Postdoctoral Fellowship: Postdoc Modelling of Electrochemical Recovery of Nitrogen Vectors from Wastewater

About the Role

This Postdoctoral position is part of the European project eLitre – Electrochemical recovery of nitrogen vectors from wastewater, funded under the Water4All Partnership “Water for Circular Economy”. The consortium includes five European partners: four knowledge institutions and one industrial partner in the water and urban services sector.

Eutrophication from high nitrate concentrations in agricultural runoff poses a major challenge to European waters, while ammonia-based fertiliser production carries a large carbon footprint. The eLitre project develops integrated electrochemical and photobiological processes to remove nitrate from wastewater streams and upgrade recovered nutrients into raw materials for fertiliser production. The technology aims to directly convert nitrate species dissolved in wastewater into ammonia at high conversion rates, selectivity, and efficiency, contributing to water circularity and nutrient revalorisation in both agricultural and urban settings.

Responsibilities

• Develop models of the eLitre electrochemical technology
• Carry out techno-economic assessments (TEA) and life cycle assessments (LCA) to evaluate different technology configurations under various scenarios
• Assess capabilities for nitrate removal and recyclability in the context of the EU Nitrates Directive
• Base studies on experimental observations from project tasks to produce KPI-informed models
• Provide insights on cost and environmental impact to guide technology performance improvements on the path to viability

Requirements

• PhD in chemical engineering or a closely related field
• Experience in process modelling
• Experience in techno-economic assessment and life cycle assessment
• Interest in electrochemical processes

What We Offer

• Duration: 3 years (temporary contract)
• Hours: 38–40 hours per week (1.0 FTE)
• Salary range: €3,546 – €5,538 per month, in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities
• Excellent pension scheme (ABP)
• Yearly individual employment package (individual choice budget)
• Discount on supplemental health insurance packages
• Flexible working week
• 232 leave hours per year (at 38 hours); option to buy or sell additional hours
• Plenty of opportunities for education, training, and courses
• Partially paid parental leave
• Vitality programme for healthy and energetic working
• Relocation support via TU Delft’s Coming to Delft Service, including a Dual Career Programme for accompanying partners

About TU Delft

Delft University of Technology trains engineers who make a global impact. Its education and research are aligned with societal challenges in energy, climate, digitalisation, AI, and smart mobility. The university offers an international community of professionals and students.

About the Faculty of Applied Sciences

The Faculty of Applied Sciences has over 1,100 employees, including 150 principal investigators, and approximately 3,600 students. It focuses on key enabling technologies such as quantum- and nanotechnology, photonics, biotechnology, synthetic biology, and materials for energy storage and conversion. The Process Systems Engineering (PSE) section within the Chemical Engineering Department conducts advanced computational research for sustainable developments.

How to Apply

Interested candidates should apply no later than 31 August 2026 via the online application system (applications by email or post will not be processed). Please upload:

• Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• Motivation letter

Address your application to Dr. Ana Somoza-Tornos. For further information about the vacancy or selection procedure, contact Dr. Ana Somoza-Tornos ([email protected]).

Note: This is an EU-funded project (eLitre) under the Water4All 2024 Joint Transnational Call – Water for Circular Economy. As part of knowledge security, TU Delft conducts a risk assessment during recruitment based on information provided in the motivation letter and CV. This takes place at the final stages of the selection process.

Original vacancy