Doctoral student in Fire Safety - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

Subject description
The Division of Fire Safety Engineering conducts research and education in the area of fire protection. We are responsible for essential parts of the Swedish fire protection engineering programme and the International Master of Fire Safety Engineering (IMFSE). In addition, we are responsible for the training of doctoral students in the field of fire safety engineering. Cooperation with other universities and institutions takes place both in terms of education and research.

Job description
This doctoral position relates to the area of fire safety engineering and risk assessment, connected to natural disasters. In particular, this doctoral position refers to development of methods to evaluate the risk of multiple natural hazards, with a focus on fire risk and flooding risk. The studies will be conducted as part of a research project funded by the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency (MSB), Extreme-Index: A new multi-hazard vulnerability index. The project aims to develop a new multi-hazard risk index, Extreme-Index, to assist prediction of emerging risks on a local, regional and national level to support various stakeholders for strategic training and resource planning. The index will be modular to allow focus on individual or multiple hazards in the same tool. The doctoral student will be heavily involved in identifying suitable predictive indices, developing interaction between different risks and implementing them into a user interface. The doctoral student will be part of an international and multidisciplinary research group.

The main duties of the doctoral student is to devote themselves to their research studies which includes participating in research projects and third cycle courses. The work duties will 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 by the application deadline:

• 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 within a field which is relevant for the research studies, 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 Fire Safety if he or she has:

• a BSc in Fire Protection Engineering comprising 210 credits, or
• a second-cycle degree in a relevant field

Furthermore, the acceptance is based on the estimated ability to accomplish postgraduate studies.

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:

• Experience of programing (e.g. Java, C#, VBA)
• Good level of oral and written Swedish or other Nordic languages
• Experience in studies of natural disasters
• Experience in the emergency services area

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, at least 2 references, degree certificate or equivalent, and other documents you wish to be considered (grade transcripts, contact information for your references, letters of recommendation, etc.).