Important Info
Applications will be reviewed beginning September 1, 2026 and will continue until the position is filled. Please submit applications to PostDocApply1@ANEEstanford.com.
Postdoctoral Scholar – Methane Pyrolysis, Hydrogen and Carbon Nanotube Synthesis
The Boies Group at Stanford University is seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Scholar to lead experimental research on the high-temperature conversion of methane and natural gas into carbon nanotubes (CNTs), graphitic carbons and concurrent hydrogen production. The project aims to maximize production rate, yield, carbon conversion, and material quality while enabling the manufacture of high-functionality bulk fibers and wires with world-leading mechanical strength and electrical and thermal conductivity.
The successful candidate will lead the design, operation, and characterization of high-enthalpy reacting-flow systems for methane pyrolysis and floating-catalyst chemical vapor deposition. Relevant reactor experience may include flames, plasmas, high-temperature CVD furnaces, aerosol reactors, or related gas-phase synthesis platforms. The position combines reactor development, chemical kinetics, reacting-flow diagnostics, and carbon nanomaterial synthesis.
This is a highly collaborative role involving close interaction with industrial sponsors, academic collaborators, technical staff, and PhD students. The Postdoctoral Scholar will be expected to provide technical leadership in experimental design and measurement, connect experimental observations with gas-phase kinetic and transport models, and communicate results effectively to academic, industrial, and general audiences.
Key responsibilities
- Lead the design, commissioning, operation, and optimization of high-temperature reactors for methane and natural-gas pyrolysis and CNT synthesis.
- Develop experimental strategies to maximize methane conversion, CNT yield, production rate, catalyst efficiency, and product quality.
- Design and implement in-situ, online, and extractive diagnostics for reacting flows, gas-phase species, aerosols, catalysts, and carbon products.
- Interpret experimental results using chemical-kinetic and reacting-flow models, including assessment of reaction pathways, residence-time distributions, heat and mass transfer, and particle or catalyst evolution.
- Establish quantitative mass, carbon, and energy balances across the reactor system.
- Relate reactor conditions and gas-phase chemistry to CNT morphology, structure, purity, yield, and bulk-material performance.
- Work with collaborators developing CNT fibers and wires to identify the synthesis characteristics required for exceptional mechanical, electrical, and thermal properties.
- Develop safe and reproducible operating procedures for methane, hydrogen, high-temperature equipment, catalysts, and potentially hazardous process gases.
- Mentor PhD students and contribute to the coordination of experimental activities across the project.
- Engage regularly with industrial sponsors, including presenting results, defining technical priorities, and translating scientific findings into actionable reactor-development strategies.
- Publish high-quality research in leading peer-reviewed journals and present findings at conferences, project reviews, and public-facing events.
- Contribute to research proposals, intellectual-property development, and future scale-up activities.
- PhD in mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, chemistry, materials science, applied physics, or a closely related discipline.
- Demonstrated hands-on experience with high-enthalpy or high-temperature reacting systems, such as flame reactors, plasma reactors, CVD furnaces, pyrolysis systems, or aerosol synthesis reactors.
- Strong understanding of chemical kinetics, thermodynamics, transport phenomena, and reacting flows.
- Experience with reacting-flow diagnostics using laser-based or extractive measurement techniques.
- Ability to design, assemble, troubleshoot, and safely operate complex experimental systems involving gas delivery, high temperatures, and reactive or flammable gases.
- Experience using chemical-kinetic or reacting-flow models to interpret experimental observations.
- Strong record of peer-reviewed publication and evidence of the ability to independently plan, execute, analyze, and report research.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills.
- Ability to work effectively across academic and industrial teams and to provide technical guidance to graduate researchers.
Desirable experience:
- Direct experience with methane pyrolysis, hydrocarbon decomposition, CNT synthesis, floating-catalyst CVD, or gas-phase nanoparticle production.
- Familiarity with chemical-kinetic software such as Cantera, Chemkin, or equivalent tools.
- Experience with optical diagnostics such as laser-induced fluorescence, Raman spectroscopy, laser-induced incandescence, absorption spectroscopy, particle imaging, or light scattering.
- Experience with extractive measurements such as gas chromatography, mass spectrometry, FTIR, aerosol sizing, particle sampling, or elemental carbon analysis.
- Knowledge of CNT characterization methods, including Raman spectroscopy, electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, surface-area measurement, and electrical or mechanical testing.
- Experience with catalyst nucleation, aerosol dynamics, particle formation, or coupled gas-phase and particle-population models.
- Familiarity with automated experimentation, data acquisition, reactor control, or high-throughput experimental methods.
- Experience working with industrial partners, scaling laboratory reactors, or translating fundamental research into practical process designs.
Research environment
The Postdoctoral Scholar will join an interdisciplinary research program spanning high-temperature reacting flows, aerosol science, carbon nanotube synthesis, advanced diagnostics, chemical-kinetic modeling, and CNT fiber and wire manufacturing. The role offers an opportunity to influence both the fundamental science of methane-to-CNT conversion and the development of scalable technologies for producing high-performance carbon materials.
The appointment is expected to be for 18 month, with the possibility of extension subject to performance and funding. The anticipated start is fall of 2026.
Applicants should submit:
- A curriculum vitae
- A cover letter describing relevant experience and research interests
- A brief statement describing previous work with high-temperature reactors, diagnostics, and chemical-kinetic modeling
- Contact information for two professional references
- Up to two representative publication