic components; the temperature of interest is from 0 to 120 °C and pressure, from 1 to about 250 atm. The overall research ques-tion is: "Can we learn about the molecular-level behaviour of natural materials so that we can design an environmentally friendly product or a process that will allow in-creased recovery from existing oil reservoirs?" We are interested in studying all as-pects of the physical and chemical properties of chalk and sandstone, their behaviour and processes, at the nanometer scale, using a range of classical and high tek tech-niques.

The senior positions:

Aqueous and Surface Geochemistry: thermodynamics, physical chemistry, col-loid/surface chemistry, kinetics, solid-fluid interactions, surface complexation, etc. We are looking for a chemist or geochemist with a solid, classical background with an interest in working with nano-scientists to build links between macroscopic param-eters and observations at the molecular scale.

Biochemistry or molecular biology: studying the structure, function and degrada-tion of macromolecules known to play a role in biomineralisation, using techniques such as gel electrophoresis, chromatography and microbial culturing. We are looking for a biochemist to work with geochemists to develop microbial compounds that can alter the properties and behaviour of mineral surfaces.

Physics or applied X-ray physics: developing and testing new ways to investigate chalk, sandstone and other porous materials using X-ray techniques such as micro tomography, powder diffraction and small angle scattering with in-lab and synchro-tron radiation sources. We are looking for someone with a solid physics background who is interested in applying their understanding of how the world works, in new di-rections.

For the PhD positions:
a solid educational base, broad interest and motivation are the only requirements.

The team of senior researchers, associated with the NanoGeoScience group in-cludes:  Klaus Bechgaard (chemist/physcist), Robert Feidenhans'l (X-ray physicist), Thomas Bjørnholm (nano-materials chemist), Jakob Winther (protein chemist), Tue Hassenkam (physicist, scanning probe methods), Emil Makovicky (mineralogist), and Susan Stipp (geochemist, surface chemist). Some of the younger scientists in the group include Mingjun Yang (theoretician; molecular dynamics), Nicolas Bovet (chemist, surface spectroscopy); Anna Johnsson (microbiology); Knud Dideriksen (geochemistry); Bo Christiansen (geochemistry, mineralogy). Extensive networks with other research groups, through international collaborations, European Commis-sion projects and industrial contracts, offer opportunities to learn supplementary skills, to make contacts and to interface with scientists from other laboratories.  

The NanoGeoScience laboratories are new, with a combination of state-of-the-art facilities for surface analysis and classical techniques for solid and solution charac-terisation. The combination of facilities and expertise is unique in the world.  We have scanning probe microscopes, an ultra-high vacuum system designed for work with geochemical samples with X-ray photoelectron and several other surface ana-lytical techniques, secondary and transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, BET surface area, scintillation counting, controlled temperature and pressure ves-sels, glove boxes and classical wet-chemistry equipment as well as frequent beam-time at European synchrotron facilities and we are members of the Danish Center for Scientific Computing.

Our expectations about you, as a person

The group is dynamic, international and multi-disciplinary. It is an exciting envi-ronment. We expect that you like to be part of a team, that you have a sense of hu-mour, you are a good problem-solver, enjoy helping others and that you are also able to work effectively and independently. You are interested in the behaviour of natural materials and are enthusiastic about learning more.  You are also excited about fun-damental science and applying the results to solve practical problems of importance to society. Because the group and the research questions are interdisciplinary, we are looking for people who are open-minded, excited about absorbing new infor-mation across disciplines and curious about applying their skills in new ways.

Daily interaction in our group is in English. The Nano-Science Center wants to have its members reflect society's diversity so we look forward to your application regard-less of your gender, your age or your ethnic background.

Employment conditions

The start dates for these positions are flexible. We want to fill some of them immedi-ately, but we are prepared to hold a position for the right candidate.  Please indicate in your application, your choice of start date. Salary and employment conditions are determined by agreements between the Danish Finance Ministry and the relevant trade union based on your education and experience.

Application

You should send your application in ONE electronic file. Please indicate in the sub-ject line which academic level and which subject area you are applying for. In the email, tell us when you would be available to start the position.

Applications that are lacking one or more of the following parts will not be considered. Include your CV, names and contact information for 3 references, and a one-page statement explaining why you are perfect for the job. Applicants for the professor and post-doc fellow positions should send a complete publication list and copies of no more than three articles. Applicants for the PhD position should send a copy of grades for all university years and a copy of some written piece of work, such as an abstract for a meeting presentation or your MSc thesis or a report.

Send your application to Marianne Evers, Project Administrator, evers@nano.ku.dk

Deadline

Positions will be filled as soon as good candidates are found. We aim to assess the applications that have been submitted on October 1.

Further information

The Nano-Chalk Venture is funded by the Danish High-Technology Foundation, Mærsk Olie og Gas AS and the Faculty of Science, University of Copenhagen. Some of the stipends are co-financed by the Research Training Council (FUR). The Nano-Sand Project is funded by BP.

The NanoGeoScience team works in a dynamic, interdisciplinary and international environment as part of the Nano-Science Center, University of Copenhagen, housed in the H.C. Ørsted Institute (www.nano.ku.dk).

For questions, contact Project Leader, Prof. Susan Stipp at stipp@nano.ku.dk or Technical Coordinator, Keld West at kw@nano.ku.dk or +45 35 32 02 24.