PhD student in Industrial Engineering - Hydrogen supply systems - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

Are you interested in working with next-generation zero-emission fuels and contributing to sustainable shipping? Do you want to join a dynamic research team in close collaboration with industry and international partners? Welcome to apply for a doctoral position at Uppsala University.

The Department of Civil and Industrial Engineering consists of three divisions: Quality Science, Industrial Engineering and Mangement, and Civil Engineering and Built Environment. The department has approximately 100 employees and conducts its research and education both at the Ångström Laboratory in Uppsala and at Campus Gotland. For more information, see the department's website. This position will belong to the Division of Quality Science and be located at Campus Gotland in Visby.

At Campus Gotland, research focuses on the use of hydrogen in the transport sector, particularly on the design of efficient hydrogen supply systems for the maritime sector. At the Division of Quality Science we have over four years built up a research environment around the use of hydrogen and its supply system, the research is primarily focused on shipping and its conversion to fossil-free, but applications in road transport and work machines are also studied. The work is carried out in close collaboration with other universities and research institutes as well as with industry. For more information see the website of the divison.

As a doctoral student, you will be part of a interdisciplinary research environment. You will also participate in doctoral courses, seminars, and receive first-class doctoral supervision.

The research subject Industrial Engineering is a broad, interdisciplinary subject covering several areas, ranging from organization and management, innovation and entrepreneurship, and industrial and social marketing in technology- and innovation-intensive activities, to automation and optimization, machine design, production, and production systems.

Project Description
This PhD position is part of the research project “Compressed Hydrogen in Marine Propulsion Systems: Temperature Evolution and Structural Integrity of Onboard Components”, funded by Trafikverket.

The maritime sector carries over 80% of global trade but its emissions continue to rise. Compressed gaseous hydrogen (CGH₂) offers a promising zero-emission fuel, yet poses challenges such as large temperature swings during bunkering and operation. These fluctuations, combined with hydrogen embrittlement, place significant stress on tanks and piping, affecting durability and safety.

The goal of this PhD project is to increase knowledge of thermodynamic and material processes in marine hydrogen propulsion systems and to develop predictive models that ensure safe and efficient use of hydrogen at sea. you will join a research group dedicated to large-scale hydrogen supply and storage systems.

Duties
Your work will include among others:

• Thermodynamic modeling and time-dependent simulations of hydrogen bunkering and transfer systems on board ships.
• Analysis of temperature development, mass and energy balances, and flow/pressure variations during fueling and operation.
• Material testing and evaluation of composite tanks and steel piping under cyclic thermal and hydrogen exposure.
• Predictive modeling of material degradation, fatigue, and embrittlement.
• Assessment of thermal management strategies, such as insulation and active heating/cooling, to improve system safety and efficiency.

The main duty of a doctoral student is to devote themselves to their doctoral education, which includes participation in research projects as well as doctoral courses. The duties may also include participation in teaching and other departmental work, however, to a maximum of 20% of the working time.

Requirements
To meet the entry requirements for doctoral studies, you must:

• hold a Master’s (second-cycle) degree or,
• 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.

Qualification Requirements

• Master of Science in Engineering or Master in Industrial Engineering, or alternatively Marine Engineering, Energy Engineering, Chemical Engineering or other Master's programs with a strong focus on marine engineering, thermodynamics, energy engineering or system modelling.
• Solid knowledge in mathematics, physics, thermodynamics, energy technology, optimization, and programming for system modelling, with experience in tools such as Matlab, or Python.
• Excellent command of spoken and written English.

Additional qualifications

• Experience with modelling, simulation, and optimization of energy systems.
• Experience in thermodynamic analysis, particularly of hydrogen or other gaseous energy carriers.
• Familiarity with CFD tools.
• Experience of interdisciplinary collaboration with industry or applied research environments.
•  

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

Application
Apply via the link below. Please answer the questions asked. We also want you to attach your CV, copies of diplomas and transcripts, Master’s thesis and any other relevant documents you wish to refer to (e.g., publications). Please also provide contact details of reference persons and/or attach letters of recommendation.

About the Employment
The position is a temporary employment according to the Higher Education Ordinance, Chapter 5, Section 7. Full-time employment. Start date: 1 January 2026 or as agreed. Location: Visby (Campus Gotland).

For more information about the position, please contact: Björn Samuelsson, bjorn.a.samuelsson@angstrom.uu.se, phone: +46 (0)70 370 3971.

Welcome with your application no later than 10 November 2025, UFV-PA 2025/3127.

About Campus Gotland: Uppsala University Campus Gotland offers the best of two worlds: the fullscale university’s broad offering and weight and a unique, small-scale campus in an interdisciplinary research environment. Campus Gotland is a hub for the University’s research and education in sustainability.  Find out what it’s like to live on Gotland.