PhD student position - The forest industry as a flexibility provider

The successful candidate will work in the project "The forest industry as a flexibility provider - interplay with a variable energy market" with the aim to address and identify potential new roles for Swedish forest industry , including assessing technical, economic and policy implications, when the energy system as a whole develop in accordance with set targets of 100% renewable electricity generation by 2040 and net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2045.

Information about the research
The position on offer will join a team of senior researchers, postdocs and PhD students dedicated to research aimed at identifying and evaluating different pathways towards sustainable Swedish and European energy systems. The PhD work has the aim to increase knowledge of the role of the forest industry in a future dynamic energy system by combining two research areas: studies of renewable electricity systems and forest industry energy systems. A substantial part of the work is to develop analytical methods that can investigate how the forest industry can interact with the surrounding energy system and at the same time provide flexibility that enables maintained balance between demand and supply of energy on societal level. Thus, the PhD-project will develop and combine analysis tools for energy and industrial systems. This combination of analysis enables to estimate short term benefits from increased interplay between forest and energy sectors as well as to understand longer term opportunities in the energy transition towards net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2045.

The project is funded by the Swedish Energy Agency and is carried out in co-operation with Södra skogsägarna.

Major responsibilities
Your major responsibilities as PhD student is to pursue your own doctoral studies. You are expected to develop your own scientific concepts and communicate the results of your research verbally and in writing. The position also includes teaching on Chalmers' undergraduate level or performing other duties corresponding to 20 per cent of working hours. You are expected to write a licentiate thesis within 2-3 years and defend your doctoral thesis within 4-5 years.

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

Qualifications
To qualify for this position, you must have a master's level degree corresponding to at least 240 higher education (ECTS) credits in Environmental science, Economics, Political science, Civil or Environmental Engineering, Engineering Physics or equivalent. Excellent writing and communication skills in English is required. Similarly, excellent writing and communication skills in Swedish is meritorious.

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
The application should be marked with Ref 20200288 and written in English. The application should be sent electronically and be attached as pdf-files, as below:

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. The files may be compressed (zipped).

Application deadline: 20 June, 2020

For questions, please contact:
Mikael Odenberger, Energy technology
E-mail: mikael.odenberger@chalmers.se 
Phone +46 31 772 1444

*** 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!