Doctoral student in Fire Safety - 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. 

Work duties

The project this doctoral student will work in has a broad perspective, aiming to understand the ignition and fire behaviour of forest fuels, and the risks they pose to people, property and the environment as a context to map out the various stakeholders with a vested interest in wildfire safety and how to develop a common view of rights and responsibilities relative to wildfires, and the wildfire-urban-interface. Developing ignition and fire behaviour of the forest fuels will be conducted by a partner doctoral student employed at RISE while this position will focus on stakeholder dialogue and is based at LU Faculty of Engineering.

A detailed specification of the research questions will be made together with the doctoral student. As possible subjects, the following may be seen as input to such specifications: understanding the forest and WUI environment, its fuels, ignition risks and their mitigation; contextualising the forest in terms of different stakeholders, their rights and responsibilities. The work will be conducted as part of a research project with national funding on the cross-sectoral dialogue. The project team will include specialists in fire emissions, material performance in fires, interview analysis and workshop definition and design. The Project leader and project team can provide contacts with relevant stakeholders as a starting point for the doctoral studies. In addition, the doctoral student is expected to develop their own contacts as part of the work. 

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. 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

• Basic knowledge of written and spoken Swedish (Sufficient enough to understand national documents in Swedish and participate in meetings in Swedish) 
• Good geographical knowledge and understanding of eco-systems
• Experience of social sciences, interview techniques and workshop 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.).