Postdoctoral position in functional materials for rare earths extraction and separation

Postdoctoral position in functional materials for rare earths extraction and separation 

Would you like to be a part of the Uppsala University and working with synthesis and characterization n with the support of competent and friendly colleagues in an international environment? If so, we welcome you to apply for a Postdoc position with a focus on the functional materials for rare earth elements extraction and separation at Uppsala University.

The Department of Earth Sciences at Uppsala University is Sweden"s largest and most versatile department of its kind. Today we are approximately 280 employees. Our activities are interdisciplinary and combine natural science and technology with social science. We have research programs in air, water and landscape science; geophysics; natural resources and sustainable development; petrology, mineralogy and tectonics; paleobiology, and wind energy. By investigating the history of Earth, we understand how our planet has developed over time and how sustainable development benefits from this knowledge.

The research program in Air, Water and Landscape Science (LUVAL), 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. Our activities are interdisciplinary and combine natural science and technology with social science. For more information: The Department of Earth Sciences

The department coordinates a nationwide research centre for the exploration of critical raw materials (for 2024-2029), supported by the Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research (SSF) and global players in this field. While the focus will be on new solutions covering a wide range of topics and scales from geology, geophysics, geochemistry, mineral economy, drilling, tech-type solutions for effective exploration, to nanotech for geometallurgical applications, there are also aspects related to ESGs (environmental, social and governance). The centre has a number of core partners from Stockholm University, Lund University and University of Gothenburg as well as Tyréns, Epiroc, Smarkand2015, Amkvo, BitSim, Nordic Iron Ore, Eurobattery Minerals and First Quantum Minerals and is supported by Nordic Geological Surveys and several global exploration and mining companies. The postdoctoral position will be placed within the Air, water and landscape sciences program of the Department.

Project description

Rare earth elements (REEs) play a crucial role in modern technologies, including renewable energy systems, electric vehicles, and advanced electronics, making their extraction and separation of strategic importance. Globally, the demand for REEs is rapidly increasing, while their supply remains limited due to complex extraction processes and geopolitical challenges. In Sweden, with its rich mineral resources and commitment to sustainable technologies, the extraction and separation of REEs hold significant potential to strengthen Europe’s supply chain resilience and reduce dependency on imports. Addressing these challenges aligns with Sweden’s goals for sustainable resource management and innovation, making research in this field both timely and impactful.

The project focuses on developing new methods for extracting and separating critical elements.  The research aims to synthesize new innovative materials and strategically enhance their performance by introducing functional groups and ligands. These modifications will improve the materials’ ability to extract critical raw materials, such as REEs, and selectively separate those from inorganic impurities commonly found in mining tailings. By integrating advanced material design with chemical functionalization, the project seeks to contribute to the advancement of separation technologies and water remediation solutions, addressing critical environmental and industrial challenges.  

This position involves close collaboration between the Department of Earth Sciences and the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at Uppsala University. The project is linked to the Smart Exploration Research Center at Uppsala University (https://www.smartexploration.se) and expects collaboration with ongoing projects in the multidisciplinary research group of WISE-KAW Fellow Tetyana Budnyak. The linkage to cross-cutting environments and programs provides a unique opportunity for access to the knowledge and infrastructure of both departments. It opens possibilities to broadly collaborate with Earth Sciences and Materials Sciences and Engineering programs. 

Duties
The work duties include synthesis and characterization of functional mineral-based materials, including their textural properties, morphology, other surface characteristics, and thermal properties; testing of materials for sorption-related applications within our current research areas; development of separation methods for REEs from other elements in mining tailings and deposits. 

Requirements
PhD degree in Physical or Analytical Chemistry, or a closely related discipline or a foreign degree equivalent to a PhD degree in the above mentioned fields. The degree needs to be obtained by the time of the decision of employment. Those who have obtained a PhD degree three years prior to the application deadline are primarily considered for the employment. The starting point of the three-year frame period is the application deadline. Due to special circumstances, the degree may have been obtained earlier. The three-year period can be extended due to circumstances such as sick leave, parental leave, duties in labour unions, etc.

Documented knowledge and experience on developing separation and preconcentration procedures, experimental design, and analytical method development for REEs separation; solid skills in instrumentation operation of Inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES), Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), Spectrophotometry is necessary for the position.

Very good oral and written communication skills in English are required.

Additional qualifications

We place great importance on personal qualities. It is an advantage to be self-motivated, proactive, and capable of independently planning and managing projects. It is also a merit to be pedagogical, structured, and able to work effectively both independently and in teams. The ability to collaborate and communicate easily with individuals from different disciplines is highly valued.

Strong oral and written communication skills are essential, including the ability to write scientific and academic texts effectively.

About the employment
The employment is a temporary position of 2 years according to central collective agreement. Full time position. Starting date 15 August or as agreed. Placement: Uppsala

For further information about the position, please contact: Asst. Prof. Tetyana Budnyak, Tetyana.budnyak@geo.uu.se

Please submit your application by 26 May 2025, UFV-PA 2025/1523.

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