Doctoral student in chemical engineering for recycling of permanent magnets - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

Project description

Third-cycle subject: Chemical engineering

In order to drive the transition to a climate-neutral economy, a sustainable and secure supply of a number of technically important metals is needed. These metals are necessary for large-scale production and storage of renewable energy, and to ensure continued electrification of the vehicle fleet. Rare earth elements are a group of metals classified by the EU as critical raw materials (CRM). Perhaps the most important reason for this is the fact that several of the rare earths are part of permanent magnets, key components in wind turbine generators, electric motors, and various consumer electronic products such as phones and laptops. Demand for permanent magnets is projected to increase tenfold over the next decade. In order to diversify and complement the supply of these metals from primary sources, it is crucial to develop efficient and sustainable recycling processes.

This doctoral project is aimed at studying and developing novel, green and efficient methods for separating and recovering rare earth elements from spent permanent magnets and production waste. The core of the method is the selective leaching by deep eutectic solvents followed by controlled precipitation of metal salts for further processing to new raw materials for magnet manufacture. Important aspects include identifying, examining and characterizing potential deep eutectic solvent systems, studying how the metals can most efficiently be separated from the leach liquors, and regenerating the deep eutectic solvent to achieve a closed loop process. The project is financed by Formas.

Supervision: The doctoral student is proposed to be supervised by Michael Svärd (main supervisor) and Kerstin Forsberg (co-supervisor). Decisions are made on admission.

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.
• A project in a research group with the common objective to develop sustainable recycling processes for separation and recovery of critical raw materials from various waste streams, in close collaboration with industry and other universities.

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 the following:

• passed a second cycle degree (for example a 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

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

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 upon their ability to:

• independently pursue his or her work
• collaborate with others,
• have a professional approach and
• 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 (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. 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

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.

To apply for the position

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/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, 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.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

The position may include security-sensitive activities. To become authorized, you therefore need to pass a security check.

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.