The Laboratory for Low-Carbon Energy and Environmental Sustainability in the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences at the University of Wyoming (UW) now has two postdoctoral research associate positions in Systems Analysis of Hydrogen Production.
The Laboratory for Low-Carbon Energy and Environmental Sustainability promotes a long-term vision for the role of both technology and policy to cope with complex energy, environmental and natural resource challenges. The laboratory conducts systems research that addresses technical, economic, and policy issues related to energy and the environment. Current interests of research mainly include low-carbon energy systems, hydrogen energy, carbon capture and storage, bioenergy with carbon capture and storage, and the energy-water nexus under carbon constraints for climate change mitigation. The laboratory pioneers the development of the Integrated Environmental Control Model (IECM), a computer-based tool used worldwide for power plant modeling and assessment. The principal investigator is Dr. Haibo Zhai, the Roy & Caryl Cline Distinguished Chair in Engineering and a Professor of Environmental Engineering at UW. He is also an Adjunct Professor in the School of Energy Resources and the School of Computing at UW and in the Department of Engineering and Public Policy at Carnegie Mellon University.
The laboratory will hire two postdoctoral research associates to work on a new collaborative project funded by the Wyoming Innovation Partnership program, which includes investigators from UW, Idaho National Laboratory, Western Wyoming Community College, and the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services. This multi-institution project is to examine technical, economic, environmental, social, and policy issues related to nuclear-powered hydrogen produced from conventional and renewable gas resources, explore the potential for sustainable development of a hydrogen hub in Wyoming, and develop an educational and workforce training program on an emerging hydrogen economy. The postdoctoral research associates to be recruited will conduct thermodynamic process modeling and techno-economic analysis for nuclear-powered hydrogen production and environmental and resource impact assessments. Small modular reactors or nuclear microreactors and carbon capture and storage will be incorporated into the gas-based hydrogen production to lower life cycle carbon footprints. Based on research results, they will further work with PI Prof. Zhai and co-investigators of this project to develop a workforce training program on large-scale hydrogen production and transport infrastructure. The postdoctoral fellows will prepare progress reports and present them at project meetings, present results at conferences, publish work in peer-reviewed journals, and develop training materials for the workforce program.
A doctoral degree in chemical and environmental engineering, mechanical engineering, nuclear engineering, or other energy-related disciplines is required for this position. The applicants with expertise on hydrogen production and advanced nuclear technology, as well as ASPEN Plus, techno-economic analysis, and life cycle analysis, are strongly encouraged. Please complete the online application and upload the following for a complete application: cover letter, resume, and contact information for four work-related references. Here is the application website: https://eeik.fa.us2.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/CandidateExperience/en/sites/CX_1/job/231944/?mode=location. Additional information is also available on the application website. For any questions about this position, please contact Prof. Haibo Zhai by email at hzhai@uwyo.edu.
