Temporary contract | 48 months (14 months initial contract) | Belvaux

Are you passionate about research? So are we! Come and join us

The Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST) is a Research and Technology Organization (RTO) active in the fields of materials, environment and IT. By transforming scientific knowledge into technologies, smart data and tools, LIST empowers citizens in their choices, public authorities in their decisions and businesses in their strategies.

Do you want to know more about LIST? Check our website: https://www.list.lu/

Discover our Materials activities: https://www.list.lu/en/materials/

How will you contribute?

Electric energy stands for 20% of the total energy consumed in the world, and this share is expected to reach 40% by 2050 as an outcome of the need to decrease our dependence on non-renewable energies. Beyond sunlight and wind, heat is another formidable and poorly exploited source of electrical energy. Indeed, currently 72 % of the energy produced ends up in waste heat - and it has been predicted that up to 13 000 TWh could be recovered each year, which stands for Europe’s yearly total energy needs! In this context, our team recently showed that 40 grams of nonlinear pyroelectric ceramics can generate more than 10 Joules of electric energy from waste heat in one single thermodynamic cycle of 100 degrees (Lheritier et al., Nature 2022).

In this thesis, we want to study pyroelectric components that are not only well adapted to generate large amount of energy, but that can also generate large electric power. To do so, such components have to be made of excellent pyroelectric materials and have to be able to exchange heat very quickly with fluid transporting heat. The core of this PhD will be to assemble several pyroelectric modules in a device able to exchange heat with diverse fluids. The pyroelectric modules will be made either of ceramics or polymers. Modelling the overall behaviour of the device will be required, through finite element modelling (Comsol). The majority of the work will nonetheless be experimental, by fabricating the devices and testing them in the lab. The PhD student will be part of a larger team working on electrocaloric cooling and pyroelectric energy harvesting.

The primarily responsibility of a PhD students is to define their research project and successfully complete it, achieving agreed working plan and objectives in due time. To do so, and depending on their area of activity, their duties may include:

Demonstrates the ability to generate RDI results under supervision identifies, defines, and addresses problems in their scientific field; performs comprehensive literature review; conducts experiments; makes analysis, evaluation, and synthesis of information; and elaborates conclusions that can serve as input for the definition of RDI concepts.

Develops an increasing level of independence in the conduct of their PhD project.

Makes an appropriate dissemination of own research results: participates in forums, seminars, or scientific events.

Is Your profile described below? Are you our future colleague? Apply now!

Education

• You hold a Master’s degree in Materials Science or Physics.

Experience and skills

• You have a taste for experiments. You like working in a team. Knowing ferroelectric materials is a plus.

Language skills

•  Good level of written and spoken English

Your LIST benefits

• An organization with a passion for impact and strong RDI partnerships in Luxembourg and Europe that works on responsible and independent research projects
• Sustainable by design, empowering our belief that we play an essential role in paving the way to a green society
• Innovative infrastructures and exceptional labs occupying more than 5,000 square metres, including innovations in all that we do
• An environment encouraging curiosity, innovation and entrepreneurship in all areas
• Personalized learning programme to foster our staff’s soft and technical skills
• Multicultural and international work environment with more than 50 nationalities represented in our workforce
• Diverse and inclusive work environment empowering our people to fulfil their personal and professional ambitions
• Gender-friendly environment with multiple actions to attract, develop and retain women in science
• 32 days’ paid annual leave, 11 public holidays, 13-month salary, statutory health insurance
• Flexible working hours, home working policy and access to lunch vouchers