Inorganic sorption materials tailored for 225Ra/225Ac and 225Ac/213Bi radionuclide generators for biomedical applications
Mol
PhD
Description:
For radiotherapeutic treatment or medical imaging, it is essential that the radioisotope of interest is quickly available in high purity. Therefore, medical radioisotopes are often obtained from a radionuclide generator, which consists of a solid support that acts as an accumulator for the isotope of interest.
This project focuses on 225Ac and 213Bi, two isotopes used in targeted alpha therapy. Initially, the mother isotope, 225Ra or 225Ac, is sorbed onto the solid material with high affinity for the cation. Due to radioactive decay, the daughter isotope, resp. 225Ac or 213Bi, accumulates in the material and can be eluted at regular intervals. Currently available solid sorption materials are poorly resistant against radioactive radiation, have a short shelf life and have limited binding capacity.
In this project, novel sorption materials that can serve as solid support for 225Ra/225Ac and 225Ac/213Bi generators are synthesized starting from activated carbon or titania particles. Commercially available activated carbon or titania with selected characteristics, such as particle size and porosity, undergo a chemical or heating treatment to modify their surface with a range of chemical functional groups containing oxygen, nitrogen, phosphor or sulphur atoms that can bind cations. Extensive characterization of the modified surface to determine the identity and amount of functional groups and sorption behaviour towards Ra, Ac and Bi in several aquatic media is an important part of the project work. Information gathered by means of various instrumental analytical techniques, such as infrared spectroscopy, thermo gravimetric analysis with mass spectrometry, BET analysis, acid base titration and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry allows to understand the surface chemistry of the new materials.
In order to evaluate the effect of radioactive radiation on the surface characteristics, promising new material candidates will be irradiated in an-house facility, followed by reassessment of surface and sorption characteristics. Most promising materials will undergo a shaping process in the form of controlled coagulation to produce uniform sorption materials with good packing and elution characteristics.
After final validation of the material for the intended application, a new radionuclide generator sorption material is available. It will be well shaped, well characterized, radiation resistant, with sufficient binding capacity and separation chemistry.
R&D RECYCLING AND SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS
Mol
R&D & Engineering
Description:
VITO has clear ambitions to further strengthen its research program ‘Sustainable Materials Management’. We strive towards a more circular economy by developing zero-waste solutions to sustainably transform residues into resources and products. One of our core research activities is the development of innovative processes to develop sustainable construction materials (SCMs, fine sand, aggregates,….) from industrial residues (slags, ashes, sludges….). In our vision, it is key to find safe and added-value applications for the voluminous matrix that remains after the extraction of valuable metals and/or minerals from industrial residues. Applications as cement, fine and coarse aggregate of both high technical and environmental quality offer at the same time a stable and large volume market and bring added value to mineral waste streams, instead of landfilling these.
We are looking for an experienced researcher to strengthen this visionary research track. As a researcher, you will explore the relationships between the raw material properties, the processing steps and the technical/environmental quality of the construction materials in relation to construction applications. As an example, the activation of sludges (calcination) to produce supplementary cementitious materials and the granulation of processed tailings to produce fine sand or aggregates will be studied.
You are responsible for the acquisition, the execution and the coordination of applied scientific research projects. As a VITO expert in this field, you present results at (inter)national for a and you publish them in peer reviewed journals. You can rely on a strong network of relevant partners and you are eager to find opportunities for setting up concrete (demo) projects with industrial partners.
We are looking for a talented and highly motivated Quality Assurance Engineer to support our product development team.
Our ideal candidate will ensure consistent software quality by creating a test and acceptance infrastructure and making sure that our remote sensing (web) applications are properly tested, verified and validated before release in an operational environment.
As a QA Engineer, you will work within a small team of Project Managers, Solution Architects and Software Developers. You will monitor the quality of work by designing and executing detailed test and acceptance plans, assuring that quality is built in from the start of each sprint cycle.
Strong analytical skills are crucial given that you will participate in an ambitious team where constantly evolving business needs create a production environment that requires robust & scalable implementations of innovative solutions.
You'll become part of a talented, dedicated team working in a fast-paced, challenging international environment. We thrive to develop cutting edge technologies that will be used by a broad public, industry, the public sector and universities.
Your responsibilities:
Design and set-up a software release strategy
Design and automate smoke and regression test cases
Create, execute and maintain manual and automated test scripts
Strong understanding of software development methodologies and QA processes
Perform risk analysis of any new/updated feature
Create and maintain test scenarios and test cases for the product
Perform root cause analysis and report software bugs
Contribute to improve the user experience, being the first user of our product
Are you eager to contribute to a more sustainable society? Are you fascinated by innovations that contribute to the energy transition and reducing CO2-emissions? Are you interested in innovative solutions for waste, water shortage, air pollution and traffic congestion? Come and join the team of Cleantech Flanders!
Cleantech Flanders ( https://www.cleantechflanders.com/ ) is a team powered by VITO that represents the Flemish Cleantech ecosystem by connecting parties and advocating clean technologies. To strengthen our team, we are looking for a temporary professional (1 year contract) to support our portfolio of mostly international projects. As a project collaborator you will support and facilitate the Cleantech Flanders project managers and business developers.
PROJECT COLLABORATOR
You work in a team that executes national and international (matchmaking) projects.
You contribute to the execution of international (Interreg) projects by collaborating with your colleague project managers and business developers.
You assist in organizing project events and workshops with colleagues or international project partners.
You identify possibilities for stimulating cleantech with our communication team.
You report the results to the project partners and you communicate them to stakeholders.
We are looking for an excellent researcher with affinity for consultancy to reinforce the energy market team. You will be involved in several projects as the expert on the energy market design modelling. The markets in scope cover electricity markets: from electricity day-ahead markets to the reserve markets, and also gas markets and heat trade. You will model the markets in python and julia as optimisation problems, and also as games capturing market participant behaviour. You will be based in VITO/EnergyVille in Thor Park Genk.
As Expert Energy market modelling, you will
Work within the energy market team on several different projects.
Research new concepts for energy markets and products, and create new insights on innovative market design for all the involved stakeholders in the energy landscape.
Write and analyse mathematical formulation of different (multi-carrier) energy market designs. The mathematical formulation could include modelling behaviour of market participants.
Implement and solve the market design in python/Julia.
Provide policy and strategy advise based on your research findings to the relevant stakeholders.
Participate in writing (parts of) project proposals and offers to tenders.
Manage defined tasks related to your area of expertise.
R&D PROFESSIONAL PROCESS INTENSIFICATION VIA MEMBRANE APPLICATIONS
Antwerpen
R&D & Engineering
Description:
The team GCT (Green Chemistry Technology) focusses on the development and making economically viable of new technologies for a more sustainable chemistry. In this there is a strong focus on the optimization of downstream separation processes and on process intensification via the in-situ connection between separation processes with various (bio)chemical conversion processes. Membranes and membrane processes are of great value in this, because of their broad application area, their low energy consumption, and their usefulness in continuous chemical processes on every scale. Examples are the recent development of a membrane-assisted process specific suited for the efficient execution of chemical reactions in high dilutions and the development of functionalized ceramic membranes for separations of f.e. lignin-derived molecules based on affinity instead of magnitude. New developments are strongly directed by the industrial need.
You are responsible for the execution and follow-up of projects in the domain of membrane technology, more specific on membrane modification technology on ceramic membranes.
You guide membrane tests in the context of process intensification and you also help to conduct them, mainly for the process industry.
The unit Separation- and Conversion Technology (SCT) develops technologies for the sustainability of production processes in the (bio)chemical sector, replacement of fossil resources by renewable resources as feedstock for the chemical industry, and the treatment of waste streams into high value chemicals.
The synthesis of (semi)aromatic polymers derived from renewable resources is currently attracting tremendous interest from both academia and industry, as aromatic compounds are key intermediates in the manufacture of polymers and chemicals.
VITO is co-initiator of Biorizon, an industry driven Shared Research Center, focusing on technology development for the production of functionalized bio-based aromatics for performance materials, chemicals & coatings. As the leading institute, VITO coordinates the development of lignin derived bio-aromatics by its own technology and by collaboration with different technology providers. Lignin is the main source of aromatic bio-based molecules. Various phenols derivatives with a variety of chemical structures can be obtained from lignin deconstruction combined with advanced membrane separation techniques.
Up to now, VITO has developed a strong expertise in the valorization of biomass through conversion of lignocellulose into value-added lignin fragments and bio-aromatic derivatives. Our next goal is to develop IP and demonstrate how these new building blocks could be polymerized into value-added products. Depending on the phenol substrates obtained from the lignin separation processes, different chemical modifications and polymerization pathways will be envisaged and developed, leading to (semi)aromatic polymers covering a wide range of industrial applications.
We are looking to recruit one PhD graduate for 2 (or 3) years postdoctoral position to work in our lignin-derived polymers program. The purpose of the position is to carry out technological research into producing, characterising and testing novel, high-performance polymeric materials derived from lignin. The research will involve aspects of
separation and purification of depolymerised lignin fractions (for instance via membrane-processes);
chemical modifications and synthesis of lignin bio-oils and lignin model compounds (preparation of polymerizable synthons derived from lignin fragments);
chemical characterisation;
polymer synthesis and formulation and evaluation of the materials (in collaboration with an industrial partner).
The target products are new bio-aromatic based building blocks that could potentially substitute petrochemical-based resins, adhesives, films and/or coatings.
Key accountabilities
Development of a detailed work plan for the project
Develop and optimise experimental protocols for the key aspects of the project including:
Preparing, purifying and characterising depolymerised lignins fractions and lignin model compounds
Pre-polymer synthesis and characterisation
Polymer formulation, synthesis and applications development
Undertaking experiments outlined in the detailed work plan in a timely and efficient manner.
Present regular progress report to VITO and its industrial partner, and externally (international conferences).
Be lead author in the preparation of patents and scientific manuscript(s).
Ensure compliance with VITO’s Health & Safety Policy, and take a proactive approach to ensuring that all work practices are safe.
As a researcher, you will contribute to the Flemish, European and international environmental policy relating to air quality.
You develop models that simulate and predict the presence of pollutants in the atmosphere. These models will be used to support the environmental policy of Flemish and foreign authorities and the industry. Urban air quality is a focus area of the team.
You are responsible for analysing model results and reporting to the client or the end user. Processing of (large) data sets therefore plays an important role.
You integrate your knowledge and expertise in collaborative projects with your fellow researchers, report the results of these and publish them in academic journals.
VITO (the Flemish Institute for Technological Research) is a leading European independent research institute in the domain of cleantech and sustainable development.
VITO advises governments and companies on sustainable materials management and circular economy. We help companies to close loops and develop and evaluate technologies for this end. That enables high quality products to be made using fewer resources, while leading to a better valorization of waste streams. Closing material cycles and avoiding waste are crucial to the sustainable use of raw materials.
Cleantech Flanders is a team within VITO that represents the Flemish Cleantech ecosystem by connecting parties and advocating clean technology. To strengthen our team, we are looking for a professional to support out Industrial Symbiosis project. As such you will facilitate the exchange of materials between companies with excess process residuals and companies that are looking to use them as process inputs. To this end you will involve and interact with stakeholders such as technology providers, research institutes, sector organizations and public authorities.
Tasks:
You work in a team that supports the Flemish authority OVAM to enhance the application of Industrial Symbiosis in Flanders.
You test, implement and manage a new web-based database which will collect information on offer of and demand for secondary resources and technologies that enable material re-use.
You assist in organizing workshops with end-users of this web-tool to train them in its use and to identify new opportunities for industrial symbiosis.
You support organizations with the realization of new leads for industrial symbiosis cases.
You actively look for opportunities to secure the long-term self-sustaining operation of this new service to facilitate industrial symbiosis.
You report the results to OVAM and you communicate them to stakeholders.
REMOTE SENSING SCIENTIST, ENGINEER OR IT DEVELOPER
Mol
R&D & Engineering
Description:
Do you want to join the world of Remote Sensing?
As a part of VITO, an independent research and technology leader, VITO Remote Sensing offers expertise, knowledge, data, services and solutions in Earth observation. We want to bring the added value of remote sensing, a key enabler in our space economy. From user needs to technology and end-to-end EO support, from drones to aero planes to satellites, VITO Remote Sensing provides insights for diverse applications such as agriculture, vegetation, water & coast, climate, security and infrastructure.
VITO Remote Sensing doesn’t only observe the world, it’s also very much a part of it. From Belgium to Italy or China to Africa, our team serves an expansive network of customers and partners. With more than 80 national and international partners and active in more than 115 countries we offer Earth Observation solutions for both public organizations and industry.
To support our growth, we are seeking to strengthen our service-oriented teams with scientists, engineers and IT developers who have an interest in image processing, big data analysis, machine learning and deep learning techniques in the context of Earth Observation.
We are looking for a consultant with strong research skills to reinforce the energy market team. As an expert on energy markets and networks, you will be involved in a number of projects with the goal of designing a low carbon energy system. You will be in charge of acquiring new projects and writing proposals. You will be responsible for management of a task within your expertise. Topics include, but are not limited to market design (from futures to day-ahead to real time markets), local energy communities, emerging roles and tasks in the energy sector, business models for integration of flexibility in the electricity networks, and disruptive technologies in the energy sector. In your work, you will often be considering viewpoints of different stakeholders, and take into account technical, economic and regulatory aspects of the problem. You will be based in VITO/EnergyVille in Thor Park Genk.
As an expert on energy markets and networks, you will
Be involved as an expert on several international and national projects.
Identify challenges of different stakeholders in the energy markets.
Propose solutions to overcome the challenges faced by different stakeholders in the energy landscape.
Advise the relevant stakeholders based on your research findings.
Take the lead in writing offers to tenders and project proposals.
Manage tasks and projects related to your area of expertise.
Transfer your knowledge to more junior team members.
TECHNICUS KERAMISCHE VORMGEVING VAN GESTRUCTUREERDE MATERIALEN
Mol
Lab & Technicians
Description:
Je maakt deel uit van het team keramische materialen en poedermetallurgie (KMP) binnen VITO’s unit Duurzaam Materialenbeheer. Het KMP-team ontwikkelt innovatieve poreuze en functionele structuren voor toepassingen in onder meer de chemische industrie.
Als technisch operator sta je in voor het vormgeven van keramische structuren, voor een industriële klant. Daarbij zorg je voor de suspensie aanmaak, het vormgeven van de structuur, het afstellen, optimaliseren en onderhouden van de installaties, kwaliteitscontrole, etc.
Je technische kennis en inzicht stellen je na een inwerkperiode in staat om zelfstandig de opdrachten uit te voeren.
Je waakt over de vereisten op gebied van milieu, veiligheid en kwaliteit.
You apply your academical knowledge of chemistry for the development of durable industrial processes (synthesis, surface modification, catalysis, separation processes)
You transform theoretical concepts to practical applications. E.g based upon reaction models, process flows,… a practical application is formed.
You analyze and control the economic feasibility and relevance of your research.
Your work is strategical-goal oriented: you maintain attention towards the real-life applicability of your research.
Your research implies transdisciplinary teamwork: with a multitude of scientific disciplines and the synergy effect as a key asset, you co-create results.
You valorize your research results; you protect and/or publish them using different means
As part of the ‘Built Environment’ team in VITO/EnergyVille you will facilitate the transition towards clean energy within the urban environment focusing on the buildings, districts and urban energy- and climate planning
You coordinate challenging research projects, either financed or in a consulting set-up.
You manage the progression of the project team within our organization, aligned with the (international) partners involved
Being a Project Coordinator, you are the first point of contact for the customer and act as representative at public events
You take the lead regarding the operational organization within our team: monitoring of contracts, team planning and the financial follow-up of the different projects
SENIOR R&D CONSULTANT ENERGY STRATEGIES AND POLICY
Genk
R&D & Engineering
Description:
As a senior consultant, you will advise policy makers and industry operating at European and international level on the evaluation, development and implementation of their energy and climate related strategies.
Coordinating and delivering integrated assessments on energy & climate policy, based upon collection and analysis of statistics & indicators, summarising and critically evaluating literature, stakeholder interviewing, for example.
You will interpret these results and on this basis, formulate scientific recommendations tailored to the client's needs. You will report the research results to our clients (authorities and industry).
You are responsible for coordinating and conducting consultative assignments within time and budget. You will work in a team, but will also be responsible for carrying out consultative assignments independently.
You will take the lead in writing client offers, research proposals and seeking funding opportunities.
You will continue expanding your knowledge within energy & climate policy domain on the basis of literature, networking, courses and on-the job experience. Within your area of expertise, you will be an active follower of the trends and the studies carried out by other consultants, research institutions and universities.
You will identify routes for new developments, playing an active role in exploring research questions for energy & climate related areas.
The Remote Sensing unit processes petabytes of earth observation data. We primarily specialise in Big Data analysis with the use of machine learning and deep learning techniques in the application workflows. That is our passion: the extraction of information from the vast amounts of incoming images... Information required by our clients. Our extensive group of clients can be found within the domains of land use, civil infrastructure, agriculture, forestry, water management, heritage and ecological development. Visit https://remotesensing.vito.be for more information about our activities.
We are currently seeking a motivated
R&D DATA SCIENCE PROFESSIONAL
As a Data Scientist, you will work within a group of software developers and application engineers. You will move in international circles with clients such as the European Space Agency, the European Commission, federal and regional governments. Our research is often carried out in partnership with foreign research groups and companies.
THE ROLE
You translate user requirements into a system design
You develop back-end systems, web services and APIs
In close collaboration with the application scientists, you design and implement algorithmic components by using Java, Python, R and C++
You collaborate on cluster computing and workflow components
You constantly monitor the benefits and user experience quality for the customer
You manage subcontractors
You report your progress and results to our customers and our management
You will be actively involved in the creation of project proposals
You follow the trends within your field of expertise and use the obtained knowledge in order to build prototypes (data science, machine learning, public cloud, cluster/grid computing, etc.).
PHD POSITION REDUCTION OF RETURN TEMPERATURES BY MORE EFFICIENT CONTROL OF THE SUBSTATION
Genk
PhD
Description:
Reduction of the return temperature of substations enables a higher efficiency of the substations, but also enables a better heat usage in a complete heating network. In 4th generation heating networks, the aim is to reduce the supply temperatures radically, which mean that substations need to operate with higher efficiency. A low return temperature is a requirement to reduce the supply temperature, since the capacity of the network is proportional to the difference between both temperatures. Therefore, to be able to decrease the supply temperature while guaranteeing the network capacity, the return temperature should be minimized.
In this project the aim is to operate and control a substation as a multivariable system embedded in a larger network. Using a multi-objective optimization approach where the return temperature of the substation is one of the components in the objective function, the supply constraints and demand requirements will be jointly optimized.
The resulting operation and control scheme will consist of multiple levels, which will jointly act, thus low-level control and supervisory levels will not act independently. It can also be assumed that the substation design with respect to actuators and sensors might need to be updated.
Although most of the components in a substation are known and models are available, the parameters for these models need to be updated using a system identification scheme, which can also be used in the resulting substation concept as an online scheme with subsequent automated controller and optimized update.
Collaboration with the Lulea University of Technology (Sweden)
PHD POSITION RISK-AWARE QUANTIFICATION AND AGGREGATION TECHNIQES FOR OPTIMAL VALORIZATION OF ENERGY FLEXIBILITY
Genk
PhD
Description:
This PhD will considerably advance the state-of-the-art in optimal valorization and aggregation of energy flexibility by developing, integrating and exploiting novel algorithms for the dynamic quantification of uncertainty and risks regarding energy flexibility.
· In the state-of-the-art of flexibility research, emerging uncertainty is explored and sampled when modelling and optimizing flexibility, but precise definitions and quantifications are lacking.
· This uncertainty will be quantified during this PhD research, using appropriate data science techniques to calculate the risk-of-unexpected-unavailability of the flexibility that was offered earlier, and that take this risk into account when valorizing the energy flexibility in different applications and markets. The result will be that a larger scala of flexibility carriers and types can be valorized.
· The risk factors will be explored and quantified from the points-of-views of the flexibility buyer and the flexibility provider, and applied/adapted to a broad spectrum of energy generating/consuming device types. Ultimately the goals is to provide an approach that can be applied to any type of energy flexibility carriers, including those that cannot be explicitly modelled using a white box or grey box approach
· Novel optimization algorithms will be developed that maximize the reward functions for either and both points-of-view in the context of current and future energy and energy-flexibility markets.
Collaboration with University of Ghent Registration deadline: 11/03/2019
The Remote Sensing unit of VITO processes petabytes of earth observation data. We primarily specialise in Big Data analysis with the use of machine learning and deep learning techniques in the application workflows. That is our passion: the extraction of information from the vast amounts of incoming images. Information required by our clients. Our extensive group of clients can be found within the domains of land use, civil infrastructure, agriculture, forestry, water management, heritage and ecological development. Visit https://remotesensing.vito.be for more information about our activities.
You will join our service-oriented R&D team and contribute to the development of Remote Sensing products & services, mainly in the context of environmental applications.
In close collaboration with the application scientists, you will support the algorithm development but mainly bring existing algorithms into an operational stage and implement them into production workflows by using Python, R and C++.
You collaborate on cluster computing, machine learning and deep learning.
You help translating user requirements into a system design.
You report your progress and results to your colleagues-scientists, our customers, and our management.
The next few years will be characterised by the electrification of heating, transport and industrial equipment, further improvements in the energy efficiency of a range of systems, a further increase in the number of renewable energy sources and changing behaviour patterns among consumers. These developments will give rise to a number of technical challenges, bringing with them an exponential increase in the application of power electronics and placing pressure on the existing parts of the electricity grid. In order to tackle these challenges, innovative concepts must be developed that allow the use and integration of electrical storage systems to be simplified. These concepts must be tested under realistic conditions and the required power electronics, electrical components and sub-systems must also be designed. If you are interested in working with Vito/EnergyVille to set out the course, you could be our new colleague.
In this regard, you will provide technical and creative leadership in a small, flexible and efficient project team.
You are point of contact for the client and you will be responsible for identifying and mapping out the client's challenges and analysing them quickly and appropriately as well as developing, designing, implementing, testing and benchmarking innovative prototypes for power electronics or electrical components and subsystems that will form an essential part of the solution.
You will report on your work both internally and externally to our clients.
You will arrange appropriate protection for your inventions in the form of patent applications and licensable designs. Once protection has been put in place, you will present your findings at international forums.
You will maintain and continue to expand a broad and, at the same time, in-depth knowledge with regard to applications and state-of-the-art components.
You will provide technical coaching to the project team and will act as a first point of contact for employees involved in other projects requiring technical advice.
