Doctoral student in Dairy Technology with focus on membrane processing - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

The Division of Food and Pharma conducts research and education with relevance for the food and pharmaceutical industry and other related areas. We offer a strong research environment with good research infrastructure, including a human trial facility and pilot plant for food research.

Our work has a clear connection to Agenda 2030, especially to sustainable consumption and production as well as human health. An important part of our strategy is collaboration with industry, society, and other research groups both in Sweden and internationally.

Description of the workplace

This project is a collaboration between the Division of Food and Pharma and the Division of Chemical Engineering. The position is located at the Division of Food and Pharma at the Department of Process and Life Science Engineering. At the division, research and education are conducted within experimental and theoretical areas to meet issues with relevance to the food industry.

You will be a part of the Dairy group in close collaboration with the Membrane group. The Dairy group is working technological and processing aspects on milk and dairy systems, with main research areas within milk quality and genomics, composition and structure of milk and dairy products, dairy processing as well as nutrition and health, whereas the Membrane group is working with development of membrane processes for industrial applications as well as fouling and cleaning. Both groups have extensive national and international collaborations with industry, both within research and education. The teaching is linked to specializations and programs in food technology and chemical engineering as well as commissioned educations in dairy technology at LTH.

Subject description

The candidate will be admitted to the research subject Food and Formulation Engineering. This research subject covers experimental and theoretical studies based on science and engineering aiming to address issues of relevance to the food and pharmaceutical industries, including aspects of production and consumption of food in society. Focus within this project will be on dairy technology and membrane processing.

Work duties

The dairy industry is one of the key sectors within the Swedish food industry where membrane processes are important for concentration, fractionation and purification of various process streams and components. Membrane fouling and cleaning are key challenges and drivers of both energy and costs for membrane processes. As a doctoral student in dairy technology with a focus on membrane processing, you will work in a research project on fouling and cleaning of membranes in the dairy industry. The research project is a collaboration between Lund University, Alfa Laval, Tetra Pak, Ecolab, Skånemejerier, Norrmejerier and Falköpings mejeri.

As a doctoral student, you will plan, design, and conduct experiments, with assistance from your supervisors. The focus will be on increase the knowledge about fouling and establish the foundation for innovative cleaning protocols for sustainable and energy-efficient membrane systems, based on advanced analytical methods. The overall aim of the project is to develop models that optimize costs and reduce the environmental impact of membrane cleaning and operation. These models aim to improve the efficiency of the cleaning process and reduce water consumption. The new insights into membrane fouling and cleaning contributes to energy and resource-efficient production processes within the dairy industry. The main part of the project will be carried out in Lund, but may also include experiments and analyses at the partners in the project and other research groups. In addition, participation in national and international conferences and continuous cooperation with industrial partners are included.

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 Food and Formulation Engineering if he or she has:

• at least 60 credits in the subject of the third-cycle programme, of which at least 30 credits are from second-cycle courses of relevance to the subject and 30 credits from a second-cycle degree project of relevance to the subject, or
• an MSc in Engineering, a one-year Master’s degree or other comparable degree of relevance to the field.

Additional requirements:

• Very good oral and written proficiency in English

Eligibility
Students with basic eligibility for third-cycle studies are those who- have completed a second-cycle degree- have completed courses of at least 240 credits, of which at least 60 credits are from second-cycle courses, or- have acquired largely equivalent knowledge in some other way, in Sweden or abroad.

The employment of doctoral students is regulated in the Swedish Code of Statues 1998: 80. Only those who are or have been admitted to PhD-studies may be appointed to doctoral studentships. When an appointment to a doctoral studentship is made, the ability of the student to benefit from PhD-studies shall primarily be taken into account. In addition to devoting themselves to their studies, those appointed to doctoral studentships may be required to work with educational tasks, research and administration, in accordance with specific regulations in the ordinance.

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:

• in-depth knowledge of dairy technology, membrane processes and dairy processing.
• experience in building/assembling lab/pilot-scale equipment
• experience in chemical and technological food analyses
• knowledge of modelling and programming in Python C/C++, MATLAB and/or LabView.
• good problem-solving skills and linguistic analysis ability.

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

Type of employment
Limit of tenure, four years according to HF 5 kap 7§.

We offer
Lund University is a public authority which means that employees get particular benefits, generous annual leave and an advantageous occupational pension scheme. Read more on the University website about being a Lund University employee Work at Lund University

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 §§.

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.).

Welcome to apply!