PhD student in flight logistics with focus on air traffic management and sustainable aviation fuels

We are looking for a PhD student in flight logistics with focus on air traffic management (ATM) and sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs). You will have the opportunity to work on research aimed at reducing aviation emissions through optimized flight routes and the use of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF). You will develop and implement advanced frameworks to calculate and optimize aircraft routes and emissions, as well as evaluate the potential for emission reductions in Sweden.

Your work assignments

You will work within the project “Reducing Aviation GHG Emissions: Optimized Routes, Drop-in Fuels, and Incentives”, in which we aim to illuminate the possibilities for emission reductions that can be achieved in the short to mid-term by using the combination of enhanced ATM and biofuels for aviation (that is, SAFs). This includes the development and implementation of a framework to compute emissions for a given set of flights, based on existing tools; the development and implementation of an optimization framework for aircraft routes (en-route and within the terminal maneuvering area); and the evaluation of the emission-reduction potential from today’s ATM system and from SAFs for Sweden.

You will also be included in the study of the interaction between different EU-level policy instruments (specifically, between EU-ETS and ReFuelEU Aviation) and suggestions for possible adjustments of policy instruments—your degree of inclusion in this part of the work will depend on interest and previous knowledge in this area. Finally, you will work on evaluating the combined emission-reduction potential including the possibly adapted policy instruments.

As a PhD student, you devote most of your time to doctoral studies and the research projects of which you are part. Your work may also include teaching or other departmental duties, up to a maximum of 20% of full-time.

Your qualifications

By the time for the employment, you have been awarded a second-cycle degree in Computer Science, Mathematics, Transport Systems, or similar; completed courses of at least 240 credits, of which at least 60 credits at second-cycle level in equivalent subjects; or in some other way acquired substantially equivalent knowledge.

For this employment it is strongly meritorious if you have earlier knowledge in programming, we also prefer if your have earlier experience in at least one of following areas; mathematical modelling, optimization, operations research, algorithms, economic analysis or with work within aviation and air transportation.

You are expected to have a good ability to communicate orally in English and a very good ability to communicate in written English. Ability to communicate orally and in writing in Swedish is an advantage.

We are looking for someone who takes initiative, takes responsibility for their tasks and drives processes forward with great perseverance to achieve results. We also like to see that you have good collaboration skills, being responsive to your surroundings and communicating well. You are a problem solver and work well with complex issues, understand complex written documents, and produce high-quality documents yourself. Furthermore, you have a good understanding of numerical data and solve numerical tasks quickly and easily.

Great emphasis will be placed on personal qualities and suitability.

Your workplace

You will belong to the Department of Science and Technology (ITN), which is beautifully placed in Norrköping. The department is known for its activities in logistics, visualization and organic electronics. We combine academic excellence with fruitful collaboration with the community. The position belongs to the Division of Communication and Transport Systems (KTS), which is one of the Nordic region's largest environments for research and education in the field of transport. Operations are conducted within the units Flight Logistics, Traffic Systems, Quantitative Logistics, Rail and Public Transport, Mobile Telecommunications, Construction Logistics and Construction Technology. The research is mainly externally funded and is carried out in close collaboration with industry, government agencies and society. In undergraduate education, we are responsible for six degree programmes. 

Within the Flight Logistics Unit, we use modelling, analysis, optimization, algorithms, and simulation to solve air-transportation, specifically, ATM, problems. Additionally, we work on problems of other transportation modes and on advanced geometric algorithms. In our research, we collaborate with external (industrial) stakeholders and are mainly financed from external bodies. In undergraduate education, we are responsible for many courses in the field of air transportation and logistics.

At Linköping University we have the power of over 40,000 students and co-workers. Students who provide hope for the future. Co-workers who contribute to Linköping University meeting the challenges of the day. Our fundamental values rest on credibility, trust and security. By having the courage to think freely and innovate, our actions together, large and small, contribute to a better world. We look forward to receiving your application!

The employment

When taking up the post, you will be admitted to the program for doctoral studies. More information about the doctoral studies at each faculty is available at Doctoral studies at Linköping University

The employment has a duration of four years’ full-time equivalent. You will initially be employed for a period of one year. The employment will subsequently be renewed for periods of maximum duration two years, depending on your progress through the study plan. The employment may be extended up to a maximum of five years, based on the amount of teaching and departmental duties you have carried out. Further extensions can be granted in special circumstances.

Starting date by agreement.

This position may come to be a security classified position. If so, security screening including a records check will be carried out before any decision on employment is made.

Salary and employment benefits

The salary of PhD students is determined according to a locally negotiated salary progression.

More information about employment benefits at Linköping University is available here.

Union representatives

Information about union representatives, see Help for applicants.

Application procedure

Apply for the position by clicking the “Apply” button below. Your application must reach Linköping University no later than 10th of January 2025.

Applications and documents received after the date above will not be considered.