PhD Student in surface treatment of wood and wood based products

situated at Linnæus University, Department of Forestry and Wood Technology in the Faculty of Technology

Research Environment
The Department of Forestry and Wood Technology carries out research and provides education in the value chain from the market back to silviculture. The field is thematic with an anchored base in the different research topics along the value chain. Research and education are well developed in the wood products value chains and new areas of interest for the future are non-wood forest products and other values of the forest.

Linked to the Department of Forestry and Wood Technology, two bachelor and one masters programme are offered to the students. A new 5-year programme "The Forest and its Products" built on the above programmes is under development.

The department is part of a unique collaboration between IKEA and Linnaeus University called the Bridge - A programme for entrepreneurship, innovation and production – for a better everyday life at home for the many people.

Linnaeus University has adopted a strategy for achieving equal conditions for all its employees and students within the university’s fields of activity, which means e.g. a uniform gender distribution within the professorial staff.

Description of the position
The research project which will be carried out under supervision of Ass. Professor Åsa Blom, is focused on durability of surface treated wood in outdoor applications. The different inherent properties of the wood affect chemical composition, water absorption and moisture content in wood, which is crucial for durability. Also, surface treatments use different technologies to enhance durability. Therefore the aim of the project is to link the choice of species, position in the log, sawing pattern, construction and treatment together in order to receive a durable finished product.

As being a part of the Bridge, the approach of the research will be interdisciplinary. This implies considering different perspectives from people’s individual needs to specific production conditions of the wood value chain.

Assessment criteria/Qualifications

General entry requirements

A person meets the general entry requirements for third-cycle courses and study programmes if he or she:

- has been awarded a second-cycle qualification- 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. Ordinance (2010:1064).

The applicant should be Master of Science in chemistry or wood technology. Also other engineers or applicants with master degrees in related subjects can be of interest. Work experience in the field is merited. Special weight is given to the applicant’s ability to act and contribute to an attractive interdisciplinary research environment and ability to initiate and perform research as well as cooperation with the industry.

Terms of employment
The vacancy is a four year full-time appointment

Information
Questions directed towards the research area should be directed to: Associate professor in Forest Products, Jimmy Johansson, +46 (0)470 708033, jimmy.johansson@lnu.se or the head of Department, Dr Åsa Rydell Blom +46 (0)706 87 05 15, asa.blom@lnu.se Union representatives can be accessed via the university switchboard, +46 (0)772-28 80 00. Matters of employment will be answered by staff consultant Erik Åstedt, +46 (0)470-76 75 58, erik.astedt@lnu.se
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