PhD student position in sustainable drinking water treatment

Clean drinking water quality is being challenged by long-lived contaminants in Sweden and around the world but there is a risk that when we try to solve this problem we just make others. Join a multidisciplinary project to help major utilities decide how to invest in a sustainable future for urban water treatment.

Project description
The successful candidate will work at Chalmers' Division of Environmental Systems Analysis in a multidisciplinary team created by a Formas-funded research project. It brings together academics working on sustainability assessment; innovative engineering technology; toxicological testing and the environmental transport and fate of contaminants, working at universities including Chalmers, Lund, Uppsala, Gothenburg and the Swedish Agricultural University. The project is in frequent dialogue with major water utilities in Sweden including Sydvatten, Uppsala Vatten, Stockholm Vatten and Norrvatten who are engaged with the technology testing.

Major responsibilities
The research aims to inform strategic and practical planning in industry and improve the tools available to help companies make decisions about water treatment investments in practice. The role involves dialogue with researchers and industry representatives, critical literature review, performing case studies on certain chemical processes using existing tools, synthesizing ideas about how to improve them, and presenting results verbally and in writing. PhD candidates also spend about 20% of their time teaching.

Qualifications
A masters degree in chemistry, chemical engineering; environmental chemistry or environmental engineering or equivalent is mandatory, as are demonstrably strong communication skills in spoken and written English. Additional education or experience with environmental sustainability assessment or life cycle assessment is not mandatory but meritorious, as are demonstrable teamworking abilities and communication skills in Swedish.

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 20230548 and written in English. The application should be sent, not by email but by using the “apply” button at the bottom of this page, where PDF-files can be attached. Their contents are described 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: 2023-10-29



For questions, please contact:
Gregory Peters Full Professor, Environmental Systems Analysis, Technology Management and Economics
petersg@chalmers.se

*** 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!