M-2107 - POST-DOC IN PLASMA PROCESSES AND MATERIALS CHEMISTRY

Description

Are you passionate about space resources? So are we!

The European Space Resources Innovation Centre (ESRIC) is a joint initiative of the Luxembourg Space Agency (LSA), the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST). ESRIC aims to become an internationally recognized centre of expertise for scientific, technical, business and economic aspects related to the use of space resources for human and robotic exploration, as well as for a future in-space economy. 

You‘d like to contribute as a researcher? Join us!  

ESRIC is a brand-new initiative with challenging objectives and evolving in a rapidly changing international environment. Being part of this new adventure and contributing to build successful activities with ESRIC’s partners is common to all ESRIC’s positions. 

ESRIC is implemented as a department of LIST, with a dedicated governance structure that includes its partners LSA, ESA and LIST. It is conducting activities along four main areas: Research and testing facilities, Business support and incubation, Knowledge management, and Community management. 

When it comes to research and testing facilities, ESRIC collaborates closely with the Materials Research and Technology (MRT) department of LIST. The current position will be part of a new ESRIC research unit that is initially embedded in the MRT department to have access to a fully developed research environment. 

The primary objective of this new unit is to research, develop and improve the understanding and performance of processes enabling the utilization of space resources with a primary focus on the Moon. Lunar regolith as well as the ice from permanently shadowed regions are abundant sources of hydrogen, oxygen and metals that need to be smartly treated taking into account advanced processing technologies.

Responsibilities

How will you contribute?

 We are looking for a highly motivated young scientist who will take part in the development of an innovative plasma process for lunar minerals refinement. He will drive, in collaboration with the prototyping team, the development of a highly energetic reducing high density plasma process that aims at modifying the regolith to be used as powder for additive manufacturing processing. To do so, regolith simulants will be injected into the high temperature plasma plume produced by a microwave plasma. The plasma process objective is both: - Reducing of the regolith oxygen content; - Modifying the regolith morphology (spheroidization) to adapt it to additive manufacturing process.

His/her missions will be as follows:

• Design and implement, in collaboration with the prototyping team, a plasma metallurgical process that efficiently leads to reduction and spheroidization
• Study and optimise the process to reach a high reduction yield and desired powder morphology (plasma power, pressure, gas composition)
• Implement plasma diagnostics to manage the process (OES) and analytical techniques to chemically and physically characterise regolith and powders (TEM, SEM, XPS, ... )
• Identify knowledge gaps and critical technologies for this specific area and support the technological cooperation between ESRIC and MRT research teams
• Collaborate with additive manufacturing expert of LIST regarding the powder requirements

Must have requirements

Is your profile described below? You think you are our future colleague? Apply now!

• PhD in a field related to materials chemistry, plasma processes or powder metallurgy;
• Between 2 and not more than 5 years of professional experience after PhD, linked to additive manufacturing (SLE, SLS, cold spray), plasma process development
• Having an metallurgical experience dealing with materials/reductive atmosphere interaction would be an asset
• Strong appetite and competences in prototype development and optimisation 
• Experience in system engineering and interdisciplinary research & development;
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills;
• Entrepreneurial spirit, flexible and able to adapt;
• Team player, rigorous, autonomous, excellent organizational and collaborative skills, results-oriented
• Excellent command of English is a must, good knowledge of French is an asset.

We offer

What ESRIC and LIST offer

You will join the new ESRIC research unit that is embedded in the MRT department during a first incubation phase. In a second phase, this unit will move to ESRIC while continuing to collaborate scientifically and technically with the MRT department. 

ESRIC has an ambitious development plan over the next years, adding further partners and expanding its activities. The team that you will be joining is expected to grow quickly with the possibility to see ESRIC evolve towards a self-standing entity in a few years. 

Has this vacancy caught your interest?

APPLY NOW!

To know more about ESRIC activities: www.esric.lu

Your application must include:

• A motivation letter oriented towards the position and your experience
• A scientific CV, which includes contact details
• List of publications (and patents, if applicable)
• Contact of 2 references

Application procedure and conditions:

• LIST is an Equal Opportunity employer and committed to hiring and retaining a diverse personnel. We value all applicants and will consider all competent candidates for employment without regard to national origin, colour, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, religion, age or disability. 
• Applications will be reviewed on-going until the position is filled. 
• An assessment committee will review the applications and candidate selection will rely on guidelines that aim to ensure equal opportunities. 
• The main criterion for selection will be the existing skills and expertise of the applicant and matching with the qualifications mentioned above.

Required languages

To be considered for this position it is crucial that you have knowledge of the following languages

English Read C1 Write C1 Speak C1

Minimum required education

Doctorate

Required work experience in years

0 or more years.