Doctoral student in Chemical modification of cellulosic fibres - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

Project description

Third-cycle subject: Fibre and Polymer Science

Our society is facing a grand challenge in finding environmentally and technoeconomically sound alternatives to conventional thermoplastics. In this project, which is part of the Vinnova-financed competence centre FibRe, a PhD student will be recruited to explore the possibility to use chemical modification of cellulosic fibres (keeping them as fibres also after modification) to make them thermoplastic. The scientific focus will be on scalable chemistry that is, or can be made, suitable for commercial production.

The PhD student will be employed at KTH Department of Fibre and Polymer Technology, but, as a part of the FibRe collaboration with Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg, the student is expected to work closely with Chalmers Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering. Frequent interaction with the FibRe industrial partners is also anticipated.  

Supervision: The doctoral student will be supervised by: Docent Per Larsson (KTH), Associate professor Gunnar Westman (Chalmers) and Professor Lars Wågberg (KTH)

Target degree: Doctoral degree

What we offer

• The possibility to study in a dynamic and international research environment in collaboration with industries and prominent universities from all over the world.Read more
• A workplace with many employee benefits and monthly salary according to KTH’s Doctoral student salary agreement.
• A postgraduate education at an institution that is active and supportive in matters pertaining to working conditions, gender equality and diversity as well as study environment.
• Work and study in Stockholm, close to nature and the water.
• Help to relocate and be settled in Sweden and at KTH.
• An interdisciplinary research environment with interaction with researchers from other academic institutions as well as industrial partners.

Eligibility and Selection

To be admitted to postgraduate education (Chapter 7, 39 § Swedish Higher Education Ordinance), the applicant must have basic eligibility in accordance with either of the following:

• passed a degree at advanced level, presumably within chemistry, physics or materials science (or other chemistry-related programme)
• completed course requirements of at least 240 higher education credits, of which at least 60 higher education credits at advanced level, or
• in any other way acquired within or outside the country acquired essentially equivalent knowledge.
• Requirements for English equivalent to English B/6, read more here.

Requirements
The applicant should have a solid chemistry background, favorably with experience in organic chemistry related to carbohydrates and/or polymeric materials.

Preferred qualifications
It is considered a merit if the applicant has knowledge and experience within the field of cellulose-based materials and the processes of producing them.   

Personal skills
In order to succeed as a doctoral student at KTH you need to be goal oriented and persevering in your work. During the selection process, candidates will be assessed upon their ability to:

• independently pursue his or her work,
• collaborate with others,
• work interdisciplinary and interact with researchers at different academic institutions as well as industry,
• have a professional approach and
• analyse and work with complex issues.

After the qualification requirements, great emphasis will be placed on personal competency.

Information regarding admission and employment

Only those admitted to postgraduate education may be employed as a doctoral student. The total length of employment may not be longer than what corresponds to full-time doctoral education in four years ' time. An employed doctoral student can, to a limited extent (maximum 20%), perform certain tasks within their role, e.g. training and administration. A new position as a doctoral student is for a maximum of one year, and then the employment may be renewed for a maximum of two years at a time.

Union representatives

You will find contact information for union representatives on KTH's website.

Doctoral section (Students’ union on KTH Royal Institute of Technology)

You will find contact information for doctoral section on the section's website.

Application

Apply for the position and admission through KTH's recruitment system. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that the application is complete in accordance with the instructions in the advertisement.

Applications must be received at the last closing date at midnight, CET/CEST (Central European Time/entral European Summer Time).

Applications must include the following elements:

• CV including your relevant professional experience and knowledge.
• Application letter with a brief description of why you want to pursue research studies, about what your academic interests are and how they relate to your previous studies and future goals. (Maximum 2 pages long)
• Copies of diplomas and grades from previous university studies and certificates of fulfilled language requirements (see above). Translations into English or Swedish if the original document is not issued in one of these languages.
• Representative publications or technical reports. For longer documents, please provide a summary (abstract) and a web link to the full text.

Other information

Striving towards gender equality, diversity and equal conditions is both a question of quality for KTH and a given part of our values.

For information about processing of personal data in the recruitment process please read here.

We firmly decline all contact with staffing and recruitment agencies and job ad salespersons.

Disclaimer: In case of discrepancy between the Swedish original and the English translation of the job announcement, the Swedish version takes precedence.