Postdoctoral Scholar-Vasco Correa

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Penn State University Park:
Full time:
Posted Yesterday:
REQ #
** APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:*** ## CURRENT PENN STATE EMPLOYEE (faculty, staff, technical service, or student), please login to Workday to complete the internal application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.* ## CURRENT PENN STATE STUDENT (not employed previously at the university) and seeking employment with Penn State, please login to Workday to complete the student application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.
* ## If you are NOT a current employee or student, please click “Apply” and complete the application process for external applicants.
** Approval of remote and hybrid work is not guaranteed regardless of work location. For additional information on remote work at Penn State, see Notice to Out of State Applicants.
** This is a term position; length of the term will be discussed during the interview process. Continuation past the term length discussed will be based on university need, performance, and/or availability of funding.
** POSITION SPECIFICS**#
** Postdoctoral Scholar – Process and Systems Modeling of Biomass Conversion Technologies
** The Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering in the College of Agricultural Sciences at The Pennsylvania State University is seeking a
** Postdoctoral Scholar
** in process modeling and techno-economic analysis of biomass conversion systems. The Postdoctoral Scholar will work in the laboratory of Dr. Juliana Vasco-Correa on a collaborative research project focused on developing and evaluating novel technologies for converting lignocellulosic biomass into value-added chemicals and bioproducts.  The successful candidate will develop computational models to evaluate integrated biomass conversion technologies, including biomass fractionation, catalytic and biochemical conversion, and bioproduct upgrading processes.

Modeling approaches will include process simulation using tools such as Aspen Plus and BioSTEAM, techno-economic analysis, biomass supply chain and logistics modeling, and process optimization. The research will involve equipment sizing, capital and operating cost estimation, economic performance evaluation, and sensitivity and uncertainty analyses to assess the technical and economic viability of alternative process configurations, feed stocks, and production scales.  The Postdoctoral Scholar will work closely with multidisciplinary research teams, integrating experimental data into computational models and providing feedback to guide technology development.

The candidate will be expected to independently lead modeling activities, collaborate with project partners and other researchers, and provide guidance and mentorship to graduate and undergraduate students. The postdoc is expected to publish research findings in peer-reviewed journals, present results at conferences and project meetings, and prepare technical reports. The postdoc will receive mentorship and professional development opportunities tailored to their career goals.  

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** Qualifications
* * Applicants are required to have a Ph.D. or equivalent doctorate in an appropriate field and be able to provide evidence that all requirements have been met for completion of the Ph.D. prior to the effective date of hire.  A Ph.D. in Chemical, Biological, Agricultural, Biosystems, Environmental Engineering, or a related discipline is required. Demonstrated experience in process modeling and simulation, including mass and energy balances, process design, and techno-economic analysis, is required.

Experience with process simulation tools such as Aspen Plus and/or BioSTEAM is strongly preferred. Experience in biomass supply chain and logistics…