Research Engineer

Khalifa University is a world-class, research-intensive institution in Abu Dhabi, the capital city of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The University’s mission is to seamlessly integrate research and education to produce world leaders and critical thinkers in science, engineering, and medicine, and also to be a catalyst towards Abu Dhabi’s 2030 vision for a knowledge-based economy. Khalifa University has two campuses in the city of Abu Dhabi – the KU Main Campus and the Sas Al Nakhl Campus, the latter housing two of KU’s flagship research institutes: Masdar Institute and Petroleum Institute.

• To provide high quality research support and undertake internationally competitive research aimed at publication thereby contributing to the academic and research mission of the University.
• Ability to present research plans and findings in a convincing style, both in oral and written modes of communication.

Operational Responsibilities

• Identify, develop, implement, evaluate and optimize strategies for low-energy/low-carbon metal product manufacturing, including hydrogen, power-to-gas and carbon capture-based strategies, through in-depth literature review and thermodynamic, economic and environmental modeling and optimization. This will involve equipment and process design/specification.
• Construct and validate (against appropriate reference data) thermodynamic, economic and environmental models of both conventional/existing and low-energy/carbon metal product production processes and systems, using numerical modeling including thermodynamic and chemical engineering process modeling software.
• Evaluate low-carbon metal production strategies by (i) developing and applying appropriate thermodynamic, economic, environmental and life cycle assessment (LCA) performance metrics and evaluation approaches, (ii) using developed models, (iii) assessing process/system performance sensitivity to key design/operating parameters, and (iv) optimizing process/system based on thermodynamic, economic and environmental criteria.
• Write independently, as directed by the project investigator, publications for submission to high-quartile ranked journals and premier energy/mechanical engineering conferences.
• Take responsibility for reporting technical progress to the project investigator, periodically and in a timely manner.
• Carry out a specified research program under the direction of the project investigator.
• Collaborate and work in a collegial manner with the project team members.
• Support the project team in the advancement of the research program.
• Function autonomously, ethically and responsibly.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Assist with the mentoring of graduate and undergraduate students, and research staff working on the project, as directed by the project investigator

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor/MSc degree in chemical, mechanical or related engineering field.

Required Experience

• Good engineering background/experience in chemical engineering and reactive flow process modeling (e.g., using Aspen Plus), chemical equilibrium and kinetics.
• Desired experience in some of the following areas: conventional/existing and low-carbon metal production processes, heat recovery and utilization, heat/material integration, carbon capture processes, hydrogen, power-to-gas, energy storage.
• Desired experience in design and evaluation of multi-generation systems, using energy, exergy, economic, exergoeconomic, environmental, life cycle, and dispatch/scheduling analysis, and optimization.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently, without direct supervision, and team player skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communications skills.
• Good research achievements including publications in reputed academic engineering/scientific journals.