Description of the workplace

The position is in the Fundamentals of Food Engineering group, which is a part of the Division of Food and Pharma. The group strives to combine theory, modelling and experimental techniques from fluid mechanics, colloidal science and chemical engineering, to understand food processing at a fundamental level. As a PhD-student, you will work on the research front and collaborate with industrial partners and leading research groups around the world.

Subject description

At an industrial scale, emulsions are formed in emulsification devices such as rotor-stator mixers and high-pressure homogenizers. Drop breakup takes place due to turbulent interactions. The fundamental understanding of turbulent drop breakup has advances significantly. However, a critical component is missing. Emulsification occurs in the presence of molecules such as egg or milk proteins, or smaller surfactant. These modify the interface. We know this influences the breakup process, but we do not know how. This project will explore this in-depth. The group will use both experimental techniques (emulsification experiments as well as high-speed imaging) and direct numerical simulations (DNS). The PhD-student will to some extent work with both experimental and modelling methodology. However, the focus will be decided based on background, interest and depending on how the project develops. 

Work duties

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 also include teaching and other departmental duties (no more than 20%).

Your work will include studying emulsion drop breakup in turbulent flow using experimental and modelling techniques. A large part of the work is that you will contribute to developing methodologies, draw conclusion, analyze and report–all with support from and in collaboration with supervisors and other experts. 

Work duties include

• Screening of emulsifer behaviour using emulsification experiments.
• Visualization of turbulent drop breakup using high-speed imaging
• Developing, improving and testing image recognition algorithms for high-speed imaging.
• Modelling of turbulent drop breakup and emulsifier dynamics based on DNS methodology. 
• Developing, improving and validating methods for evaluating and testing theoretical hypotheses based on DNS data. 
• Reviewing and developing new theory. 

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.

The higher education institution may permit an exemption from the general entry requirements for an individual applicant, if there are special grounds.

A person meets the specific admission requirements for third cycle studies in Food and Formulation Engineering if the applicant 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.

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:

• Previous experience and interest in computational programming (e.g., MATLAB or Python).
• Previous experience and interest in fluid mechanics, transport phenomena, and computational fluid dynamics.
• Previous experience and interest in colloidal science. 
• Previous experience and interest in working experimentally in fields related to food engineering, chemical engineering and/or fluid mechanics. 
• Pedagogic experience

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.

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.  For international candidates, you can read more about living and working in Sweden on this website https://sweden.se/

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 §§. We are planing to have the first interviews on the 25th of June, 2025.

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!