Process Engineer (Gas Adsorption Specialist) - Materials Discovery Research Institute

Job Description

We have an exciting opportunity for a Process Engineer III Gas Adsorption Specialist at UL Research Institutes Material Discovery Research Institute (MDRI) in our Skokie, IL facilities.

The Process Engineer III, is responsible for the operation, maintenance and development of a state-of-the-art adsorption facility and will work to support other groups in the institute to execute characterization of materials and provide an expert technical level interpretation of the data, as a member of the Accelerated Methodologies Research Team.

Materials Discovery Research Institute:

The Materials Discovery Research Institute (MDRI) works to develop and deploy new materials with the potential to address current global safety challenges. Pursuing materials that will help produce transformational safety breakthroughs, MDRI harnesses the power of advanced computing and high-throughput experimental methods to create innovative materials that will produce resilience for a sustainable future and protect individual and societal health.

We focus on today's critical challenges, working to create new and better materials that will support renewable energy and environmental sustainability. Among our top priorities is research into materials capable of carbon capture and energy storage, with an eye toward reducing the adverse impacts of humanity's reliance upon fossil fuel resources and enabling a transition to renewable energy sources.

Above all, our research builds on our commitment to a safer, more sustainable future.

UL Research Institutes:

At UL Research Institutes, we expand the boundaries of safety science to create a more secure and sustainable world. For more than a century, we have studied the unintended consequences of innovation, designed solutions to mitigate risk and shared our findings with academia, scientists, manufacturers, and policymakers across industries. We identify critical safety and sustainability issues, asking the tough questions because we believe a safer world begins with knowledge.

Build a safer, more secure, and sustainable future with us. Join us and work with our Office of Partnership team who facilitates the research required to produce that knowledge and put into practice.

Through all of our programs, we aim to unlock the diverse perspectives that are essential for solving the world's most pressing safety and sustainability issues.

What you'll learn and achieve:

As the Process Engineer, you will play a key role in the rapid growth of UL as you:

• Works to establish world-class adsorption capabilities at the MDRI to enable impactful research contributions towards global challenges focused on sustainability and safety.

• Leads gas adsorption studies, including design, model, and implement advanced gas adsorption processes such as pressure swing adsorption, thermal swing adsorption, and breakthrough studies tailored for specific research goals.

• Utilizes advanced simulation tools (e.g., Aspen Adsorption, COMSOL, Python, or similar platforms) for process modeling and optimization to predict adsorption behaviors, isotherms, kinetics, and scale-up factors.

• Conducts breakthrough experiments and detailed performance assessments of adsorbents under real-world operating conditions.

• Utilizes and interprets adsorption models, including Langmuir, BET, and other advanced frameworks, to extract actionable insights from experimental data.

• Identifies limitations in existing adsorption techniques and develop innovative solutions or workflows to overcome challenges. Troubleshoot and resolve complex instrumentation and data issues.

• Collaborates with cross-functional teams to integrate adsorption technologies into existing or new products.

• Mentors and trains team members and junior scientists on gas adsorption techniques and best practices, ensuring high-quality data generation across the organization.

• Participates in the preparation and submission of grant proposals.

• Leads instrumentation setup and data collection, provide timely feedback to improve and refine research methodologies.

• Develops protocols and standard operating procedures ensuring safety and compliance.

• Oversees day to day lab/field operations.

• Presents research results internally.

• Performs other duties as directed.

What you'll experience working at UL Research Institutes:

We have pursued our mission of working for a safer, more secure, and sustainable world for nearly 130 years, embedding conscientious stewardship into everything we do.

• People: Our people make us special. You'll work with a diverse team of experts respected for their independence and transparency and build a network, because our approach is collaborative. We collaborate across disciplines, organizations, and geographies to build the global scientific response that today's global challenges require.

• Interesting work: Every day is different for us here. We see what's on the horizon and use our expertise to build the foundations of a safer future. You'll have the opportunity to push the boundaries of human understanding as part of a team working to advance the public good.

• Grow and achieve: We learn, work, and grow together through targeted development, reward, and recognition programs.

• Values. Four core values guide our work: collaboration, respect, integrity, and beneficence. By living our values, we inspire the trust essential to fulfilling our mission and foster the partnerships that enable us to pursue a beneficent future in which we all can thrive.

• Total Rewards: All employees at UL Research Institutes are eligible for bonus compensation. We offer comprehensive medical, dental, vision, and life insurance plans and a generous 401k matching structure of up to 5% of eligible pay. Moreover, we invest an additional 4% into your retirement saving fund after your first year of continuous employment. Depending on your role, you may be able to discuss flexible working arrangements with your manager. We also provide employees with paid time off, including vacation, holiday, sick, and volunteer days.

What makes you a great fit:

While no one candidate will embody every quality, the successful candidate will bring many of the following professional competencies and personal attributes:

• Deep understanding of gas adsorption principles, including single- and multi-component gas adsorption, kinetics, and thermodynamics.

• Proven experience in adsorption research, with a focus on developing and optimizing adsorption processes such as pressure and thermal swing adsorption.

• Hands-on experience with advanced gas adsorption instruments (e.g., Tristar, HPVA, BTA, IGA 100, ABR)Demonstrated general knowledge of materials science, chemical engineering, electrical engineering to perform high pressure and variable-temperature experiments for evaluating materials performance under realistic conditions.

• Excellent communication skills required, both written and verbal, for collaboration and publication purposes.

• Ability to collaborate with peers and work directly with Research Scientists and other team members to complete a project from start to finish.

• Ability to serve as lead author on reports and papers.

Professional education and experience requirements for the role include:

• Bachelor's degree in chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering or materials science plus 10 or more years of directly related work experience, or

• Master's degree in chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering or materials science plus 4 or more years of directly related work experience, or

• Ph.D. in chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering or materials science plus 2 or more years of directly related work experience.

About UL Research Institutes and UL Standards & Engagement

UL Research Institutes and UL Standards & Engagement are nonprofit organizations dedicated to advancing safety science research through the discovery and application of scientific knowledge. We conduct rigorous independent research and analyze safety data, convene experts worldwide to address risks, share knowledge through safety education and public outreach initiatives, and develop standards to guide safe commercialization of evolving technologies. We foster communities of safety, from grassroots initiatives for neighborhoods to summits of world leaders. Our organization employs collaborative and scientific approaches with partners and stakeholders to drive innovation and progress toward improving safety, security, and sustainability, ultimately enhancing societal well-being.

To learn more, visit our websites UL.org and ULSE.org.

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