Researcher in Operando Catalysis and Advanced Diagnostics Full-time

Researcher in Operando Catalysis and Advanced Diagnostics

Lund University was founded in 1666 and is repeatedly ranked among the world's top universities. The University has around 47,000 students and more than 8,800 staff based in Lund, Helsingborg, and Malmö. We are united in our efforts to understand, explain, and improve our world and the human condition.

Lund University welcomes applicants with diverse backgrounds and experiences. We regard gender equality and diversity as a strength and an asset.

Description of the Workplace

The Division of Combustion Physics conducts experimental and theoretical research in energy conversion, reaction kinetics, and advanced diagnostics of gas-phase and surface processes. The research ranges from fundamental studies of reaction mechanisms to applications in sustainable energy, catalysis, and plasma processes.

The present position is placed in a research environment focusing on operando studies of catalytic processes, where changes in the catalyst surface are investigated simultaneously with measurements of the gas-phase composition. The work involves the development and application of advanced experimental methods to link surface structure, gas-phase reactions, and catalytic activity under realistic reaction conditions.

Research is carried out in close collaboration with other researchers at the division as well as with national and international partners. The division consists of researchers, doctoral students, and technical staff with expertise in laser diagnostics, spectroscopy, plasma physics, and catalysis.

The workplace is located at the Department of Physics at Lund University, in an international and interdisciplinary research environment with access to advanced experimental infrastructure.

Work Duties

The research focuses on mechanistic understanding of catalytic reactions by combining surface-sensitive diagnostics with gas-phase measurements in operando, enabling direct correlations between catalyst surface state and reaction activity.

The fixed-term position as a researcher aims to strengthen research in operando diagnostics of catalytic processes. The research focuses on understanding the relationship between the catalyst surface state and the gas-phase composition under reaction conditions.

You will work experimentally with studies of catalytic systems under reaction conditions and contribute to the development and execution of experiments where surface processes and gas-phase reactions are studied simultaneously.

The duties include, among other things:

• planning and conducting experimental studies of catalytic processes under operando conditions
• developing and applying experimental methods for surface analysis and gas-phase diagnostics
• working with catalytic materials such as metal and oxide surfaces, including polycrystalline samples
• analyzing and interpreting experimental data
• developing measurement and control systems for experimental setups, including programming and data handling
• participating in research projects that may include studies of plasma-catalytic processes
• contributing to the supervision of doctoral and master's students
• collaborating with other research groups and contributing to scientific publications

The work will be carried out in close collaboration with researchers in catalysis, plasma physics, and laser diagnostics.

Qualifications

Appointment to a position as a researcher requires that the applicant has a PhD. Required qualifications:

• a PhD in physics, chemical physics, chemical engineering, or a related field
• very good oral and written proficiency in English
• documented experience in experimental research within catalysis, surface physics, or reaction studies
• experience with operando or in situ studies of catalytic systems
• experience with experimental methods for gas-phase diagnostics or spectroscopy
• experience with laser-based diagnostic methods, for example LIF-based measurements in the infrared spectral region
• experience with programming for data analysis in Python and experimental control in LabVIEW
• ability to work both independently and collaboratively with other researchers

Additional requirements:

• experience with surface analysis techniques (e.g. optical methods, reflectance methods, electron or spectroscopic techniques)
• experience in research on plasma or plasma catalysis
• experience working with polycrystalline model catalysts or well-defined surface systems
• experience with experimental studies under operando or in situ conditions
• experience with advanced data analysis or experimental system development
• documented experience of scientific publishing in relevant research areas
• experience supervising students or doctoral candidates

We Offer

Lund University is a public authority which means that employees get particular benefits, generous annual leave, and an advantageous occupational pension scheme. The Division of Combustion Physics offers a highly interdisciplinary research environment with strong expertise in optical diagnostics, catalysis, and plasma science, as well as access to advanced experimental infrastructure and international collaborations.

Further Information

The position is a fixed-term employment from 1 May 2026 to 31 December 2026 and corresponds to 80% of full-time employment. Researchers are covered by a local collective agreement on annual working hours for researchers and assistant researchers. The planning of annual working hours is carried out in dialogue between the manager and the employee.