PhD student position in Cementitious Building Materials

Project desription
This project aims to investigate service life expectations with focus on chloride corrosion and frost attack for concrete infrastructures manufactured with incorporation of activated clays and bio ashes as a clinker replacement (future green binders). This in turn can lead to proven potential for industrial applications of these green binders which can drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions and environmental impact when constructing infrastructure buildings made from concrete. The technical goals to fulfill this aim are categorized as: 1. developing future green binders 2. Studying hydration of the future green binders 3. investigating the resistances of the future green binders against chloride ingress and frost attack and 4. evaluating the sustainability of the future green binders.

The project will be carried out in close collaboration between experts of building materials, theoretical chemistry, geo sciences and industrial concrete experts.

The division of Building Technology
The division of Building Technology at the department of Architecture and Civil Engineering (ACE) consists of four research groups: Building Materials, Building Physics, Infrastructure Physics and Sustainable Building. All groups work with sustainable materials, buildings, and infrastructures. Since a large amount of the world energy use relates to buildings, much of the research at the division deals with energy issues. The announced position will be placed in the research group Building Materials, which provides research and education within building materials including cement, concrete, wood, bitumen and polymer composites. The main research focus is on cement-based building materials and their composites. One major area is transport properties of liquid, gas, ion and moisture in porous materials through which research on durability and service life of materials in long-term use in various environments is conducted. Another area is minimization of carbon dioxide foot-print assigned with cement production with utilization of alternative cement replacement materials.

Major responsibilities
Your major responsibility as a PhD student is to pursue your own doctoral studies. This includes developing scientific concepts and communicating research results both verbally and in writing. In addition to the research project, you will also take courses on the advanced level within the graduate school of Civil and Environmental Engineering. The position may also include departmental duties, such as teaching, up to a maximum of 20 %.

Contract terms
You will be employed by Chalmers on a full-time temporary contract.  The employment is limited to four years’ effective time on the PhD project, plus additional time spent on teaching and other departmental duties up to a maximum of five years. The employment is tied to successful progress of the doctoral studies, as evaluated throughout the project.

Qualifications
A suitable background is a Master of Science degree (with at least 240 higher education credits) in chemistry, materials, civil engineering, geo sciences or other fields relevant to the description of the project. Good knowledge about porous and cementitious materials is essential. The position requires oral and written communication skills in English. Communication skills in Swedish are also meritorious.

You are a person who takes initiatives, works independently when needed and takes responsibility for your work. Furthermore, the project interacts closely with adjacent disciplines and industrial partners. Thus you need to have significant collaborative skills. Finally, you need to be able to disseminate results and knowledge within existing and new networks. This includes academia, industry and society at large.

Chalmers continuously strives to be an attractive employer. Equality and diversity are substantial foundations in all activities at Chalmers.

Our offer to you
Chalmers offers a cultivating and inspiring working environment in the dynamic city of Gothenburg. 
Read more about working at Chalmers and our benefits for employees.

Application procedure
To apply, please go to: https://www.chalmers.se/en/about-chalmers/Working-at-Chalmers/Vacancies/Pages/default.aspx?rmpage=job&rmjob=9102


Application deadline: 15 January, 2021