Doctoral student in fire safety with a focus on emissions from fires - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

The division of fire safety engineering conducts research and teaching that relates to fire and its consequences. Teaching takes place mainly at the Fire Protection Engineering program and the International Master in Fire Safety Technology, the latter is a program that is primarily aimed at international students. The division consists of approximately 15 employees, including five Lund-based doctoral students. In addition, there are a number of company-related doctoral students associated to the division. The division of Fire Safety Engineering acts in an international context and has contact with research organizations nationally and internationally.  

Subject description  

Fire safety research relates to physical and chemical processes associated with the origin, growth, spread and extinguishing of fires, interactions between fire and buildings/facilities, systems for preventing or detecting fire or limiting its consequences, and evacuation and human behavior in fire. The term fire refers to both fire and explosion and includes fire indoors and outdoors. Research on impact models also considers unwanted emissions of flammable, explosive and/or toxic compounds in industry and transport. The subject also includes fire safety analysis with both probabilistic and deterministic methods as well as the development of methods for fire safety design. The subject also considers the environmental impact and fire safety research can, therefore, be seen from a sustainability perspective. 
The fire safety research is conducted mainly through experimental research, modeling and model development. The general objective is to find cost-effective and innovative methods of keeping damage to people, the environment and property at an acceptable level.   

Work duties  

The doctoral student position has a broad perspective and is oriented at understanding the course of fires in buildings, taking into account existing combustible materials, environmental and sustainability aspects and the consequences of fires in the relevant building work. Emissions from fires and their impact on humans and the environment is the main concern. The work will include experimental work and fire investigations. 

A specification of the research questions will be made together with the doctoral student considering the identified need for relevant research. As possible subjects, the following may be seen as such specifications: material behavior in the event of a fire and considering an environmental and sustainability perspective, modeling of fire emissions using emission factors. The work will be conducted as part of a research project with national funding on the impact of fire emissions on fire  fighters. The project team will include specialists in fire emissions, material performance in fires, measurement techniques and particle characterisation and  toxicologists.   

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 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 the applicant:   

• 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 Fire Safety if the applicant has:   

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

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. 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. Academic results from the first and second cycle  
5. Other experience relevant to the third-cycle studies, e.g. professional experience.                                                                                                                 

Other assessment criteria:  

• Good oral and written proficiency in Swedish.  
• Good knowledge of experimental work and material behavior in case of fire.  
• Good knowledge of sustainability models such as life cycle analysis.  
• Good knowledge of performance-based design.  

Consideration will also be given to good collaborative skills, drive and independence, and how the applicant, through the applicants 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.).  

You are aslo asked to answer the selection questions.