Chemist / Research Associate (Catalysis and X-ray Diffraction) | Chemiker (m/w/d)

Job Summary

This role is ideal for a highly motivated scientist focusing on heterogeneous catalysis from renewable resources, working within the Integrated Fuel & Chemical Science Center (Excellence Cluster) at RWTH Aachen. The core responsibility involves characterizing the structure of liquid metals, alloys, and nanostructured catalysts, particularly under high-temperature reaction conditions, using advanced X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Pair Distribution Function (PDF) analysis. Day-to-day tasks include building and optimizing reaction chambers for laboratory PDF diffractometers, conducting operando catalysis experiments at synchrotron radiation sources, and synthesizing and characterizing heterogeneous catalysts (e.g., Ni on Al2O3) using techniques like TGA, IR, TEM, and MS. The successful candidate will leverage scientific programming (Python, Labview) for data analysis and is expected to publish results in peer-reviewed journals, contributing to fundamental understanding of catalyst stability and activity. A Master's degree in Chemistry, Physics, or a related field, coupled with experience in heterogeneous catalysis or advanced data analysis, is essential.