School of Industrial Engineering and Management at KTH

Project description

Third-cycle subject: Energy and Environmental Systems, Energy Technology

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) [UN, 2015] contain a matrix of visions towards a sustainable future. Associated with several SDGs, energy storage is one of the solutions to reach these goals. Thermal energy storage with Phase Change Materials (PCMs) are in focus for their small temperature swing and high energy storage density.

We aim to investigate the potential of using PCMs in combination with underground thermal energy storage (UTES) and heat pumps for accelerating heating and cooling transition. Here we will perform technical-economic analysis of existing energy storage systems. The three goals are: Monitoring ongoing projects with key performance indicators in different climate regions; development of integrated UTES with PCM with optimized control strategies to cover both short/long term storage; and business cases development with environmental and economic sustainability considerations. During the work, the PhD candidate is expected to have international cooperation with EU partners and nationally. The final outcome of this project will serve as benchmark for other thermal energy storage projects and will be published in both scientific and popular science journals with a final dissemination workshop.

Supervision: Assoc. Prof. Docent Justin Chiu will be the main supervisor of the doctoral student. Dr. Saman Nimali Gunasekara will act as the co-supervisor

What we offer

Admission requirements

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

  • passed a second cycle degree (e.g. master's degree), or
  • completed course requirements of at least 240 higher education credits, of which at least 60 second-cycle higher education credits, or
  • acquired, in some other way within or outside the country, substantially equivalent knowledge

Completed coursework or course modules in engineering thermodynamics, heat transfer and fluid mechanics is required in accordance with admission criteria for the specified third cycle studies. Knowledge in environmental engineering and engineering economics is a merit.

In addition to the above, there is also a mandatory requirement for English equivalent to English B/6.

Selection

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 on their ability to:

  • independently pursue their work
  • collaborate with others
  • have a professional approach
  • analyse and work with complex issues

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

Target degree: Doctoral degree

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 (max 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, then the employment may be renewed for a maximum of two years at a time. In the case of studies that are to be completed with a licentiate degree, the total period of employment may not be longer than what corresponds to full-time doctoral education for two years.

Union representatives

 KTH's website

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

Section's website

Apply for the position

Apply for the position and admission through KTH's recruitment system. The applicants are responsible to ensure that the application is complete in accordance with the instructions.

Applications must be received at the last closing date at midnight, CET/CEST (Central European Time/Central 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, what your academic interests are and how they relate to your previous studies and future goals, max 2 pages
  • Copies of diplomas and grades from previous university studies and certificates of fulfilled language requirements. Translations into English or Swedish if the original document is not issued in one of these languages. Copies of originals must be certified.
  • 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

About processing of personal data in the recruitment process

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

Type of employment Temporary position
Contract type Full time
First day of employment According to agreement
Salary Monthly salary according to KTH's doctoral student salary agreement
Number of positions 1
Full-time equivalent 100%
City Stockholm
County Stockholms län
Country Sweden
Reference number M-2023-1156
Contact
  • Justin Chiu, Justin.chiu@energy.kth.se
Published 08.Jun.2023
Last application date 19.Jun.2023 11:59 PM CEST

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