Doctoral Position with focus on Hybrid Materials for Pollutants Mitigation - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

Would you like to be a part of the WISE – Wallenberg Initiative Material Science for Sustainability network? Are you interested in working with the valorization of biopolymers and natural minerals into advanced materials for groundwater, soil and sediments remediation, with the support of competent and friendly colleagues in an international environment? If so, we welcome you to apply for a Doctoral position with a focus on the development of nanostructured hybrid materials for pollutants mitigation at Uppsala University.

Admission to Doctoral (Postgraduate) Studies in the subject Engineering Sciences with Specialization in Nanotechnology and Functional Materials

Join us!

At the Department of Materials Science, we have an innovative and international research environment that tackles technical and socially relevant challenges. We work to find solutions in medical technology, environmental issues and energy, and other things that can lead to sustainable and improved living conditions for people. We have dedicated and knowledgeable employees who together lead research and conduct teaching at one of the department's divisions. These are: Solid State Physics, Biomedical Engineering, Microsystems Technology, Nanotechnology and Functional Materials, Solar Cell Technology, Applied Materials Science and Applied Mechanics. The department also includes Myfab, an infrastructure for cleanroom-based research.

The Department belongs to the Disciplinary Domain of Science and Technology and is located at the Ångström laboratory at Uppsala University.

About the division

The Division of Nanotechnology and Functional Materials (NFM) is part of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at the Ångström Laboratory. NFM has a strong scientific base built around designing, synthesizing and characterizing advanced materials for environmental and Clean Tech applications. It hosts research on development and investigation of correlations between functional materials structure, properties and performance. Find more information here

Project description

This doctoral position is part of a newly started research project in the frames of the WISE-recruitment package. This involves close collaboration between NFM and the Air, Water and Landscape Science Program (LUVAL) at the Department of Earth Sciences at Uppsala University. The linkage to cross-cutting environments and programs provides a unique opportunity for access to knowledge and infrastructure of both departments, and opens possibilities to broadly collaborate with other research groups in Materials Sciences and Engineering, Earth Sciences and within the WISE initiative through active participation in workshops and conferences organized by WISE and as a member of the WISE Graduate School.

Wallenberg Initiative Material Science for Sustainability (WISE) is a new research program of Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation and the largest-ever investment in materials science in Sweden. WISE aims to create conditions for a sustainable society by researching the next generation of eco-friendly materials and manufacturing processes, including the facilitation of better technologies for future materials to combat pollution and toxic emissions. Read more about WISE here

The Department of Earth Sciences, in particular the LUVAL research program, has a long tradition of research on contaminant transport, transport phenomena and remediation studies related to soil, groundwater and sediments, including close collaboration with partners in industry and society. The Department’s activities are interdisciplinary and combine natural science and technology with social science. For more information read here.

The main aim of the project is to design nanostructured hybrid composites from biopolymers and minerals for in situ immobilization of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and heavy metals accumulated in groundwater, soil and sediments. In the project, we will develop new green synthetic routes to combine the advantages of functional biopolymers and the unique structure and properties of natural minerals to achieve selective and effective extraction of target toxicants.

Duties

The main duties for a doctoral student are to devote themselves to their research studies which includes participating in the research project and third-cycle courses. The work duties can also include teaching and other departmental duties (no more than 20%).

When you are admitted to doctoral studies, you are offered employment as a doctoral student. A position as a doctoral student at Uppsala University corresponds to full-time postgraduate education for four years.

The work tasks include:

• elaborating protocols for controlled synthesis of biopolymers- and/or minerals-derived hybrid composites
• establishing a correlation between structural characteristics of the designed materials and their synthetic condition
• studying sorption activity of developed functional materials towards inorganic and organic toxicants

You work under the main supervision of Assistant Professor Tetyana Budnyak, with co-supervision of Professor Maria Strömme, Professor Fritjof Fagerlund and Professor Ian Snowball.

Requirements

Master’s degree or equivalent, in one of the following areas: chemical engineering, polymer chemistry, materials chemistry, organic chemistry, surface chemistry or related fields.

We require good oral and written skills in English.

To meet the entry requirements for doctoral studies, you must

• hold a Master’s (second-cycle) degree
• have completed at least 240 credits in higher education, with at least 60 credits at Master’s level including an independent project worth at least 15 credits, or
• have acquired substantially equivalent knowledge in some other way.

Rules governing PhD students are set out in the Higher Education Ordinance chapter 5, §§ 1-7 and in Uppsala University's rules and guidelines.

Additional qualifications
It will be an advantage, although not a requirement with some experience in one or more of the following fields:

• surface modification and composite synthesis
• material characterization techniques
• chromatography techniques
• solid phase extraction of organic and/or inorganic species
• science visualization skills (OriginLab, 3D rendering, etc

We are looking for you who are a creative person who is focused on solving problems with new techniques and methods. We believe you have a strong motivation to complete doctoral studies in this interdisciplinary subject, where you in a focused way takes on the tasks. You can easily learn new knowledge and concepts from other subject areas than your own specialization. We attach great importance to personal qualities and are looking for you who are an organized person with good analytical skills, interest in planning and leading own projects and who is capable of working both independently and in groups. Good oral and written communication skills, including good ability to write scientific and academic text, are very valuable.

Your application should include the following:

1) A personal letter where you briefly describe yourself, why you want to become a PhD student and why you are suitable for the position

2) CV (max 2 pages)

3) Certified copies of your Master’s degree and course grades

4) Copies (or drafts thereof) of thesis work and other documents, such as publications, which you wish to invoke.

5) Name and contact information to two persons who have agreed to act as references for you, alternatively, letter(s) of recommendation. Your relationship to each of the references should be stated.

About the employment

The employment is a temporary position according to the Higher Education Ordinance chapter 5 § 7. Scope of employment 100%. Salary: According to local agreement for PhD students. Starting date February 2024 or as agreed. Placement: Uppsala

Uppsala University strives to be an inclusive workplace that promotes equal opportunities and attracts qualified candidates who can contribute to the University’s excellence and diversity. We welcome applications from all sections of the community and from people of all backgrounds.

For further information about the position, please contact: Assistant Professor Tetyana Budnyak (Tetyana.Budnyak@angstrom.uu.se)

Please submit your application by 11 December 2023, UFV-PA 2023/4134.

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