PhD student in Environmental Science

We are now looking for a PhD in Environmental Science with focus on degradation of organic pollutants in biogas processes.

Your work assignments

The position for a doctoral student is announced as part of the research area "Digestion processes" within the Biogas Solutions Research Center (BSRC) hosted by LiU.

The main purpose of the PhD project is to investigate the fate of organic pollutants present in organic residues from sources such as agricultural, municipal and industrial activities and assess their fate and transformation in anaerobic digestion (AD) plants. Current understanding of the dynamics of macro and micropollutants in AD plants mainly refers to change of bulk properties. The proposed research aims to advance this science to knowledge of transformation processes at the molecular resolution. This knowledge will enable defining strategies to direct the degradation of these pollutants to harmless transformation products.

Mechanistic understanding of the dynamic transformation of complex biomass resources and pollutants in AD plants will enhance utilization of bioresources and generation of added-value products with targeted properties for various applications. One example of valorization of the effluents from AD systems (i.e. digestate) is production of dedicated biofertilizers as a green bioresource in the agriculture with potentials to substitute mineral fertilizers. Digestate quality and yield are of upmost important and will benefit from a molecular level understanding of the dynamics of organic matter and pollutants in AD plants. The project intends to promote circular bioeconomy principles, significant in advancing green technologies.

You will study the molecular complexity of organic matter to elucidate pathways underlying the anaerobic transformation of macro and micropollutants and to develop strategies for enhancing their degradation in AD systems. Among the available analytical options, liquid chromatography with various detection modes, target and non-target mass spectrometry, and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy will be the main applied methods.

As a PhD student you will be expected to conduct independent research in line with the research focus. The work assignments particularly relate to the focus area on interplay between physicochemical and microbiological parameters with dynamics of organic matter and pollutants in anaerobic bioprocesses. Also, it includes the management and feeding of biogas reactors. This includes responsibility for research that involves planning, sampling, reactor maintenance, overall laboratory work connected to biogas processes, data processing and writing scientific articles.

You are expected to contribute to a positive, stimulating, and creative work environment at TEMA Environmental Change and BSRC. A requirement for the position is good knowledge of English, both spoken and written.

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

You have graduated at Master´s level or completed courses with a minimum of 240 credits, at least 60 of which must be on advanced level. Alternatively, you have gained essentially corresponding knowledge in another way. Special qualifications: 90 credits of your total credits should be in a subject of central importance to the research area. Relevant academic backgrounds are biotechnology, analytical chemistry, chemistry, chemical biology, microbiology, environmental science and technology, or equivalent.

Documented technical qualifications:
Practical experience and theoretical knowledge on/in:

• advanced analytical chemistry methods for organic matter characterization and pollutants measurements are highly merited.
• NMR spectroscopy, target and non-target mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography are highly merited.
• anaerobic bioprocesses is merited.
• microbial community analyses is merited.
• bioinformatics and statistics is merited.

Practical experience in operating and monitoring bioreactors is merited.

Capability to think in terms of chemical structures of molecules is merited.

Autonomous: Takes responsibility for own task. Structures own ways of tackling problems and pushes own processes through. Willing to learn new techniques or concepts and apply them in an interdisciplinary research environment.

Quality conscious: Is thorough and well aware of goals and standards of quality. Sets great importance that these goals are being met. Has strong attention to detail, the ability to keep comprehensive laboratory records and committed to producing high-quality work.

Ability to co-operate: Works well with other people. Relates to them in a sensitive way. Listens, communicates, solves conflicts constructively. Can operate supportively in a laboratory environment and take part in joint projects through co-operation and the exchange of information and skills.

Verbal communication: Speaks clearly, eloquently and engagingly in meetings one-on-one as well as in small and large. Listens and is receptive to their counterparts and adjusts to the situation.

Great emphasis will be placed on personal qualities and suitability.

Your workplace

Environmental Change carries out research and education on the interaction between environment and society in an analytically innovative way. Third cycle and first cycle studies specialising in environmental science are carried out at the department. First cycle studies include a bachelor's and a master's programme, as well as stand-alone courses and teacher-training courses in environment science, thematic natural science and geography.

TEMA Environmental Change performs research with a focus on process and technology development for improving biogas processes, with the aim of discovering new applications for resource-efficient and sustainable biogas solutions. We conduct research on anaerobic biotechnologies with particular focus on interplay between chemical, microbiological, and physical factors that govern the microbial degradation of organic matter in AD processes. The group is responsible for the operation of a biotechnology laboratory with access to bioreactors and a suite of analytical instruments for assessing the chemical, microbial and operational process parameters in anaerobic bioprocesses.

You will be part of a national, transdisciplinary center of excellence called Biogas Solutions Research Center (BSRC). Here, co-production of new and relevant knowledge is carried out through collaboration between different scientific disciplines as well as between researchers and practitioners from academia, industry and public organizations. The BSRC includes researchers and support from Linköping University and Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, about 50 private and public organizations involving all parts of the biogas production system and has additional support from Swedish Energy Agency.

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.

Background screening may come to 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 April 16 2025.

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