THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF
AGRICULTURE IS AN EQUAL
OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES:  The position is located in the Crop Conversion Science & Engineering Unit, Eastern Regional Research Center, Wyndmoor, Pennsylvania.  The incumbent will produce stable and up-gradable pyrolysis liquid transportation fuel intermediates from lignocellulosic biomass via pyrolysis to aromatic hydrocarbons and will research to improve the quality of pyrolysis oil produced by improving the production process and the application of in-situ heterogeneous catalysts.  The incumbent will carry out systematic experiments both on the analytical scale and on bench-scale pyrolysis reactor systems to determine critical process pathways that will shift the pyrolysis liquid product to a stable refinable intermediate fuel. Aside from catalysts, other process pathways include condensation, filtration, and collection methodologies. Monitoring methods will include wet chemistry analysis using a GC/MS and HPLC and other assays such as water content, density, viscosity, flash point, total acid number (TAN) and the calorific value measurements.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:   Recent Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering or a closely related field is required.  Knowledge of kinetic modeling and heterogeneous catalysis will be considered essential. 

CITIZENSHIP RESTRICTIONS APPLY:  Applicants must clearly indicate in their
resume/CV their country of citizenship.  To be employed as a Postdoctoral Research
Associate with ARS, applicants must be a citizen from a country listed on the following
link:  http://www.afm.ars.usda.gov/hrd/jobs/VISA/countries.htm

INFORMATION ON APPLICATION PROCEDURES FOR POSTDOCTORAL
POSITIONS is available at: http://www.afm.ars.usda.gov/divisions/hrd/hrdhomepage/vacancy/pd962.html

INFORMATION ON EMPLOYEE BENEFITS is available at:
http://www.usajobs.opm.gov/ei61.asp

FOR SPECIFIC INFORMATION ON THE DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF
THIS POSITION OR TO SUBMIT AN APPLICATION, CONTACT

Dr. Akwasi (Kwesi) Boateng
USDA/ARS/ERRC
600 E. Mermaid Lane
Wyndmoor, PA 19038
Phone: 215-233-6493
Fax: 215-233-6406
Email: akwasi.boateng@ars.usda.gov