Postdoc in sustainable antifouling strategies in shipping

This postdoctoral position at the Department of Mechanics and Maritime Sciences offers you the opportunity:
- To join an interdisciplinary team of experts within the field of antifouling strategies;
- To further develop a novel, cutting-edge tool to assess the sustainability of antifouling strategies;
- For high societal impact as your research results will be directly implemented and used by stakeholders;
- To create a large network, both within industry and academia and develop your academic competence.

Information about the project
We are looking for a postdoctoral researcher in the area of biofouling/antifouling. The position will be hosted by the unit of Maritime Environmental Sciences at the department of Mechanics and Maritime Sciences but includes collaboration with other research institutes such at SSPA and the University of Gothenburg.

According to studies delivered to the International Maritime Organization, ~10% of shipping's energy consumption can be attributed to poor maintenance of underwater surfaces, which results in marine growth (biofouling) and hull/propeller surface roughness that increases ship resistance through water. Also, current antifouling coating practices, relying on biocidal coatings, emit significant amounts of heavy metals to sensitive sea areas, such as the Baltic Sea. By improving current practices, not only could operators achieve better economic results, but shipping impacts on climate, air quality and marine water quality could also be reduced.

The aim of the postdoc position is to further develop an existing decision-support tool (HullMASTER) to evaluate antifouling strategies for ships based on several sustainability criteria. HullMASTER was developed for the Baltic Sea region to allow a comparison between different hull maintenance strategies in terms of costs for operators, as well as to external costs due to environmental and human health degradation. The successful candidate will be responsible to expand the geographical scope of the tool to European scale.

-The details of the departmental research activities may be found here. 

Major responsibilities
The work will include field work, statistical analyses, using and writing code in e.g. MATLAB and modeling, interpretation of ship performance data and writing scientific papers. The work will be conducted in collaboration with shipping operators, ports and authorities to demonstrate and improve predictions of economic and societal savings achieved by more sustainable hull maintenance strategies than those practiced today. This will be illustrated from economic, health and environment perspectives. The assessment will be conducted with the decision-support tool HullMASTER and a major task for the postdoc candidate is to extend the scope of HullMASTER by enhancing its models and geographic scope. The latter would be achieved by studying fouling on immersed panels coated with commercially available antifouling coatings in several locations around Europe and assess the effects of abiotic factors (e.g. salinity, flow and temperature) on biocide release rates.

Qualifications
We seek a postdoctoral candidate with experience and skills in fouling assessment, antifouling strategies and fluid dynamics and/or hydrodynamics or in a closely related field, and is familiar with using and writing code in e.g. MATLAB. To qualify for the position of postdoctoral researcher, you should hold a doctoral degree in a relevant field such as environmental science, chemistry, biology, engineering, hydrodynamics or fluid dynamics and have knowledge of practical and theoretical work with respect to biofouling and/or antifouling strategies. The degree should generally not be older than three years. Experience with Life Cycle Assessments (LCA), Environmental Impact Assessments as well as analysis of ship performance data and of interdisciplinary cooperation is not mandatory, but meritorious.

We are looking for an ambitious, independent researcher with good analytical skills who is interested in interdisciplinary research with a holistic systems perspective.

The position requires solid oral and written communication skills in English. Swedish is not a requirement but Chalmers offers Swedish courses.

Contract terms
This postdoc position is a full-time temporary employment for two 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.

Learn more and apply on Chalmers website: https://www.chalmers.se/sv/om-chalmers/Arbeta-pa-Chalmers/lediga-tjanster/Sidor/default.aspx?rmpage=job&rmjob=10825&rmlang=SE

Application deadline: October 2, 2022. 

*** 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!