Doctoral student in Sustainable scaling of seaweed production and processing

Project description

Third-cycle subject: Industrial Ecology

This PhD project is a collaborative knowledge exchange initiative between Sweden (KTH Royal Institute of Technology and the FORMAS-funded Blue Food Centre) and China (Shanghai Jiao Tong University). The project focuses on the sustainable scaling of blue food production and processing. KTH brings its expertise in sustainability assessments of the emerging European seaweed industry, the Blue Food Centre brings a vital network of key Swedish seafood producers and retailers, while SJTU has extensive experience in large-scale blue food production in China. The PhD student will play a pivotal role in bridging these areas of expertise, facilitating critical knowledge exchange between the institutions.

Much of the focus of the project will be on conducting LCAs of the highest possible calibre and impact to ensure the sustainable scaling. This will involve the careful nurturing of relationships with blue food industry stakeholders from different cultures, adaptive collaboration with them to identify and collect relevant data, complex LCA and environmental modelling task, and effective synthesis and communication of results. The potential impact of this position is such that it could be critical to ensuring the sector remains low impact and upholds its environmentally positive mission. The position will also involve part-time teaching at the department, and will involve travel in Europe and China.

We are seeking a highly motivated individual with a background in life cycle assessment and some experience in algae or blue food production systems.

Supervision: Fredrik Gröndahl (KTH, SEED), Jean-Baptiste Thomas (KTH, SEED) and Ji Li (Shanghai Jiao Tong University) are proposed to supervise the doctoral student. Decisions are made on admission

What we offer

• The possibility to study in a dynamic and international research environment in collaboration with industries and prominent universities from all over the world.
• A workplace with many employee benefits and monthly salary according to KTH’s Doctoral student salary agreement.
• A postgraduate education at an institution that is active and supportive in matters pertaining to working conditions, gender equality and diversity as well as study environment.
• Work and study in Stockholm, close to nature and the water.
• Help to relocate and be settled in Sweden and at KTH.

Admission requirements

To be admitted to postgraduate education (Chapter 7, 39 § Swedish Higher Education Ordinance), the applicant must have basic eligibility in accordance with either of the following:

• passed a second cycle degree (for example a master's degree), or
• completed course requirements of at least 240 higher education credits, of which at least 60 second-cycle higher education credits, or
• acquired, in some other way within or outside the country, substantially equivalent knowledge

In addition to the above, there is also a mandatory requirement for English equivalent to English B/6.

Selection

In order to succeed as a doctoral student at KTH you need to be goal oriented and persevering in your work. During the selection process, candidates will be assessed upon their ability to:

• independently pursue his or her work
• collaborate with others,
• have a professional approach and
• analyse and work with complex issues.

Preferred qualifications

• Prior research, teaching and/or industrial production experience is desirable.
• Proficiency in Swedish and Chinese (Mandarin or Cantonese) is an advantage.
• Experience conducting LCAs of complex systems.
• Basic competence in python and R.

After the qualification requirements, great emphasis will be placed on personal skills. 

Target degree: Doctoral degree

Information regarding admission and employment

Only those admitted to postgraduate education may be employed as a doctoral student. The total length of employment may not be longer than what corresponds to full-time doctoral education in four years ' time. An employed doctoral student can, to a limited extent (maximum 20%), perform certain tasks within their role, e.g. training and administration. A new position as a doctoral student is for a maximum of one year, and then the employment may be renewed for a maximum of two years at a time. In the case of studies that are to be completed with a licentiate degree, the total period of employment may not be longer than what corresponds to full-time doctoral education for two years.

Union representatives

Contact information for union representatives.

Doctoral section (Students’ union on KTH Royal Institute of Technology)

Contact information for doctoral section.

To apply for the position

Apply for the position and admission through KTH's recruitment system. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that the application is complete in accordance with the instructions in the advertisement.

Applications must be received at the last closing date at midnight, CET/CEST (Central European Time/Central European Summer Time).

Applications must include the following elements:

• CV including your relevant professional experience and knowledge.
• Application letter with a brief description of why you want to pursue research studies, about what your academic interests are and how they relate to your previous studies and future goals. (Maximum 2 pages long)
• Copies of diplomas and grades from previous university studies and certificates of fulfilled language requirements (see above). Translations into English or Swedish if the original document is not issued in one of these languages.Copies of originals must be certified.
• Representative publications or technical reports. For longer documents, please provide a summary (abstract) and a web link to the full text.

Other information

Striving towards gender equality, diversity and equal conditions is both a question of quality for KTH and a given part of our values.

For information about processing of personal data in the recruitment process.

According to The Protective Security Act (2018-585), the candidate must undergo and pass security vetting if the position is placed in a security class. Information regarding whether the position is subject to such a classification will be provided during the recruitment process.

We firmly decline all contact with staffing and recruitment agencies and job ad salespersons.

Disclaimer: In case of discrepancy between the Swedish original and the English translation of the job announcement, the Swedish version takes precedence.

About KTH

KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm has grown to become one of Europe’s leading technical and engineering universities, as well as a key centre of intellectual talent and innovation. We are Sweden’s largest technical research and learning institution and home to students, researchers and faculty from around the world. Our research and education covers a wide area including natural sciences and all branches of engineering, as well as architecture, industrial management, urban planning, history and philosophy. Read more here

1. Jean-Baptiste Thomas, jbthomas@kth.se