Navid Zehtabiyan-Rezaie

Aarhus University’s Department of Mechanical and Production Engineering is offering a PhD position focused on thermofluid modelling of direct air capture (DAC) systems. The project aims to address the challenges of traditional DAC technologies by utilizing existing industrial cooling towers as air contactors and employing electrochemical methods for efficient CO₂ release and absorbent regeneration. The research seeks to develop scalable, cost-effective DAC technology that can be integrated into current industrial infrastructure, with the potential to capture gigatons of CO₂ annually. The successful candidate will work on pilot-scale demonstrations, performance optimization, and techno-economic analysis to support commercialization. Applicants should have a Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or a related field, with strong knowledge of thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, and heat & mass transfer. Experience with computational fluid dynamics (CFD) tools such as OpenFOAM, STAR-CCM+, or COMSOL Multiphysics, and programming related to CFD is required. Additional experience in turbulence modelling, multiphase flow, or parallel computing is advantageous. The position offers a collaborative research environment and the opportunity to develop advanced modelling and simulation skills. The PhD is fully funded according to Danish collective agreements. The application deadline is 21 November 2025, and the preferred start date is 1 February 2026. For more information, contact the supervisors Mahdi Abkar or Navid Zehtabiyan-Rezaie. Applications must be submitted online with all required documents before the deadline.