Postdoctoral Fellow in Thermally Insulating Foams from Textile Waste

Ref. No. SU FV-0391-23

at the Department of Materials and Environmental Chemistry . Closing date: 13 March 2023.

The Department of Materials and Environmental Chemistry (MMK) is one of the largest departments at the Faculty of Science at Stockholm University with about 160 employees, including about 50 PhD students and about 40 postdoctoral fellows/researchers. The research is focused on materials, including biobased materials, self-assembled materials, porous materials, and inorganic materials. The research projects typically encompass synthesis, processing and multifaceted characterization of materials, with applications related to grand challenges in sustainability, energy and health. More information can be found at: www.mmk.su.se .

Project description
This recruitment is connected to the Wallenberg Initiative Materials Science for Sustainability (WISE), wise-materials.org . WISE, funded by the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation, is the largest-ever investment in materials science in Sweden and will encompass major efforts at Sweden’s foremost universities over the course of 10 years. The vision is a sustainable future through materials science. Read more: https://wise-materials.org .

All early-stage researchers recruited into the WISE program will be a part of the WISE Graduate School , an ambitious nationwide program of seminars, courses, research visits, and other activities to promote a strong multi-disciplinary and international network between PhD students, postdocs, researchers and industry.

The purpose of this project is to develop textile waste-based foams with superinsulating properties (i.e. a thermal conductivity below the value for air) and specific strength in the wet state that is superior or on par to fossil-based insulating materials. The postdoctoral fellow is expected to identify and upcycle fibrillar starting materials from textile waste, develop scalable and environmentally benign processing and cross-linking routes to produce super-insulating and moisture resilient foams, and characterise the structure of the foams with a combination of e.g. SEM, AFM, and SAXS/WAXS. The postdoctoral fellow will also be responsible to characterise the relative humidity-dependent mechanical properties and thermal conductivity with e.g. Hotdisk thermal analyzer and Instron universal testing machine.

Main responsibilities
The candidate will carry a responsibility in planning and performing experiments as well as analyzing data and writing manuscripts. The candidate is expected to work closely with other members in the group and collaborate with researchers from academia and industry.

Qualification requirements
Postdoctoral positions are appointed primarily for purposes of research. Applicants are expected to hold a Swedish doctoral degree or an equivalent degree from another country.

Assessment criteria
The degree must have been completed at latest before the employment decision is made, but no more than three years before the closing date. An older degree may be acceptable under special circumstances. Special reasons refer to sick leave, parental leave, elected positions in trade unions, service in the total defense, or other similar circumstances as well as clinical attachment or service/assignments relevant to the subject area.

In the appointment process, special attention will be given to research skills in processing of nanofibrillar foams and aerogels and chemical upcycling of textile waste. It is desired with a problem-solving mind-set combined with a strong track-record of original and innovative research at the crossroads of polymer chemistry and soft matter. Strong skillset in thermal conductivity and mechanical properties is advantageous for the position.

The applicant should have a strong knowledge of English, both orally and in writing and an ability to interact and collaborate.

Terms of employment
The position involves full-time employment for a minimum of two years and a maximum of three years, with the possibility of extension under special circumstances. Start date 2023-05-01 or as per agreement.

Stockholm University strives to be a workplace free from discrimination and with equal opportunities for all.

Contact
Further information about the position can be obtained from the the project leader Professor Lennart Bergström, telephone: +46 8 16 23 68, [email protected] .

Union representatives
Ingrid Lander (Saco-S), telephone: +46 708 16 26 64, [email protected] , Alejandra Pizarro Carrasco (Fackförbundet ST/Lärarförbundet), telephone: +46 8 16 34 89, [email protected] , and [email protected] (SEKO).

Application
Apply for the position at Stockholm University's recruitment system. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that the application is complete in accordance with the instructions in the job advertisement, and that it is submitted before the deadline.

Please include the following information with your application

• Your contact details and personal data
• Your highest degree
• Your language skills
• Contact details for 2–3 references

and, in addition, please include the following documents

• Cover letter
• CV – degrees and other completed courses, work experience and a list of publications
• Research proposal (no more than 3 pages) describing:
  – why you are interested in the field/project described in the advertisement
  – why and how you wish to complete the project
  – what makes you suitable for the project in question
• Copy of PhD diploma
• Letters of recommendation (no more than 3 files)
• Publications in support of your application (no more than 3 files).

The instructions for applicants are available at: How to apply for a position .

You are welcome to apply!

Stockholm University contributes to the development of sustainable democratic society through knowledge, enlightenment and the pursuit of truth.

URL to this page
https://www.su.se/english/about-the-university/work-at-su/available-jobs?rmpage=job&rmjob=20000&rmlang=UK