PhD candidate in Industrial Ecology

27 Feb 2024
Job Information

Organisation/Company

Leiden University

Research Field

Physics

Researcher Profile

First Stage Researcher (R1)

Country

Netherlands

Application Deadline

31 Mar 2024 - 22:59 (UTC)

Type of Contract

Temporary

Job Status

Not Applicable

Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?

Not funded by an EU programme

Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?

No

Offer Description

Project overview
The successful applicant will work as part of the FORward-looking Explorative modelling framework of WAste water management options for Resilient, sustainable Chinese and Dutch waters (FOREWARD). The project aims to address the challenges posed by wastewater pollution from human and agricultural sources, highlighting issues with the current centralized Waste Water Management (WWM) system. This system relies heavily on energy and chemicals, struggles with urbanization and agriculture intensification, lacks climate change adaptation, and is often unaffordable for emerging urban areas. Existing research primarily focuses on domestic or agricultural perspectives, with limited attention to local priorities due to financial constraints. FOREWARD proposes a comprehensive approach to WWM transition, including the development of a multiscale water quality model, advancements in domestic and livestock WWM technologies, economic and environmental assessments, and a forward-looking model-based WWM transition plan involving societal stakeholders. Ultimately, the project aims to inform policymaking by integrating technological and systemic WWM options, conducting life-cycle assessments, and optimizing trade-offs to achieve a sustainable WWM transition.

We seek a PhD candidate to work on Work Package 5 “Prospective life cycle environmental and economic assessment”, where the PhD candidate will be involved in assessing the life cycle environmental and economic impacts of existing and newly developed WWM options with respect to current systems.

Key responsibilities

• Developing life cycle inventories for newly developed and best-available WWM technologies, through co-creation with consortium’s technology developers and other stakeholders.
• Conducting environmental impact assessments using prospective life cycle assessment, considering critical changes in background systems as specified in shared socioeconomic pathways.
• Conducting life cycle cost analyses to evaluate economic aspects of future WWM options.
• Conducting independent and collaborative research within the project consortium.
• Working on project deliverables, ensuring timely completion and high-quality contributions.
• Attending and actively participate in project meetings, providing updates on research progress and collaborating with partners.
• Be available for international travel as required by project meetings.
• Communicate findings through scientific publications and presentations at national and international conferences.

Requirements
Specific Requirements

Selection Criteria
For applicants at the PhD researcher level:

• You hold a master's degree in the field of industrial ecology, environmental sciences or another related field.
• You have documented expertise (e.g. a master thesis) in LCA, MFA, E-IOA or other methods relevant to industrial ecology. Experience in LCA and possibly also LCC of emerging technologies and systems is a strong advantage.
• Programming skills (e.g. Python or other languages) and an ability to handle large datasets are an advantage. Applicants without these skills should have a strong drive to develop them early on in the PhD.
• You have excellent English language skills in writing and speaking,
• You are intellectually curious, possess good analytical skills, are self-propelled, flexible, and quality conscious and have recorded experience in planning and executing research tasks within a given timeframe.
• You have excellent social and communication skills and the ability to interact with other researchers, industry and policy actors.

Additional Information
Benefits

Terms and conditions
At Leiden University, a PhD candidate is seen as an employee rather than a student. As such, we offer a 1-year position with the possibility of extension to 4 years based on performance and following the pay scale P in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities. Salary ranges from € 2.770.- gross per month in the first year to € 3.539 gross per month in the fourth year based on a full-time position. Leiden University offers an attractive benefits package with additional holiday (8%) and end-of-year bonuses (8.3 %), training and career development. Our individual choices model gives you some freedom to assemble your own set of terms and conditions. For international spouses, we have set up a dual career programme. Candidates from outside the Netherlands may be eligible for a substantial tax break (“30% rule”).

Diversity
At the Faculty of Science we value inclusiveness and strive for a diverse community with equal opportunities for all. We give full support to our staff in achieving their potential to become independent academic researchers and teachers. For more information about our policy on diversity and equality please go to the diversity page on our website. Female researchers are also welcomed to join the Researchers In Science for Equality network of the Faculty if Science (rise.nu).

Selection process

Applications
Please submit your application via the online recruitment system, via the blue button at the top or bottom of this page. Applications received via e-mail will not be taken into consideration. Please ensure that you upload the following additional documents quoting the vacancy number:

• CV (max 2 pages)
• A motivation letter (max 2 pages)
• The names and contact information of two referees

Only applications received before 31st of March will be considered.

Additional comments

Information
For inquiries, please contact Dr. Valerio Barbarossa ([email protected] ) and Dr. Stefano Cucurachi ([email protected] ), or [email protected] for general questions.

Website for additional job details

https://www.academictransfer.com/338292/

Work Location(s)

Number of offers available

1

Company/Institute

Universiteit Leiden

Country

Netherlands

City

Leiden

Postal Code

2312AR

Street

Leiden

Geofield

Where to apply

Website

https://www.academictransfer.com/en/338292/phd-candidate-in-industrial-ecology/…

Contact

City

Leiden

Website

http://www.universiteitleiden.nl/

Street

Rapenburg 70

Postal Code

2311 EZ

STATUS: EXPIRED