Postdoc and PhD openings in Direct Air Capture, CO2 capture, and porous materials at EPFL École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne in Switzerland

LFIM at École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) is advertising multiple research opportunities in materials chemistry, CO2 capture, Direct Air Capture (DAC), MOFs, COFs, porous polymers, adsorbents, and related separation technologies.

Postdoc opening: The Laboratory for Functional Inorganic Materials is seeking a postdoctoral researcher to lead the development and engineering of next-generation sorbents for Direct Air Capture. The role emphasizes porous material design, surface engineering, mechanistic studies, and performance assessment under ultra-dilute CO2 conditions (~420 ppm). The postdoc is based at the EnergyPolis Campus, EPFL-Valais in Sion, Switzerland.

PhD openings: Two PhD projects are available on the design of novel materials for CO2 capture, including porous adsorbents and functional sorbents for efficient and selective uptake under realistic conditions. Another PhD project focuses on novel adsorbents for sustainable metal and contaminant recovery, including water purification. These projects involve synthesis, characterization, adsorption mechanisms, and structure–property relationships.

Master/semester projects: LFIM is also offering several student projects in DAC sorbents, COFs for gold recovery from e-waste, adsorbent materials for gas separations, structuring of adsorbents for CO2 capture, water purification, and scale-up/characterization of amine-grafted mesoporous silica for post-combustion CO2 capture. Students interested in other projects are also invited to contact the group.

Eligibility highlights: PhD candidates should have a master’s degree in Chemistry, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, or a related field, with experience in synthesis and characterization. The postdoc requires strong prior DAC publication record and advanced expertise in adsorption, surface modification, and characterization. Master/semester projects are open to students with relevant backgrounds; one project is open to Bachelor’s or Master’s students.

Application: Applicants should email a single PDF with cover letter, CV, transcripts, and contact information to the relevant address, using the specified subject line. PhD applications are reviewed on a rolling basis until the positions are filled. The preferred start date for the PhD positions is April 2026.