IQS, a founding member of Universitat Ramon Llull, is made up of two university faculties: IQS School of Engineering and IQS School of Management; IQS Executive Education which offers specialized training to professionals and companies; the IQS Tech Transfer division which carries out research, innovation and technology transfer for industry and companies; and by IQS Tech Factory which promotes entrepreneurship and supports the creation of new scientific-technological companies.

With more than 100 years of teaching experience, IQS is a benchmark university center, committed to responding to the continuous challenges that the social, economic, technological and industrial context poses.

Our vocation and commitment is the comprehensive training of people with attitudes, knowledge and skills that drive them towards their personal and professional development.

We promote scientific and technological knowledge, business transformation and the progress of society.

At IQS we are looking for professionals committed to these values.

The PhD student will work on the project “Direct Air Capture technology of Carbon Dioxide (CO2) for the fertilization of horticultural crops – FertiDAC”.

The global agricultural production system exerts a substantial impact on CO2 emissions, operating as an intensive carbon-emitting sector.

In response, there is significant pressure on this sector to decrease its carbon footprint for climate change mitigation, while simultaneously dealing with the challenge of enhancing yields and improving food quality.

Direct air capture (DAC) technologies of CO2 emerge as a promising strategy to address the dual challenges of global food production and climate change. This approach involves adsorbing atmospheric CO2 and subsequent desorption of the gas inside greenhouses to optimize the carbon fixation capacity of horticultural crops.

According to the stated challenge, various strategies and research pathways will be explored to achieve the goals of the FertiDAC project.

Additionally, this will contribute to the development of a high-quality (and scientifically impactful) PhD, representing a paradigm shift in the direct capture of CO2 from air.

The successful candidate will be based at IQS-School of Engineering, an internationally renowned research Institution in the field of Chemical Engineering.

Required:

• Candidates should hold a good undergraduate degree, and a Master in a relevant engineering/science subject, such as Chemical Engineering, or Environmental Engineering.

• Good knowledge of the current state of the art related to environmental CO is mandatory.

• Good level of English – Applicants whose first language is not English will be required to demonstrate proficiency in the English language (B2 Common European Framework of Reference).

Desired:

Previous laboratory or field experience. In addition, knowledge of Carbon Capture and Utilization technologies (CCU), and solid adsorbents would be desirable, but is not essential.

Conditions:

• Full-time (38,5 h/week)

• Incorporation in 01/04/2024

• Length of the contract until October 2026 renewable annually

• This project is financed by ACCIÓ, the Catalan Government’s agency for business competitiveness.

How to apply: Applicants should submit a full Curriculum Vitae and a cover letter.