PhD student in functional materials for REEs separation

PhD student in functional materials for rare earths extraction and separation

Admission to Ph.D. studies in the subject Earth Sciences with Specialization in Hydrology

Would you like to be a part of the Uppsala University and working with the support of competent and friendly colleagues in an international environment? If so, we welcome you to apply for a PhD position in Hydrology 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 doctoral 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. This includes developing nanostructured materials by combining abundant macromolecule lignin with inorganic oxides. The research aims to synthesize these 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 doctoral 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. The Ph.D. student will be working under the main supervision of Assistant Professor Tetyana Budnyak. The project is supported by Tetyana Budnyak’s Starting Grant from the Swedish Research Council.

Duties

The main duties of doctoral students are to devote themselves to their research studies which includes participating in research projects and third cycle courses. The work duties can also include teaching and other departmental duties (no more than 20%).

The work tasks will include the design and development of functional materials, investigation of their properties and performance in simulated and natural ores and mining tailing systems.

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

• -hold a Master’s (second-cycle) degree in physical chemistry, organic chemistry, materials science, surface science, geochemistry or related fields
• 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.

Applicants expecting to obtain their MSc in the near future are also encouraged to apply.

PhD student needs to be able to work effectively both individually and in groups, to manage and run scientific projects and to simultaneously interact with other researchers. We are looking for a PhD student who has a strong motivation to complete doctoral studies in this interdisciplinary subject, where he/she in a focused way takes on the tasks. We expect PhD student to be proficient in oral and written English in order to interact and communicate effectively with all employees as well as to publish internationally.

Additional qualifications

It will be an advantage, although not a requirement if the candidate has some experience in one or more of the following fields:

• experience with metals extraction, adsorption or separation techniques,
• physicochemical materials characterization
• science visualization skills (3D rendering skills, MatLab, etc.)

We attach great importance to personal qualities and are interested in individuals who are determined, structured, well-organized, possess strong analytical abilities, and have an interest in project planning and leadership.

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

Your application should include the following:

• A brief personal letter where you briefly describe yourself, why you want to become a PhD student and why you are suitable for the position
• A CV/résume (max 2 pages)
• Certified copies of your Master’s degree and course grades
• Copies (or drafts thereof) of thesis work and other documents, such as publications, which you wish to invoke.
• 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 %. Starting date 2025-03-01 or as agreed. Placement: Uppsala

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

Please submit your application by 30 December 2024, UFV-PA 2024/4157.

Are you considering moving to Sweden to work at Uppsala University? Find out more about what it´s like to work and live in Sweden.