Luleå University of Technology is in strong growth with world-leading competence in several research areas. We shape the future through innovative education and ground-breaking research results, and based on the Arctic region, we create global social benefit. Our scientific and artistic research and education are conducted in close collaboration with international, national and regional companies, public actors and leading universities. Luleå University of Technology has a total turnover of SEK 2 billion per year. We currently have 1,500 employees and 17,900 students. In the coming years, multi-billion investments will be made in large projects in Northern Sweden to create a fossil-free society both nationally and globally. Luleå University of Technology is involved in several of these cutting-edge research projects and in the societal transformation that they entail. We offer a broad range of courses and study programmes to match the skills in demand. We hope that you will help us to build the sustainable companies and societies of the future.

The Division of Energy Science is looking for a PhD candidate who wants to do a doctorate in the subject area of ​​energy engineering. Your research will focus on developing an increased understanding of how industries and parts of the society can be coupled to reach an increased resource and energy efficiency, increased redundancy, and an energy system that is as robust and resilient as possible. The work is based on methods for process integration, industrial symbiosis, and techno-economic analyses.

Energy Engineering belongs to the Division of Energy Science at the Department of Engineering Science and Mathematics, which is a subject-wise broad department with many successful research groups and recognized educational programs. The Division has close long-term collaborations with industries, companies and society in both research projects and student projects. The research is of a high international standard, and we collaborate with researchers worldwide. In the field of energy systems analysis, the research is focused on the transition to a more sustainable future, which includes studies related to new conversion technologies, process integration and policy instruments, as well as overall energy system aspects at local, national and supranational levels. We collaborate interdisciplinary with several social science disciplines.

The energy systems group, to which the selected candidate will belong, has a good national and international reputation and is a sought-after competence and partner in both academic and public contexts. The current research areas for the group are applied systems analysis, energy system optimization, sustainable energy transition, climate transition, scenario analysis. The selected candidate will also be included in CH2ESS (Centre for Hydrogen Energy Systems Sweden), a research- and competence center at Luleå University of Technology, in which you will be offered to join the Network of Young Scientists within CH2ESS.

Read more about CH2ESS

Subject description
Energy engineering includes technologies, processes and systems for a sustainable and cost-effective energy supply for industry and society. A large part of the research is focused on conversion technologies and energy system analysis.

Project description
The project “Resource and energy-efficient industrial clusters in Northern Sweden” takes a holistic perspective to create a supply system without unnecessary lock-in effects and sub-optimal solutions. There is a great need to increase knowledge on how resource- and energy-efficient, local and regional industrial clusters can be created through innovative material and energy exchanges. The project focuses on the industrial- and societal transformation in Northern Sweden as a case study to develop new knowledge about how innovative symbioses can contribute to a long-term sustainable, resilient and resource-efficient material and energy supply for both industry and society. An important part is also to investigate possible new business opportunities that can be created. The project is carried out by Luleå University of Technology and the research institute Swerim in close collaboration with the business community and municipalities. The project is funded by the Swedish Energy Agency, participating industries and companies, and municipalities. Read about the project here

Duties
A doctoral student position may involve both theoretical and practical work. As a doctoral student, you will be trained in scientific work in the form of publishing scientific articles in journals and at national and international conferences. You will also take mandatory and optional post-graduate courses. In addition, you may have the opportunity to develop pedagogical skills by teaching. As a researcher, you work as a neutral party in many contexts, which provides good opportunities to learn how to run challenging research projects.

The work in this doctoral position includes, among other things:

• collecting and analyzing relevant data and information,
• developing and using modeling tools for system analyses,
• performing techno-economic evaluations and scenario analyses,
• writing scientific articles and reports,
• disseminating knowledge via scientific and popular science presentations both nationally and internationally, and
• participating in seminar activities within the research group.

 Institutional duties may include, for example, lectures in appropriate graduate courses, as well as supervision of relevant student projects and degree theses.

Qualifications
Eligibility requires a Master of Science degree in engineering, or equivalent basic eligibility requirements, Higher Education Ordinance Chapter 7, Section 39, with a focus on mechanical engineering, energy engineering, engineering physics, industrial economics or equivalent. As the research is highly communicative, we require that you have good ability to express yourself in spoken and written English. As the project involves researchers from different disciplines, you should be able to demonstrate the ability to work in an interdisciplinary environment.

Qualifications for this position:

• Demonstrated understanding of energy systems and/or industrial energy processes
• Knowledge and skills in energy engineering and/or energy systems
• Ability to formulate and manage scientific problems.

 Merits for this position are

• Demonstrated experience in modeling energy systems
• Demonstrated experience in techno-economic evaluations
• Demonstrated experience in scenario analysis
• Documented knowledge of sustainable energy transition.
• Meet the criteria for a security-classified position
• Ability to understand Swedish and make yourself understood in a conversation in Swedish, as some information is only available in Swedish, and that there will be knowledge exchange with practitioners who do not always speak English.

For further information about the specific doctoral program:
Technical Sciences - Luleå University of Technology (ltu.se)

Information
Employment as a PhD student is limited to 4 years, teaching and other department duties may be added with max 20%. Placement: Luleå. Starting: by agreement.

For further information, please contact: Joakim Lundgren, Professor, 0920–49 13 07, joakim.lundgren@ltu.se

Union representatives:
SACO-S Diana Chroneer, (+46) 920-49 2037 diana.chroneer@ltu.se
OFR-S Lars Frisk, (+46) 920-49 1792 lars.frisk@ltu.se

In case of different interpretations of the English and Swedish versions of this announcement, the Swedish version takes precedence.

Application
We prefer that you apply for this position by clicking on the apply button below. The application should include a CV, Personal letter and copies of verified diplomas from high school and universities. Your application, including diplomas, must be written in English or Swedish. Mark your application with the reference number below.

Closing date for applications: February 14, 2025
Ref no: 4734 - 2024