PhD research on Secure and sustainable supply of raw materials for strategic value chains

The selected candidate will be employed as a full-time doctoral researcher.

The researcher will have two contracts (and work places) throughout his/her doctoral project, one with VUB (Brussels, Belgium) and one with JRC (Ispra, Italy).

The PhD degree is a joint degree between VUB and JRC.

The selected candidate will be offered a full-time PhD-scholarship, for 12 months (extendable up to max. 48 months, on condition of the positive evaluation of the PhD activities after 12 months), with planned starting date 1 March 2022 (or as soon as possible thereafter).

At VUB you’ll receive a grant linked to one of the scales set by the government.

IMPORTANT: The effective result of the doctorate scholarship is subject to the condition precedent of your enrolment as a doctorate student at the university.

At VUB, you’re guaranteed an open, involved and diverse workplace where you are offered opportunities to (further) build on your career.

As well as this, you’ll enjoy various benefits:

• Full reimbursement for your home-work commute with public transport according to VUB-policy, or compensation if you come by bike;
• Cost-free hospitalisation insurance;
• The space to form your job content and continuously learn;
• Excellent facilities for sport and exercise;
• Ecocheques;
• Delicious meals at attractive prices in our campus restaurants;
• An open, family-friendly work environment where attention is paid to work-life balance, and exceptional holiday arrangements with 35 days of leave (based on a fulltime contract).

In addition, the selected candidate will spend part of her/his PhD at the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre. The Joint Research Centre (JRC) is the European Commission's science and knowledge service which employs scientists to carry out research in order to provide independent scientific advice and support to EU policy.

The candidate will join the Sustainable Resources Dirctorate team, located at the JRC site in Ispra, Italy. For more information about the JRC, please consult https://ec.europa.eu/jrc/en ; https://ec.europa.eu/jrc/en/research-topic/raw-materials ;

http://rmis.jrc.ec.europa.eu .

The JRC

• Cultivates a workplace based on respect for other people and the environment.

• Embraces non-discriminatory practices and equality of opportunity. In case of equal merit, preference will be given to the gender in minority.

The successful candidate is expected to split his/her time between VUB and JRC. In practice, the researcher will work for two years with the VUB in Brussels, Belgium and two years with the JRC team in Ispra, Italy.

Office space and equipment will be provided along with a budget for travelling and other research-related expenses. Depending on the circumstances of the global health crisis, you may be expected to work from home.

https://mobi.research.vub.be/en/evergi

https://ec.europa.eu/jrc/en/research-topic/raw-materials ; http://rmis.jrc.ec.europa.eu .

For further inquiries, please contact

[email protected] (VUB MOBI center, head research group EVERGi)

[email protected] (VUB MOBI center, senior expert Life Cycle Assessment)

[email protected] (JRC, Sustainable Resource Directorate)

The Vrije Universiteit Brussel and the European Commission are committed to creating and supporting a diverse work environment and are equal opportunity employers.