Doctoral Researcher, sustainability of Power-to-X (PtX) value chains

The Sustainable Systems group led by Prof. Rofice Dickson in Aalto University's Department of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering seeks a doctoral researcher on the sustainability of Power-to-X (PtX) value chains. The project develops decision-making models and optimisation strategies for the cross-sector integration and operation of PtX technologies producing eFuels and eChemicals, keeping pathways within planetary boundaries while meeting criteria for cost-effectiveness, safety and operational resilience.

Research questions include how to decouple intermittent renewable electricity from further chemical processing, how to maximise the technical, economic and environmental feasibility of PtX value chains under operational and market uncertainty, and how to design and operate low-carbon transition pathways for industry in Finland and beyond. The work formulates techno-economic and life-cycle-driven mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) models of full value chains, covering operational dynamics, intermediate storage and variable feedstocks, with the group's model library of PtX technologies, unit operations and sustainability assessment frameworks.

The starting salary is about €3,140 per month (gross). Applications are due no later than 22 November 2026.

Master's degree in chemical engineering, electrical engineering, energy systems engineering or a closely related field; solid experience applying mathematical programming (e.g. MILP, MINLP) to energy or process systems; proficiency in GAMS, Python, Julia or MATLAB. Advantages: TEA and LCA methods, process simulation (Aspen Plus/Hysys, PRO/II) and LCA software (SimaPro, openLCA).