Doctoral student in prospective LCA of CCU

Project description

Third-cycle subject: Sustainable Development, Environmental Science and Engineering”, subject “Sustainability studies

The chemical industry accounts for 5–6% of global greenhouse gas emissions, highlighting the need to phase out fossil-based production of chemicals and pharmaceuticals. With abundant biomass resources, Sweden is uniquely positioned to lead in biogenic carbon capture and utilization (CCU), enabling low CO₂-footprint production. The ACCELERATE project develops safe, sustainable technologies for CO₂ capture and conversion, aiming to design energy-efficient processes, scalable catalysts, and high-value chemical synthesis pathways. We now invite applications for a doctoral position focused on prospective life cycle assessment (pLCA) of these emerging CCU solutions. The project involves pLCA data and method development, LCA modelling (potentially Python), and qualitative research of socio-technical dimensions. You will collaborate with PhD candidates in chemistry, chemical engineering, and industrial economics. We are therefore looking for candidates with specific knowledge and skills in LCA and sustainability, general understanding of the chemistry and chemical engineering aspects of emerging CCU process, and experience of and interest in multidisciplinary research. The position includes up to 20% departmental duties.

Supervision: Prof. Anna Björklund is proposed to supervise the doctoral student. 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.
• 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.
• Guidance on relocating and settling in at KTH and in Sweden

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), in subject area relevant to the position (e.g. industrial ecology, sustainability science, chemistry, chemical engineering) 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 course in LCA at advanced university level
• completed degree project in LCA, or corresponding experience
• completed courses in chemistry or chemical engineering at university level

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 upon their ability to:

• independently pursue his or her work
• collaborate with others,
• have a professional approach and
• analyze and work with complex issues.
• knowledge in process modelling and material/energy balances
• programming skills (Python)
• qualitative research methods, innovation theory, socio-technical systems theory

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

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

Contact information for union representatives.

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

Contact information for doctoral section.

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

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.

It may be the case that a position at KTH is classified as a security-sensitive role in accordance with the Protective Security Act (2018:585). If this applies to the specific position, a security clearance will be conducted for the applicant in accordance with the same law with the applicant's consent. In such cases, a prerequisite for employment is that the applicant is approved following the security clearance.

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.