PhD student position in Battery recycling..

Information about the division and the department
The unit is part of the department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering which has a large number of groups working on different research topics. The PhD student position will be a part of an Energy Agency funded project devoted to improving the recycling of waste batteries. The PhD student will be based at Chalmers but will interact with a diverse team of workers from four other organisations. These include another university, a recycling and waste brokering company, an industrial solvent extraction company and a British spin off company devoted to metal recycling and processing. The student needs to be a self motivated person will have to perform organic synthesis work, small scale solvent extraction and also assist in pilot plant experiments. The student needs both to obtain an academic understanding of the new solvent extraction reagents and experiments as well as working towards the creation of an industrial process. The student will have two secondments, one to a recycling company in Sweden and the other to a British high technology spin off company. The student will work within a diverse research unit including both industrial materials recycling and nuclear chemistry workers. 

Major responsibilities
As a PhD student you are supposed to focus on the research questions relating to your project. In this case the development of new reagents and processes for the recycling of batteries. There will be considerable hands-on laboratory work involving organic synthesis, organic chemicals, waste leaching and solvent extraction. You will have to deal with workers from the other partners in the project. While the vast majority of the work will be nonradioactive you will be expected to learn how to do radiochemistry in the dedicated radiochemical laboratories. No experience of radiochemistry is needed, but the student will be expected to be willing and able to learn new skills. In addition, as a PhD student you are supposed to take an active part in the teaching of both B.Sc. and M.Sc. students and be included in some departemental work.

Qualifications
You are expected to have graduated as a B.Sc. or M.Sc. in Chemistry or Chemical engineering or similar preferably with Organic Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry or Hydrometallurgy as specialty. Experience in solvent extraction would be meritous.

Applications without a documented knowledge of chemistry will be systematically disregarded. 

Ability to work in a multi-cultural environment is essential.

Fluency in English is mandatory, fluency/knowledge of a Nordic language would be meritous as well.

Contract terms
Full-time temporary employment. The position is limited to a maximum of five years.

We offer
Chalmers offers a cultivating and inspiring working environment in the coastal city of Gothenburg. 
Read more about working at Chalmers and our benefits for employees.

Chalmers aims to actively improve our gender balance. We work broadly with equality projects, for example the GENIE Initiative on gender equality for excellence. Equality and diversity are substantial foundations in all activities at Chalmers.

Application procedure
The application should be marked with Ref 20230522 and written in English. The application should be sent electronically and be attached as PDF-files, as below. Maximum size for each file is 40 MB. Please note that the system does not support Zip files.

CV: (Please name the document: CV, Family name, Ref. number)
• CV
• Other, for example previous employments or leadership qualifications and positions of trust.
• Two references that we can contact.

Personal letter: (Please name the document as: Personal letter, Family name, Ref. number)
1-3 pages where you:
• Introduce yourself
• Describe your previous experience of relevance for the position (e.g. education, thesis work and, if applicable, any other research activities)
• Describe your future goals and future research focus

Other documents:
• Copies of bachelor and/or master’s thesis.
• Attested copies and transcripts of completed education, grades and other certificates, e.g. TOEFL test results.

Please use the button at the foot of the page to reach the application form. 

Application deadline: 2023-10-31



For questions, please contact:
Assoc. Prof. Mark Foreman,
Foreman@chalmers.se, 076 0622480

*** Chalmers declines to consider all offers of further announcement publishing or other types of support for the recruiting process in connection with this position. *** 
   



Chalmers University of Technology conducts research and education in engineering sciences, architecture, technology-related mathematical sciences, natural and nautical sciences, working in close collaboration with industry and society. The strategy for scientific excellence focuses on our six Areas of Advance; Energy, Health Engineering, Information and Communication Technology, Materials Science, Production and Transport. The aim is to make an active contribution to a sustainable future using the basic sciences as a foundation and innovation and entrepreneurship as the central driving forces. Chalmers has around 11,000 students and 3,000 employees. New knowledge and improved technology have characterised Chalmers since its foundation in 1829, completely in accordance with the will of William Chalmers and his motto: Avancez!