PhD in Chemical Engineering on membrane processes for sugar applications - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

Description of the workplace

The Department of Process and Life Science Engineering (PLE) covers a wide range of industrially relevant research, including e.g. plant-based meat analogues, carbon capture and formulation and purification of biopharmaceuticals. The Membrane group (https://www.membranegroup.lu.se/) at PLE is the most established Membrane Group in Sweden and has with MemLab – the Industrial membrane process research and development centre – an excellent infrastructure to develop and optimize membrane processes from lab to pilot scale.

The project is a collaboration with Nordic Sugar A/S. Nordic Sugar A/S as part of the Nordzucker Group with production facilities in Europe and Australia is one of the worldwide leading sugar manufacturers from beet and cane and also a producer of bioethanol and animal feed.

Subject description

The project is to be carried out in close cooperation with industry and aims to reduce the lime usage in beet raw juice purification by developing a process for the clarification of raw beet juice using ultrafiltration as a key separation unit. The ultrafiltration process will first be optimized on lab-scale with regards to membranes and process conditions including cleaning and pre-treatment. Potential post-treatment processes to improve sugar concentration and purification on lab-scale will also be investigated. The optimized process is then to be scaled-up to industrial pilot scale based on which an economical evaluation and life cycle assessment will be carried out for the full-scale process.

Work duties

The main duties of doctoral students is 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 10%).

Detailed description of the work duties:

• Review of available scientific literature on the research topic and presentation in a report/article.
• Membrane screening for raw juice clarification on lab-scale with focus on commercial membranes.
• Optimization of the pre-treatment before the membrane process e.g. pre-clarification and partial liming.
• Development of an efficient and sustainable cleaning protocol for the membrane process.
• Scale-up of the optimized concept from lab to pilot scale.
• Investigation of potential post-treatment processes to improve sugar concentration and purification on lab-scale.
• Economical evaluation and life cycle assessment of a full-scale process.
• Close cooperation with Nordic Sugar with regular reporting of results in reports and during meeting.
• The project includes a continuous working period of several months at a Nordic Sugar A/S factory plus regular visits to other factories of Nordzucker Group in Europe.

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 Chemical or Food Engineering if the applicant has:

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

Additional requirements:

• Very good oral and written English, as large parts of the research work will be carried out 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:

Knowledge and skills relevant to the thesis project and the subject of study. Ability to work independently and to formulate and tackle research problems. Good written and oral communication skills. Other experience relevant to the third-cycle studies, e.g. professional experience.

Other assessment criteria:

• Experience of working with membrane or other separation processes.
• Work experience from the sugar industry, or other relevant food industry.
• Experience building/assembling lab/pilot scale equipment.
• Good oral and written ability in Swedish, as parts of the research work will be carried out at a sugar mill in Sweden.
• Experience of project management.
• Knowledge of modeling and programming in e.g. Python, C/C++, MATLAB, AspenPlus and/or LabView.

Consideration will 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.

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. https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/about-university/work-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 4.5 years (including 10% 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!