Two faculty, seven postdoc and graduate student positions in Biofuels and Biorefinery
Location: Nanjing,China Employer: Nanjing Agricultural University
College of Engineering, Nanjing Agricultural University (a top national university under the Ministry of Education ofChina) established a group for biomass and biorefinery in December 2015. Two faculty positions in microbiology, chemical and agricultural engineering at any ranks, and seven postdoc and graduate student positions are now being recruited within this group led by Prof. Zhen FANG to convert renewable biomass and agricultural wastes to biofuels and chemicals.
Possible topical areas of this group include thermo-chemical conversion processes, hydrothermal processes, green solvents (ionic liquids, organic solvents, supercritical fluids) for biorefining, synthesis of nanocatalysts for chemicals, biofuels, bio-diesel production processes, biological conversion processes (e.g., microbial oil, algae biodiesel, fermentation for hydrogen, ethanol and butanol), conversion of biomass to liquid, solid and gaseous fuels; separation of bioproducts; integration of biomass production/conversion/utilization concepts; and other relevant topics.
The faculty members will be expected to develop an internationally recognized, externally funded research program and to provide leadership in educational undergraduate and graduate programs in the areas of bioenergy and bio-based products from agricultural wastes.
The candidates are expected to have a background in micro-organisms, chemical and thermal conversions, enzymes and algae to make bio-based products in sectors such as chemicals, food, biodiesel and bioenergy, and with demonstrated credentials in research, scholarship, supervising students, writing proposals and published papers in high impacted international journals.
The postdoctoral fellows, PhD and master graduate students will be expected to do internationally recognized research independently in the areas of bioenergy and bio-based products from biomass, help professors to supervise junior students and write proposals, and publish papers in high impacted international journals.
Applicants are invited to send their curriculum vitae, a statement of plan for research, diplomas and the names and addresses of three references to the HR Department by email and cc to Prof. Zhen FANG at the same time.
RESEARCH INTERESTS
1. Hydrolysis of lignocellulosic wastes
Fast hydrolysis, low-temperature hydrolysis with catalysts and enzymatic hydrolysis are studied. The sugars produced are biologically converted to biofuels and chemicals (such as bio-hydrogen, ethanol and 2,3 butanediol).
(1) Fast hydrolysis (e.g., 350 oC)
(2) Low-temperature hydrolysis with catalysts (e.g., 150 oC)
(3) Enzymatic hydrolysis (e.g., 50 oC)
2.Synthesis of biodiesel
Heterogeneous nano or magnetic catalysts (such as magnetic carbonaceous acid, calcined/activated hydrotalcite nanoparticles, Na2SiO3@Fe3O4/C, CaFe2O4-Ca2Fe2O5-based catalyst) are produced via different methods (such as co-precipitation, hydrothermal, calcinations, loading).
3.Chemical synthesis of value-added products from lignocellulosic wastes
Value-added products (such as 5-hydroxymethylfurfural, biochar, acids, furfural, alkyl levulinates and γ-valerolactone (GVL) etc.) are synthesized in green solvents with acid, base and bi-functional heterogeneous catalysts (such as modified zeolites, ZrO2-zeolite hybrids).
4.Biological production of biofuels from hydrolysates and organic wastes
Biofuels and chemicals (such as bio-hydrogen, ethanol, 2,3 butanediol, lipids) are produced via fermentation of hydrolysates and organic wastes.
5. Thermal conversions of biomass and organic wastes
(1) Fast pyrolysis
(2) Slow pyrolysis for biochar production
(3) H2 production from organic wastes
(4) Supercritical water oxidation (SCW oxidation) of toxic organic wastes
5.Hydrothermally solubilize biomass, and subsequently convert it to biofuels and chemicals
6.Nano or micro catalysts synthesis using hydrothermal method or other conventional ways (e.g., precipitation and calcination)
7.Energy planning and policy, Techno-economic analysis
Contact Information
Telephone: +86-25-58606506 Mr. Guo
Fax: +86-25-58606699
Email: biaogATnjau.edu.cn; daiyunATnjau.edu.cn
Address: HR Department, College of Engineering, Nanjing Agricultural University
40 Dianjiangtai Road, Pukou District,
Nanjing City, Jiangsu Province, 210031China
Further information
Please contact Prof. Zhen FANG, Leader of Biomass Group,
e-mail: zhfa2020@hotmail.com;
Web: http://biomass-group.njau.edu.cn/
Applications received by December 31, 2020 will receive full consideration; however, the search will continue until a satisfactory pool of candidates has been identified.