Doctoral student in Membrane integration/intensification for CRM recovery

Project description

Third-cycle subject: Chemical Science and Engineering

This doctoral position is offered by the Division of Resource Recovery, within the Department of Chemical Engineering. Our research focuses on novel techniques for resource recovery aiming at developing economically and environmentally sustainable processes.

Critical raw materials (CRMs) are elements categorized by the EU commission as crucial for technological development, often in industries like electronics and renewable energy, that are limited in supply. Many of these can be found in significant amounts in mining tailings or landfills, due to challenges in their recovery. This PhD position focuses on advancing membrane technology for the treatment of mining tailings, with the aim of improving the recovery of CRMs and enabling water remediation and reuse. The project will use membrane distillation and membrane-assisted crystallization approaches, aiming to create more efficient, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly processes. The goal is to investigate modification of commercial membranes to enhance their hydrophobicity, fouling resistance, and selectivity and combine membrane technologies with thermodynamic simulations, to optimize the recovery of valuable metals and other materials from tailings.

The position is funded by the Doctoral Networks Program, part of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA). The project ‘CRITERIA – CRItical raw material treatment and recovery from mining tailings and waste dumps’ is offering 13 PhD positions, and the candidates will take part in an intricate research and training program involving several academic and industrial partners. In this position, the candidate will take part in secondments at PoliTo and UniCal (Italy) and industry.

Supervision: Dr. Fred Marques Penha and Dr. Michael Svärd is proposed to supervise the doctoral student. Decisions are made on admission

What we offer

• The possibility to study in a dynamic and international research environment in collaboration with industries and prominent universities from all over the world.
• A workplace with many employee benefits and monthly salary according to KTH’s Doctoral student salary agreement.
• A postgraduate education at an institution that is active and supportive in matters pertaining to working conditions, gender equality and diversity as well as study environment.
• Work and study in Stockholm, close to nature and the water.
• Help to relocate and be settled in Sweden and at KTH.

Admission requirements

To be admitted to postgraduate education (Chapter 7, 39 § Swedish Higher Education Ordinance), the applicant must have basic eligibility in accordance with either of the following:

• passed a second cycle degree (for example a master's degree), or
• completed course requirements of at least 240 higher education credits, of which at least 60 second-cycle higher education credits, or
• acquired, in some other way within or outside the country, substantially equivalent knowledge
• In order to be granted MSCA funding, applicants must, at the time of application, not have stayed in Sweden for studies or work for longer than 12 months during the last 3 years.

In addition to the above, there is also a mandatory requirement for English equivalent to English B/6.

Selection

In order to succeed as a doctoral student at KTH you need to be goal oriented and persevering in your work. During the selection process, candidates will be assessed upon their ability to:

• independently pursue their work (self-motivated and organized)
• communication and teamwork skills to collaborate with diverse academic and industry partners
• have a professional approach
• problem-solving and experimental skills, with a focus on industrial applications
• analyse and work with complex issues

It is a merit if you have previous experience/knowledge in:

• Membrane separations and polymeric materials
• Familiarity with membrane distillation and membrane-assisted crystallization
• Membrane surface modification
• Chemical speciation and thermodynamic modelling

Candidates are expected to have a strong foundation in chemical engineering or materials science. Experience of membrane separation processes, membrane modification and/or mining tailings is highly desirable. Experience of water treatment technologies or industrial wastewater treatment would be an added advantage. The candidate must have strong analytical skills and be comfortable with lab work. Willingness to engage in secondments at industrial and academic partners to gain practical and interdisciplinary experience is a must.

After the qualification requirements, great emphasis will be placed on personal skills. 

Target degree: Doctoral degree

Information regarding admission and employment

Only those admitted to postgraduate education may be employed as a doctoral student. The total length of employment may not be longer than what corresponds to full-time doctoral education in four years ' time. An employed doctoral student can, to a limited extent (maximum 20%), perform certain tasks within their role, e.g. training and administration. A new position as a doctoral student is for a maximum of one year, and then the employment may be renewed for a maximum of two years at a time. In the case of studies that are to be completed with a licentiate degree, the total period of employment may not be longer than what corresponds to full-time doctoral education for two years.

Union representatives

Contact information for union representatives.

Doctoral section (Students’ union on KTH Royal Institute of Technology)

Contact information for doctoral section.

To apply for the position

Apply for the position and admission through KTH's recruitment system. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that the application is complete in accordance with the instructions in the advertisement.

Applications must be received at the last closing date at midnight, CET/CEST (Central European Time/Central European Summer Time).

Applications must include the following elements:

• CV including your relevant professional experience and knowledge.
• Application letter with a brief description of why you want to pursue research studies, about what your academic interests are and how they relate to your previous studies and future goals. (Maximum 2 pages long)
• Copies of diplomas and grades from previous university studies and certificates of fulfilled language requirements (see above). Translations into English or Swedish if the original document is not issued in one of these languages.Copies of originals must be certified.
• Representative publications or technical reports. For longer documents, please provide a summary (abstract) and a web link to the full text.

Other 

Striving towards gender equality, diversity and equal conditions is both a question of quality for KTH and a given part of our values.

For information about processing of personal data in the recruitment process.

According to The Protective Security Act (2018-585), the candidate must undergo and pass security vetting if the position is placed in a security class. Information regarding whether the position is subject to such a classification will be provided during the recruitment process.

We firmly decline all contact with staffing and recruitment agencies and job ad salespersons.

Disclaimer: In case of discrepancy between the Swedish original and the English translation of the job announcement, the Swedish version takes precedence.

About KTH

KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm has grown to become one of Europe’s leading technical and engineering universities, as well as a key centre of intellectual talent and innovation. We are Sweden’s largest technical research and learning institution and home to students, researchers and faculty from around the world. Our research and education covers a wide area including natural sciences and all branches of engineering, as well as architecture, industrial management, urban planning, history and philosophy. Read more here

1. Frederico Marques Penha, fremp@kth.se
2. Michael Svärd, micsva@kth.se