UPCYCLE is a MSCA Doctoral Network of 6 universities and 8 companies from 6 European countries funded by the European Commission. The scope of the project is to generate a cohort of 15 well-trained young researchers with a unique multi-disciplinary set of skills, not limited to technical ones, with the goal of making them the future research leaders or entrepreneurs capable of bringing forward a paradigm shift in the treatment and valorization of hard-to-recycle biogenic waste.
15 fully-funded PhD positions are available at the partner institutions, offering researchers a unique opportunity to develop their skills and knowledge in a stimulating environment that bridges academia and industry. The recruited researchers will be trained for 3 years and will receive the PhD degree from the hosting institution.
UPCYCLE will train the next generation of professionals in the upscaling of deep conversion technologies for hard-to-recycle biogenic waste and will provide innovative tools for the design of feasible waste upcycle solutions to high-value secondary materials. Such ambition will be achieved by developing an integrated methodology combining cutting-edge experimental and modelling techniques at various scales (molecular, reactor and process) and by covering the entire value chain in continuity with relevant stakeholders. Several priority waste streams will be targeted, namely highly contaminated and poorly reactive sewage sludge and products from wastewater treatment, as well as lignocellulosic materials.
The project aims to develop an integrated methodology using advanced experimental and modeling techniques across different scales while engaging relevant stakeholders. It will focus on processing priority waste streams, including contaminated sewage sludge, wastewater treatment byproducts, and polluted lignocellulosic materials.
Applications are invited for 15 Ph.D. positions (DC1-DC15) available in 6 European Universities:
The Doctoral Network provides exceptional opportunities for interdisciplinary research, collaboration with top-tier scientists, engineers, and industry leaders, and extensive international experience through structured secondments and workshops.
The recruited researchers will be trained for 3 years and will be enrolled to a 3-year Ph.D programme at the host institution. Two secondment periods are foreseen for each candidate: a 12-month secondment at co-hosting academic institution and a 3 month secondment at one of the Associated industrial Partners:
List of open positions
The methodology of UPCYCLE relies on a multi-scale approach, with open positions in the following areas:
Molecular scale
- Development of detailed chemistry models for HTC/HTL of hard-to-recycle biogenic waste streams (DC3; POLIMI, ULJ)* contact: [email protected]
- Development of detailed chemistry models for pyrolysis/gasification of hard-to-recycle biogenic waste streams (DC4; POLIMI, TUDa)* contact: [email protected]
- Development of new catalytic routes to valorize contaminated wood through multifunctional materials (DC10; URJC, POLIMI)* contact: [email protected]
- Catalytic wet air oxidation (CWAO) of non-recyclable aqueous steams (DC11; URJC, UROME)* contact: [email protected]
- Thermochemical conversion of contaminated biogenic waste at molecular/lab scale for kinetic modelling (DC12; UROME, URJC)* contact: [email protected]
Reactor scale
- Circular economy oriented R-CFD for complex feedstocks by predicting fate of inorganics (DC5; ULJ, KUL)* contact: [email protected]
- Experimental characterization of reactive zone in pyrolysis/gasification reactor with focus on engineering aspects (DC6; ULJ, UROME)* contact: [email protected]
- Multiscale reduced-order modelling of reactors for thermal conversion of contaminated solid wastes (DC9; KUL, URJC)* contact: [email protected]
- Valorisation of contaminated biogenic waste in HTL/HTC lab-scale plants (DC13; UROME, TUDa)* contact: [email protected]
- High-fidelity CFD simulations for pyrolysis/gasification reactors of contaminated lignocellulosic biomasses (DC14; TUDa, POLIMI)*: contact: [email protected]
Process scale
- Resource recovery from hard-to-recycle biogenic waste: process assessment and value chain integration (DC1; POLIMI, TUDa)* contact: [email protected]
- Resource recovery from hard-to-recycle biogenic waste: valorisation routes downstream of deep conversion processes (DC2; POLIMI, KUL)* contact: [email protected]
- Establishing industrial symbiosis in full-scale HTC and HTL through process flexibility (DC7; ULJ, POLIMI)* contact: [email protected]
- Sustainability assessment of novel conversion routes of biological sludge and contaminated waste wood (DC8; KUL, TUDa)* contact: [email protected]
- TEA/LCA of thermodynamic process modeling for pyrolysis/gasification of contaminated wooden biomass (DC15; TUDa, KUL)* contact: [email protected]
* indicated in brackets: (Doctoral Candidate internal number; Supervising institution, Co-supervising institution)
INTENDED STARTING DATE: September-October 2025
DURATION: 36 months
Application deadline: April 30th, 2025 at 11:59 PM CET
Eligibility criteria
Candidates must fulfil the following minimum eligibility criteria:
- They do not hold a Ph.D. degree at the start of their assignment at host institution.
- They have not resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the country of host institution for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before their date of recruitment.
- Must fulfil the conditions for enrolment to PhD programme at the host institution. For details about the criteria, please refer to detailed description of positions found at https://www.upcycle-project.eu/ or contact [email protected]
For all recruitments, the eligibility of the researcher will be determined at the date of their first recruitment in the action. Date of Recruitment means the first day of the employment of the researcher for the purposes of the action (i.e. the starting date indicated in the employment contract).
Skills
Each DC position has its own specific research activities. Please refer to https://www.upcycle-project.eu/ for detailed descriptions of individual DC positions.
Salary
Fully funded positions with gross monthly salary:
- Politecnico di Milano: €3,311/month
- University of Ljubljana: €2,830/month
- KU Leuven: €2,986/month
- Universidad Rey Juan Carlos: €3,104/month
- Università degli Studi di Roma “La Sapienza”: €3,311/month
- TU Darmstadt: €3000/month
Candidates are eligible also of 660 €/month family supplement, if applicable. The net salary depends on specific Country National taxation and social security contribution.
Key responsibilities
- Carry out their research projects within 36 months culminating in a PhD thesis.
- Participate in Secondments both in Academia and Industry.
- Participate in research and training activities within the UPCYCLE network.
- Disseminate their research in the scientific community and through public engagement activities ensuring visibility.
Procedure
The selection process will have two phases: a first curricular phase and a second interview phase for the shortlisted candidates of the first phase. Details about the second phase will be made available to the candidates by the evaluation committees.
Required documentation (see below link to application form)
Candidates are requested to submit the following documents:
- Application form with privacy consent (available on project website)
- Detailed CV (based on European format)
- List of publications (including MSc thesis)
- Copy of up to three selected publications (if available)
- Copy of academic degree/diploma and/or academic transcripts (course grade/subject scores) at the time of application
- Certificate of English language
- Signed copy of passport or ID card copy
- Motivation letter
- Two recommendation letters
- Research proposal: a document with no more than 8,000 characters (excluding references) describing a potential research activity pertinent to the specific topic of the DC to be recruited
Any application that is not compliant to the above will not be considered for the selection process.
Where to apply
Please, find the application form at this link: https://www.upcycle-project.eu/apply/
Work Location
Each PhD candidate will be employed by one of the six universities and will spend a secondment period in a partner university inside the UPCYCLE project.
For details on the job locations visit our website: https://www.upcycle-project.eu/
