PhD student in computer science (or related area) with focus on ontology interaction for circular economy

For contributing to a more sustainable and circular future, and at the same time getting a PhD – consider applying for this position!

Your work assignments

The PhD position is part of an interdisciplinary research project called “c/o Glass - making flat glass circular in the built environment sector”. Flat glass is a well-used material in the construction industry but has traditionally been disposed as landfill. New initiatives to create a circular flow of flat glass has the potential to largely contribute to improved environmental performance of the built environment but many challenges remain, particularly related to data sharing between actors in the supply chain. This project will study how digital product passports (DPP), and ontology-based platforms for collecting and interpreting such data, can facilitate data sharing among actors involved in a new circular flow of flat glass.

Within the project, two PhD students, one at the Department of Computer and Information Science (with computer science, or possibly design or cognitive science as main subject) and one at Tema Technology and Social Change, will collaborate to jointly reach the objectives of the project. More specifically the PhD student at the Department of Computer and Information Science will focus on the usability and interaction with semantic technologies. Based on the semantic web technology stack for implementing DPPs, and an ontology-based data sharing platform developed in earlier projects, the student will develop interfaces for interacting with the ontologies, and related datasets, in a user-focused manner. This will involve both interfaces for operating on the ontologies themselves, e.g. to understand their definitions, and to extend and modify them, as well as to properly reflect the evolution of processes and practices that will take place in the glass value chain. Additionally, interfaces for making use of the ontologies in other tasks should be studied, such as the assessment of reuse and recycling potential of specific glass objects, e.g. when doing a building inventory, and providing mappings and sharing data between stakeholders. These interfaces will be based on needs and requirements identified in the project use cases. The main contributions will be new knowledge on what interface designs appropriately allow interaction with the underlying technologies, as well as opportunities and barriers for further applications and adoption, also beyond the case of flat glass and beyond the construction industry.

You are expected to closely collaborate with other researchers both within computer science and other fields, in particular the PhD student in Technology and Social Change, and independently conduct research in line with the focus of the project. As a part of the PhD you are required to write and publish scientific articles, that will be part of your PhD thesis, contribute to project reporting, present your work at scientific conferences and project meetings, as well as internal and external seminars.

As a PhD student, you devote most of your time to doctoral studies (including PhD courses of at least 60 credits) and the research project 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 in computer science, or a closely related field, or completed courses with a minimum of 240 credits, at least 60 of which must be in advanced courses in computer science or a closely related field. Alternatively, you have gained essentially corresponding knowledge in another way.

Documented basic knowledge of programming, preferably interaction and/or web programming, and human-computer interaction is required. Experience and/or knowledge of semantic web technologies, such as ontologies and semantic web standards, as well as graph data and knowledge graphs, and circular economy and DPPs is preferential. Documented experience of writing and publishing research papers, communicating research results at conferences, and acquiring or carrying out research projects is also considered a merit.

Research will be conducted in English, whereby excellent spoken and written English is a requirement. Knowledge of Swedish is considered beneficial.

We are looking for a candidate with great collaboration skills, who is communicative and listens to others, with ability to create and grow professional relations. You are used to working independently, take responsibility for your own tasks and drive them forward with energy and engagement. You are loyal to the goals of both the organisation as a whole and its values, as well as the project funding the PhD position, and you contribute a positive attitude. In addition, you are always creative and innovative – you see new possibilities, think in new ways, and transform ideas into realistic practices. 

The application must contain, in addition to your CV, application letter summarising how you meet the above qualifications, and any documents you wish to be considered, a research proposal of maximum three (3) pages. The research proposal should be based on the brief description above, and propose a PhD project in line with the overall project aim, that fits your competence and experience. The proposal should contain a description of current literature on which you would base your research, both methodologically and in terms of the concrete PhD topic. The applicants that are invited for an interview will potentially be asked to additionally present a work sample.

Note that the research proposal will not constitute the actual topic of the PhD project, but is merely to be considered for assessment purposes in the recruitment process.

Your workplace

The Department of Computer and Information Science was founded in 1983 but its roots go back to the early 1970s. It is one of the largest computer science departments in northern Europe. Our research covers a broad spectrum of fields, from core to applied computer sciences. Its vast scope also benefits our undergraduate and graduate programmes, and we now teach courses in several engineering programmes at bachelor’s and master’s levels, as well as the programmes in statistics, cognitive science and innovative programming. Read more at https://liu.se/en/organisation/liu/ida

You will be placed at the Human-Centred Systems division in the group of Knowledge Modelling and Cognitive Systems, as part of the Linköping University Semantic Web group. The Semantic Web group conduct cutting-edge research in several aspects of the Semantic web, including ontology engineering as well as knowledge graphs, and graph data.

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, but no later than January 1^st 2026.

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 September 30, 2025

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