PDF position : Improved methods for characterizing samples of electrolytic baths used in alumin[...]

Interdisciplinary Institute for Technological Innovation (3IT)

Organisation/Company: Université de Sherbrooke

Department: Interdisciplinary Institute for Technological Innovation (3IT)

Research Field: Chemistry » Structural chemistry, Engineering » Materials engineering, Physics » Metrology, Mathematics » Algorithms

Researcher Profile: Other Profession Positions

Positions: Postdoc Positions

Country: Canada

Application Deadline: 30 Jun 2025 - 00:00 (America/Toronto)

Type of Contract: Temporary

Job Status: Full-time

Hours Per Week: 40

Offer Starting Date: 1 May 2025

Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Other EU programme

Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

Research project:

X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) are currently the methods of choice at Rio Tinto for monitoring the electrolytic bath process. Although efficient, they have never been used to quantify the level of carbon black in the bath.

The aim of this post-doctoral project is to determine whether X-ray diffraction (XRD), used alone or in combination with other characterization methods, can be used to determine the level of carbon in samples taken from the cells. X-ray diffraction data can be combined with measurements of hue, Raman spectroscopy, total carbon and qualitative observations made by operators or on the analysis line, on the absence or presence of lint or by tank image processing. Operating data associated with the presence of lint in tanks will also be available.

The selected candidate will be responsible for better understanding the relationship between the composition of the bath, the composition and structure of the recycled anodes as well as their final properties. The research work proposes to expand the range of characterization methods actually used by Rio Tinto to characterize the electrolytic bath.

The candidate should have a strong interest in, among other things, industrial production, materials characterization (spectroscopy, etc.), massive data processing and machine learning, scientific programming and experimental work.

Work environment

This postdoctoral fellowship will be supervised by Professors R. Gosselin and N. Braidy of the Université de Sherbrooke and a team of researchers from Rio-Tinto’s CRDA. The work will be carried out at the Interdisciplinary Institute for Technological Innovation (3IT) of Université de Sherbrooke, as well as at Rio-Tinto’s CRDA. The candidate will benefit from an exceptional research environment where students, engineers, professors and organizations work hand in hand to develop the technologies of the future in Canada.

Where to apply

E-mail: Emplois-materiaux@usherbrooke.ca

Requirements

Research Field: Engineering » Chemical engineering

Education Level: PhD or equivalent

Skills/Qualifications:

• PhD in engineering or science in the field of physics, or materials.
• Completed all requirements of your doctoral degree after September 1 2023.
• Good experience in development of data analysis & programming (Python, MATLAB, or R).
• Ability to communicate both orally and in writing in English or French.
• Strong capacity for adaptation, autonomy, teamwork and problem-solving.
• Strong taste for design, experimental work, interdisciplinary R&D and entrepreneurship.

Specific Requirements:

• Good experience in development of data analysis & programming (Python, MATLAB, or R).
• Relevant experience in materials characterization methods (XRD, X-ray fluorescence, spectroscopy, etc.).

Languages:

FRENCH Level: Good

ENGLISH Level: Good