Reactivity of primary and secondary cementitious resources in blended cements

Katholieke Universiteit Leuven
March 29, 2023
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Reactivity of primary and secondary cementitious resources in blended

cements

(ref. BAP-2023-53)

Last modification : Friday, January 27, 2023

The Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences conducts scientific research into geo- and ecosystems on different time and space scales, including human-environment interactions and the sustainable management of primary and secondary resources. The PhD candidate will be coached by prof. dr. Ruben Snellings from the Division Geology of the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences and the Department of Materials Engineering at the KU Leuven.

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Project

Considering volume and impact, cement and concrete are among the most successful inventions ever made. The downside of this success is that the cement industry today accounts for about 8% of all CO2emissions. Local, sustainable solutions are highly needed to sustain the decarbonization of cement production and mitigate climate change.

This PhD project aims to assess and understand the reactivity of widely available primary and secondary resources for the next generation of sustainable low-carbon cements. Key knowledge gaps to be addressed in the PhD project are 1) quantification and understanding of the intrinsic reactivity of a wide range of primary and secondary resources, 2) synergy and competition in multi-phase low-carbon blended cements. The PhD research will be mainly experimental. Recent reactivity test methods will be combined with state-of-the-art characterization techniques. The collected data will be used to parameterize and validate kinetic models to extract intrinsic reactivity characteristics and predict phase evolutions in multi-phase blended cements.

The PhD position will take place in an internationally reputed scientific environment with a competitive 48 month full-time grant. The position implies the following responsibilities and tasks:

  • Conduct the PhD research in accordance with the objectives and tasks of the project “Reactivity of primary and secondary cementitious resources in blended cements”
  • Participate actively in the Applied Mineralogy group by attending group meetings and taking part in group activities and shared responsibilities;
  • Follow the programme of doctoral training according to the rules of the KU Leuven Arenberg Doctoral School (through journal publications, conference participation, and coursework);
  • Supervise MSc and BSc dissertations related to your research;
  • Give limited support to the BSc or MSc education in Geology.
  • Profile
  • The candidate holds an MSc in Geology; MSc in Engineering: Materials Engineering, Civil Engineering; MSc in Bio-Engineering; MSc in Chemistry; or equivalent, preferably with some background in construction materials.
  • We are looking for a candidate with excellent study results and a strong experimental background, familiar with materials characterisation and data treatment.
  • The candidate is hands-on, communicative and proficient in written and spoken English.
  • Offer
  • The successful applicant will receive a full-time scholarship for four years to do research and obtain a PhD-degree in Science.
  • You will work mainly in the Division Geology with collaboration opportunities in the Materials and Civil Engineering departments on the campus Arenberg of KU Leuven.
  • You will receive training from the Arenberg Doctoral School at University of Leuven, one of the top European Universities, providing an excellent research environment. You will have access to state-of-the-art technologies, core facilities and technical support.
  • You will gain experience in many transferable skills and receive personalized mentoring.
  • You will also have the opportunity to participate in local and international conferences and thus expand your scientific network.
  • Funding is available but the successful candidate will be encouraged to also apply for additional fellowships.
  • The position is available immediately.
  • Interested?

    For more information please contact Prof. dr. Ruben Snellings, tel.: +32 16 32 48 89, mail: [email protected]

    KU Leuven seeks to foster an environment where all talents can flourish, regardless of gender, age, cultural background, nationality or impairments. If you have any questions relating to accessibility or support, please contact us at [email protected]

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