Internship | Catalyst Deactivation in CO2 Hydrogenation Processes

Make your mark on our time. Become an intern at TNO!

About this position

Are you passionate about catalysis and eager to contribute to a more sustainable chemical industry? At TNO, you will help develop the next generation of flexible, electricity-driven chemical processes.

As renewable electricity becomes increasingly important in industry, chemical processes must cope with fluctuating operating conditions. To enable this flexibility, catalysts must remain active, selective, and stable under dynamic conditions rather than conventional steady-state operation.

During this six-month MSc research internship, you will investigate catalyst behaviour in CO₂ hydrogenation processes and explore strategies to improve catalyst robustness under dynamic operating conditions. You will work within a multidisciplinary team of catalysis, process engineering, and digitalization experts located in Eindhoven and Petten.

This internship offers a unique opportunity to combine fundamental catalysis research with a clear industrial application, contributing to technologies that reduce CO₂ emissions and improve the sustainability of chemical production.

What will be your role?

You will contribute to the development of catalyst concepts for flexible and adaptive chemical processes, with a focus on CO₂ hydrogenation.

Your activities will include:

• Designing and performing catalytic experiments under steady-state and dynamic conditions.
• Investigating catalyst deactivation mechanisms and their impact on activity, selectivity, and stability.
• Operating fixed-bed reactor systems and analysing reactor performance.
• Characterizing catalysts using techniques such as operando FTIR/DRIFTS, XRD, and SEM.
• Correlating catalyst properties with catalytic performance and deactivation behaviour.
• Developing recommendations for more robust catalysts suitable for fluctuating operating conditions.
• Collaborating with researchers from Eindhoven and Petten working on catalysis, process modelling, and process flexibility.
• Presenting and discussing results within the project team.

This project combines experimental catalysis, advanced characterization, and the energy transition, offering a unique opportunity to contribute to the future of sustainable chemical manufacturing.

What we expect from you

We are looking for an enthusiastic MSc student who enjoys experimental research and wants to apply catalysis to real-world sustainability challenges.

You have:

• An ongoing MSc degree in Chemistry, preferably with a specialization in Inorganic Chemistry or Catalysis.
• A strong interest in heterogeneous catalysis and sustainable chemical processes.
• Affinity with laboratory work and data analysis.
• A proactive mindset and the ability to work independently and in a multidisciplinary team.
• Good communication skills in English.

The following are considered a plus:

• Knowledge of catalyst deactivation and stability.
• Experience with FTIR/DRIFTS, XRD, or related characterization techniques.
• Experience with laboratory-scale catalytic reactor systems.
• Interest in industrial chemistry and the energy transition.

Most importantly, you are curious, eager to learn, and motivated to help develop the next generation of sustainable chemical processes.

What you'll get in return

An internship at TNO means working in an environment where substance and impact are central. You will become part of a knowledge organisation where research and practice come together, and where experts collaborate on solutions to current societal and technological challenges.

Your internship is a period in which you can discover what suits you, where your strengths lie and what you would like to learn next. You are part of a professional working environment, gain insight into how things work in practice, and have the opportunity to build experience that goes beyond this internship alone. For many students, an internship is therefore also a first step in discovering whether TNO could be a potential next step after graduation.

In addition, we offer you:

• A professional and innovative internship environment in which you actively contribute to societal and technological challenges, working alongside leading experts in your field.
• Personal and dedicated supervision, with focus on your learning objectives, development and study assignment.
• Room to develop: you gain relevant work experience, develop both your subject-specific and professional skills, and build a valuable network.
• Use of a laptop and the facilities you need to perform your work effectively.
• A monthly internship allowance of € 615 for a full-time internship, for MSc, BSc and vocational education (MBO) students.
• Up to eight hours of leave per internship month for a full-time internship, allowing you to balance your internship with your studies and personal life.
• A contribution towards travel expenses if you are not entitled to a student travel card.
• A free membership to Jong TNO: the network for young colleagues, where you can meet other TNO colleagues and participate in sports activities, professional and personal development activities, and social events such as the annual ski trip.

TNO as an employer

Our people are at the heart of TNO. Their curiosity, expertise and entrepreneurial mindset make it possible to deliver high-impact research and innovations that contribute to society’s sustainable wellbeing and prosperity.

Your talent and ambition have every opportunity to flourish at TNO. You work with experts (both within and beyond TNO), have access to advanced technology and the freedom to explore, experiment and innovate. Our strength lies in independence, reliability and collaboration. We find each other in wonder and ingenuity. We are driven to push boundaries. By working with businesses and government, and by connecting different perspectives, we strengthen our innovative capability and create responsible, meaningful results.