PhD student position in catalysis for sustainable energy: cost and environmental assessments

We invite applicants to join our team of researchers within the area of environmental and energy systems analysis focusing on the transition towards a sustainable energy and transport sector. The PhD student position will be embedded in an interdisciplinary environment in Chalmers’s research centre for catalysis, in close collaboration with other research teams and industry.

Information about the research
The global society is somewhere in the transition to a low carbon economy. The efficiency, cost, and environmental performance, in a life cycle perspective, can have a great impact on what type of energy carriers that are used in a carbon constrained world. Energy and environmental systems analyses, including for example energy-economy modelling and life cycle assessment, are useful to identify the environmental performance and cost-competitiveness of future energy carriers such as electrofuels, biofuels and hydrogen.

The overarching aim with this project is to assess environmental impacts and future cost-competitiveness of hydrogen and different hydrogen carriers, fuel cells, after-treatment systems on hydrogen combustion engines in different scenarios of future world energy systems using input from for example experimental and theory projects within Chalmers’s competence centre for catalysis (KCK).

Examples of research questions that may be analysed in this project are: What environmental effects do the improved catalytic processes have in comparisons to conventional technologies? How are supply potential, localization, and hydrogen infrastructure and storage demand expected to develop? How can potential synergies as well as competition with other energy sectors be utilized or managed? What can be expected regarding future costs and access to the studied catalytic material? What can be expected regarding future alternative uses for the catalyst metals? Are there any potential showstoppers connected to resource limitations, cost-competitiveness, and environmental performance connected to hydrogen and different hydrogen carriers, fuel cells, and after-treatment systems on hydrogen combustion engines?

The position will be hosted by the unit of Maritime Environmental Sciences at the department of Mechanics and Maritime Sciences (M2) . Our research team, presently consisting of three senior researchers, three PhD students, and two postdocs, is embedded in an interdisciplinary environment where we have close collaboration with other research teams at Chalmers such as technology experts, systems engineers, natural and social scientists carrying out research on solutions to major environmental challenges. We also collaborate with international organisations within academia and industry. This position does not include any experimental research.

The goal of KCK is the development of catalytic technology for sustainable transport, energy, and environmental systems. The centre is integrated with the research and teaching activities at the departments of Physics, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, and Mechanics and Maritime Science at Chalmers. KCK strives to provide an excellent environment for carrying out catalysis research with opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration with researchers in related projects or with industry partners. The projects are conducted in collaboration with our member companies Johnson Matthey, Perstorp, Powercell, Preem, Scania CV, Umicore and Volvo Group.

Major responsibilities
Your major responsibility as a PhD student is to pursue your own doctoral studies. You are expected to develop your own scientific concepts and communicate the results of your research, both orally and in writing, in English. Your research will be supervised by well-reputed senior researchers at the unit Maritime Environmental Sciences at the department of Mechanics and Maritime Sciences. Your work as PhD student is performed in collaboration with researchers, industry professionals, and other PhD students. This PhD student position is within the Competence Centre for Catalysis (KCK), which is an interdisciplinary research centre for catalysis at Chalmers.

More than 80% of your time will be dedicated to research and doctoral courses required for obtaining a PhD, which include reviewing literature, participating in the design of research studies, interacting with companies and authorities, collecting and analysing empirical data, and disseminating research results in scientific journals and reports as well as to industry and public.

The position generally also includes teaching on Chalmers' undergraduate level or performing other department duties corresponding to up to 20% of working hours.

Qualifications
To qualify as a PhD student, you must have a master's level degree in a relevant field such as industrial ecology, energy technology or chemical engineering with a specialization in environmental assessment, energy systems analysis, or similar. Prior experience of life cycle assessment and/or environmental systems analysis is meritorious. Knowledge of alternative transport fuels is beneficial. You are, further, expected to have excellent oral and written communication skills in English and strong commitment to scientific inquiry.

We are looking for a motivated and independent researcher with good analytical skills who is interested in the energy and transport sector transition, interdisciplinary research with a holistic systems perspective. We also believe that you have a strong curiosity and a genuine wish to learn more and develop your skills and knowledge further in the fields of research, research communication and project management.

If Swedish is not your native language, Chalmers offers Swedish courses.

Contract terms
Full-time temporary employment. The position is limited to a maximum of 4.5-5 years, depending on the amount of teaching and departmental work you do during your doctoral project.

We offer
Chalmers offers a cultivating and inspiring working environment in the coastal city of Gothenburg .
Read more about working at Chalmers  and our benefits  for employees.

Chalmers aims to actively improve our gender balance. We work broadly with equality projects, for example the GENIE Initiative on gender equality for excellence . Equality and diversity are substantial foundations in all activities at Chalmers.

Application procedure
The application should be marked with Ref 20220616 and written in English. The application should be sent electronically and be attached as PDF-files, as below. Maximum size for each file is 40 MB. Please note that the system does not support Zip files.

CV:(Please name the document: CV, Family name, Ref. number)
• CV
• Other, for example previous employments or leadership qualifications and positions of trust.
• Two references that we can contact.

Personal letter:(Please name the document as: Personal letter, Family name, Ref. number)
1-3 pages where you:
• Introduce yourself
• Describe your previous experience of relevance for the position (e.g. education, thesis work and, if applicable, any other research activities)
• Describe your future goals and future research focus

Other documents:
• Copies of bachelor and/or master’s thesis.
• Attested copies and transcripts of completed education, grades and other certificates, e.g. TOEFL test results.

Please use the button at the foot of the page to reach the application form. 

Application deadline: 8 January 2023

For questions, please contact:
Maria Grahn, Associate professor in Energy Systems Analysis. Mechanics and Maritime Sciences, Maritime Environmental Sciences
E-mail: [email protected]

Selma Brynolf, Researcher in Assessment of Future Fuels and Propulsion System. Mechanics and Maritime Sciences, Maritime Environmental Sciences
E-mail: [email protected]

*** Chalmers declines to consider all offers of further announcement publishing or other types of support for the recruiting process in connection with this position. ***

Chalmers University of Technology conducts research and education in engineering sciences, architecture, technology-related mathematical sciences, natural and nautical sciences, working in close collaboration with industry and society. The strategy for scientific excellence focuses on our six Areas of Advance; Energy, Health Engineering, Information and Communication Technology, Materials Science, Production and Transport. The aim is to make an active contribution to a sustainable future using the basic sciences as a foundation and innovation and entrepreneurship as the central driving forces. Chalmers has around 11,000 students and 3,000 employees. New knowledge and improved technology have characterised Chalmers since its foundation in 1829, completely in accordance with the will of William Chalmers and his motto: Avancez!
 

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