Materials science and technology are our passion. With our cutting-edge research, Empa's around 1,100 employees make essential contributions to the well-being of society for a future worth living. Empa is a research institution of the ETH Domain.
The Laboratory for Building Energy Materials and Components develops advanced and/or low eco-impact, porous materials for insulation, sorption, and energy-related applications. Our research portfolio spans fundamental materials chemistry, process–structure–property relationships, and application-driven R&D, in close collaboration with academic and industrial partners.
To strengthen our team, we are seeking a highly motivated researcher with a strong background in solid adsorbents/gas adsorption/separation.
Project Focus
The project builds on Empa’s expertise in the field of sorbents and carbon capture. The position is part of the National Center of Competence in Research (NCCR) "Separations", a collaborative project lead by EPFL (Prof. Wendy Queen) and further involving ETH Zurich, University of Fribourg, HES-SO, Northwestern University (USA) and University of Alberta (Canada).
The NCCR focuses on three key challenges:
- CO2 capture from air: Developing scalable, cost-effective processes to efficiently remove atmospheric CO2.
- High-temperature ammonia separation: Creating novel high temperature separation technologies to make ammonia synthesis significantly more energy-efficient.
- Recovery of critical metals: Developing processes to recover valuable metals such as lithium and cobalt from waste streams, enabling secure and sustainable material cycles.
As part of the NCCR-Network, you will contribute to the project aims in the areas of shaped CO2 adsorbents and sorbent ageing. Within the framework of the NCCR project with well-defined objectives, you will be encouraged to develop independent ideas, propose new concepts, and test them experimentally and/or computationally. The role is ideally suited to strengthen your pre-existing expertise and enhance your academic track record.
Your responsibilities will include:
- Help coordinate project activities and develop synergies within the team and between project partners.
- Supervise intern students contributing to the project.
- Elucidate chemical as well as structural ageing mechanisms of structured and pure solid sorbents under different ageing conditions.
- Develop accelerated and high throughput sorbent ageing protocols.
- Help define mitigation strategies for sorbent ageing.
- Develop versatile, upscalable sorbent shaping/coating procedures.
- Help shape new, emerging scientific research lines within the project scope and publish/communicate your scientific results
- A high level of curiosity, independence, teamwork skills and motivation
- Doctoral degree or equivalent research experience in porous materials, surface or adsorption/separation science or a closely related field
- Excellent written and oral communication skills in English
Experience or familiarity with one of the following topics:
- Characterization of sorbent/porous materials characterization e.g. nitrogen sorption (BET, BJH, NLDFT), breakthrough measurements, SEM, TEM, TGA, FTIR, NMR, thermal conductivity measurements
- Synthesis and/or shaping of solid sorbents.
- Sorbent modelling and prediction of performance or ageing.
We offer a stimulating, international, and collaborative research environment at a leading research institution with state-of-the-art infrastructure. The laboratory and supervisors provide a supportive and safe-to-fail work environment. As part of the ETH Domain, we offer attractive employment conditions and excellent opportunities for professional and personal development. Start date is May 2026 or upon agreement for a duration of 2 years.
We live a culture of inclusion and respect. We welcome all people who are interested in innovative, sustainable and meaningful activities - that's what counts.
We look forward to receiving your complete online application including a letter of motivation, CV, certificates, diplomas and contact details of two reference persons. Please submit these exclusively via our job portal. Applications by e-mail and by post will not be considered.
David Heusser, HR Partner
