Doctoral student in Chemical Engineering - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

Subject description
The overarching work to be performed within this position is hydrogenation reactions to valorize renewable compounds as liquid transportation fuels. There will be two distinct parts in the project, which will be performed more or less in parallel. The first part of the project is on the reaction of hydrogen with carbon dioxide for the production of aviation kerosene. This part of the project will focus on concentrated carbon dioxide from an ethanol plant and include experimental work with commercial and in-house synthesized catalysts in traditional and micro-channel reactors. The second part of the project will be investigating the co-production of gasoline/diesel components from lignin and traditional feedstocks. This work will focus on the conversion of lignin/fossil fuel mixtures in fixed beds and will be using in-house synthesized catalyst materials.

Work duties
Within the projects, there will be much work on catalyst testing and product analysis, but also significant efforts will be spent on characterizing the catalytic material before and after use. The characterization will be performed at the chemical engineering department, hosting the fine particle analysis center, as well as other parts at Lund University. In addition, beam time for doing experiments and characterization using large infrastructure are regularly applied for and will likely be used within the projects. The laboratories to be used are recently renovated and there will be a dedicated system for catalyst testing for this Project.

The research will be conducted together with your supervisors, but also together with other researchers and PhD students in the 10-12 person strong innovative process design group. Furthermore, you are expected to gradually take more and more initiatives to ensure progress in your research project, especially towards the end of the PhD studies. The appointment is four years plus extension depending on the degree of departmental duties.

The main duties of doctoral students are to devote themselves to their research studies which includes participating in research projects and third cycle courses. The work duties can also include teaching and other departmental duties (no more than 20%).

Admission requirements
A person meets the general admission requirements for third-cycle courses and study programmes if he or she:

• has been awarded a second-cycle qualification, or
• has satisfied the requirements for courses comprising at least 240 credits of which at least 60 credits were awarded in the second cycle, or
• has acquired substantially equivalent knowledge in some other way in Sweden or abroad. 

A person meets the specific admission requirements for third cycle studies in Chemical Engineering if he or she has:

• a specialised project of at least 30 second-cycle credits in the subject

Additional requirements:

• Very good oral and written proficiency in English. 

Assessment criteria
Selection for third-cycle studies is based on the student’s potential to profit from such studies. The assessment of potential is made primarily on the basis of academic results from the first and second cycle. Special attention is paid to the following:

1. Knowledge and skills relevant to the thesis project and the subject of study.
2. An assessment of ability to work independently and to formulate and tackle research problems.
3. Written and oral communication skills
4. Other experience relevant to the third-cycle studies, e.g. professional experience.  

Other assessment criteria:

• Previously documented experience from experimental work with heterogeneous catalysis,
• previous experience in biomass conversion,
• industrial experience and
• ability to communicate in Swedish

will all be considered as merits. The applicant should have a good ability to work independently as well as in groups. Furthermore, we are looking for a person who is curious, achievement-oriented, structured and persistent, and has problem-solving analytical skills and a good self-awareness.

You will be expected to teach on undergraduate level and most of our courses are given in Swedish. If you do not speak Swedish you will be expected to take basic courses in Swedish, financed by the department.

Consideration will also be given to good collaborative skills, drive and independence, and how the applicant, through his or her experience and skills, is deemed to have the abilities necessary for successfully completing the third cycle programme.

Terms of employment
Only those admitted to third cycle studies may be appointed to a doctoral studentship. Third cycle studies at LTH consist of full-time studies for 4 years. A doctoral studentship is a fixed-term employment of a maximum of 5 years (including 20% departmental duties). Doctoral studentships are regulated in the Higher Education Ordinance (1993:100), chapter 5, 1-7 §§.

Instructions on how to apply
Applications shall be written in English and include a cover letter stating the reasons why you are interested in the position and in what way the research project corresponds to your interests and educational background. The application must also contain a CV, degree certificate or equivalent, and other documents you wish to be considered (grade transcripts, contact information for your references, letters of recommendation, etc.).