Postdoc / Senior Scientist – Assessment, Regulation, and Industrial Energy Systems for Chemical Hydrogen Carriers
Would you like to actively help shape the structural transformation of the Rhineland Mining Region together with us? Here at the Institute for a sustainable Hydrogen Economy (IHE), you can help drive the structural transformation of the Rhineland Mining Region into a sustainable energy region of the future. IHE is an institute of Forschungszentrum Jülich and forms the core of the “Helmholtz Cluster for a Sustainable and Infrastructure-Compatible Hydrogen Economy” (HC-H2). We conduct fundamental research in the field of innovative hydrogen carrier technologies to advance research and development approaches with high sustainability potential and attractive economic prospects.
Within IHE, you will be part of the “Process and Plant Engineering for Chemical Hydrogen Storage (IHE-4)” division. IHE-4 focuses on the process synthesis and validation of complete systems and processes for the production and use of chemical hydrogen carriers such as ammonia, methanol, methane, dimethyl ether, or liquid organic hydrogen carriers (LOHC).
Join our team and help us design innovative processes and systems for a sustainable hydrogen economy!
Your Job
To expand our team “Process and Systems Assessment”, we are looking for several Postdocs or Senior Scientists with varying areas of expertise. Our research combines process modeling with techno-economic analysis, life-cycle assessment, mathematical optimization, process-oriented modeling of industrial energy systems, and the analysis of regulatory frameworks. In particular, we focus on chemical hydrogen carriers across their entire life cycle (synthesis, transport, conversion, application) as well as their supply chains and reference systems.
Depending on your expertise, you will take on responsibilities in one or more of the following areas:
Techno-Economic Analysis and Life Cycle Assessment (TEA/LCA)
- Develop and apply methods for techno-economic analysis (TEA) and life cycle assessment (LCA) of chemical hydrogen carriers and related industrial processes, including scenario, sensitivity, and uncertainty analyses to support technology development
- Advance evaluation frameworks for integrating process simulation with system-level TEA and LCA, establishing a closed loop between process and system modeling
Regulatory Frameworks and Energy Policy Assessment
- Analyze regulatory frameworks for hydrogen technologies, Power-to-X, chemical hydrogen carriers, and CO₂ infrastructures, as well as energy policy instruments including, e.g., electricity procurement models, power purchase agreements, grid tariffs, and sustainability criteria and assess their impact on technology deployment and value chains
- Translate regulatory requirements into quantitative modeling and evaluation criteria for system-level impact assessment and derive scientifically sound recommendations for technology, infrastructure, and policy development
In addition, your responsibilities as a Postdoc/Senior Scientist include:
- A completed university degree in a relevant field, such as process engineering, chemical engineering, energy engineering, mechanical engineering, industrial engineering, computer science, environmental sciences, mathematics, economics, energy economics, or a related field
- A completed Ph.D. or comparable, multi-year scientific or industrial experience
- Proven expertise in at least one of the following areas: techno-economic analysis (TEA), life cycle assessment (LCA), energy systems, mathematical optimization, process modeling/simulation, system analysis, or energy policy and regulatory assessment.
- Interest in chemical hydrogen carriers, Power-to-X, industrial energy systems, and sustainable industrial transformation
- Experience with quantitative methods, scientific modeling, and programming (e.g. Python, Julia, MATLAB, GAMS, Pyomo, or similar)
- Excellent English skills; German is an advantage
- Independent, analytical, and collaborative working style
Your Profile
- A completed university degree in a relevant field, such as process engineering, chemical engineering, energy engineering, mechanical engineering, industrial engineering, computer science, environmental sciences, mathematics, economics, energy economics, or a related field.
- A completed Ph.D. or comparable, multi-year scientific or industrial experience.
- Proven expertise in at least one of the following areas: techno-economic analysis (TEA), life cycle assessment (LCA), energy systems, mathematical optimization, process modeling/simulation, system analysis, or energy policy and regulatory assessment.
- Interest in chemical hydrogen carriers, Power-to-X, industrial energy systems, and sustainable industrial transformation.
- Experience with quantitative methods, scientific modeling, and programming (e.g. Python, Julia, MATLAB, GAMS, Pyomo, or similar).
- Excellent English skills (at least B2 level according to the CEFR), ideally supported by a certificate confirming the language level. Knowledge of the German language is an advantage.
- Independent, analytical, and collaborative working style.
Experience in one or more of the following areas is particularly welcome:
- Industrial energy system modeling and optimization, including temporal or spatial aggregation
- Process-integrated TEA/LCA and prospective technology assessment
- Hydrogen, chemical hydrogen carriers, Power-to-X, and CO₂ utilization, and related international value chains
- Energy policy, regulatory instruments, sustainability certification, and carbon accounting
- Multi-objective, robust, or stochastic optimization
- Coupling of process, site, and energy system models
Your profile doesn’t fully match?
We are looking for several candidates with different areas of focus. Therefore, your expertise does not need to cover all research areas listed above. We encourage you to apply if you have in-depth expertise in at least one of the fields listed above and are interested in working on academically challenging research questions.
In your application, please describe:
- Your previous academic focus
- The methods and topics in which you have expertise
- Which research questions you would like to address in the future, and
- How you would like to contribute and further develop your expertise in our team.
Our Benefits for You
We work on highly topical, socially relevant issues and offer you the opportunity to actively shape change! You can expect a wide range of opportunities:
- Meaningful tasks: The position offers a varied and diverse role in an international environment
- Work-life balance: Optimal conditions for balancing work and private life, as well as a family-friendly company policy. The option of flexible working (in terms of location) is generally available after consultation and in line with upcoming tasks and (on-site) appointments
- Vacation: You will receive 30 days of vacation plus additional days off (e.g. between Christmas and New Year's)
- Flexibility: Flexible working time models, including options close to full-time, allow you to tailor your working hours to suit your individual needs
- Knowledge & further training: Your professional development is important to us – we provide targeted, individual support
- Health & well-being: Your health is important to us. You can look forward to a comprehensive occupational health management program with a wide range of offerings - e.g., a beach volleyball court, running groups, yoga classes, and much more. In addition, our company medical service and an experienced social counseling team are available to assist you on site
- Fair remuneration: Depending on your existing qualifications and the tasks assigned to you, you will be classified in pay grade 13 of the TVöD-Bund (Collective Agreement for the Public Service). All information on the TVöD-Bund collective agreement can be found on the BMI website. The monthly salaries in euros can be found on page 69 ff. of the PDF download
- Additional benefits: Benefit from attractive additional services such as a company pension scheme with employer contribution. In addition to the basic salary, there is an additional year-end bonus under the collective pay agreement amounting to 75% of a monthly salary, as well as capital-forming benefits
- Fixed-term: The position is limited to 2 years
- Support for international employees: Our International Advisory Service makes it easier for international employees to get started
- Career Center: You will receive explicit support with regard to your career development opportunities
In addition to exciting tasks and a collegial working environment, we offer you much more: https://go.fzj.de/benefits
We welcome applications from people with diverse backgrounds, e.g. in terms of age, gender, disability, sexual orientation / identity, and social, ethnic and religious origin. A diverse and inclusive working environment with equal opportunities in which everyone can realize their potential is important to us.
The following links provide further information on diversity and equal opportunities: https://go.fzj.de/equality and on specific support options for women: https://go.fzj.de/womens-job-journey
Index number: 2026T-0666
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