PhD student in energy and environmental engineering, smart micro district heating

Mälardalen University is growing and evolving due to increased research funding from the Swedish Government. Join our team on this exciting journey towards MDU`s vision, to be a progressive and collaborative University where together we shape a sustainable future. You can make a difference. Together, we can create a sustainable future through knowledge and innovation. We believe that knowledge and new perspectives are best attained and reached together in collaboration with others – our colleagues, students, the private and public sectors, both nationally and internationally.

Around 20 000 students are currently studying courses and programmes with us in the various domains. We offer education in areas such as design and communication, economics, health, engineering and technology, preschool and compulsory school teacher training as well as in chamber music and opera. In most of our areas we also offer programmes entirely taught in English. We conduct research in all disciplinary domains and our research in Future Energy and Embedded Systems is internationally prominent.

Mälardalen University is located in Sweden, on both sides of Lake Mälaren, with campuses in Eskilstuna and Västerås. Mälardalen is a region dominated by strong growth with several multinational companies based here such as ABB, Volvo, Westinghouse, Alstom and Northvolt. We enjoy close cooperation with the region’s private sector, municipalities, and county councils.

At the School of Business, Society and Engineering our students are studying to be for example Bachelors or Masters of Engineering, political scientists and business administrators. Here we have the research specialisations of Industrial Engineering and Management, and Future Energy. Our work takes place in cooperation with and in strategic agreements with companies, organisations and public authorities in the region.

Employment information

Employment: Temporary employment
Scope: Full time
Closing date for application: 2022-11-15
Campus location: Västeras
School: School of Business, Society and Engineering, (EST)

Position description

The School of Business, Society and Engineering is looking for a PhD student in energy and environmental engineering with focus on district heating and renewable energy. The position involves working within the research specialization Future Energy Center (FEC).

The work is part of the international project “Geothermal communities heat technology and transfer” (GeoCoHorT) of which MDU is the main coordinator among a consortium that includes Sweden, Ireland, and the U.S.A. GeoCoHorT aims to accelerate the transition to 4th generation district heating and cooling (4GDHC) in Europe and globally. Modelling, simulation and optimization of complex energy system interactions will be a key focus of this work, including carrying out detailed system-level assessments. A large part of the work will be done at – or in close contact with – several partner organizations. The successful candidate is therefore expected to have skills in heat transfer, fluid mechanics, and/or modelling of power and thermal systems as well as be able to interact effectively with partner research institutes, industry, colleagues and other stakeholders.

The PhD student is expected to take initiatives, develop own ideas and work independently when needed, as well as take responsibility for the work. Furthermore, the project interacts closely with other parallel PhD projects and industrial partners. Thus, the applicant needs to have high collaborative skills. The PhD student needs to be able to disseminate and communicate scientific results and knowledge orally as well as in written form within existing and new networks. This includes academia, industry and society at large. The research results will be presented at project meetings, conferences and in peer-reviewed scientific journals.

Employment is limited and equivalent to full-time studies at the graduate level for 4 years.

Qualifications

Only those who are or have been admitted to third-cycle courses and study programmes at a higher education may be appointed to doctoral studentships. For futher information see Chapter 5 of the Higher Education Ordinance (SFS 1993:100).

To be accepted to the graduate (research) program in Energy and Environmental Engineering the student should have one of the following:

• Completed a Master’s degree corresponding to at least 240 higher education credits (Swedish: civilingenjör) in Mechanical Engineering, Energy Engineering, or engineering physics.
• Completed a four-year science education with technical content equivalent to a Master’s degree within the above subjects.

The applicant should have documented knowledge in thermodynamics, fluid dynamics, and heat transfer. The position requires motivation for research, good oral and written communication, knowledge in English and a will to work in a multidisciplinary context and in collaboration with external partners.  

Decisive importance is attached to personal suitability. We value the qualities that an even distribution of age and gender, as well as ethnic and cultural diversity, can contribute to the organization.

Further merits

You are open-minded and interested in collaborating across borders within and outside MDU. Interest in and experience research as well as a stay at an institution other than the one where your MSc was awarded are considered merits. Teamwork, leadership, organizational and entrepreneurial skills are advantages. Further qualifications and merits for the position are:

• Knowledge and experience of modelling and simulation of energy conversion processes and energy systems.
• Knowledge of numerical methods for modelling and optimization.
• Experience of multidisciplinary work and collaboration between academia and external partners. 
• Good programming skills and/or knowledge of MATLAB, Modelica, or Python 

Additional knowledge of AI/ML techniques is considered an extra merit.                        

Application

Application is made online. Make your application by clicking the “Apply” button below.

The applicant is responsible for ensuring that the application is complete in accordance with the advertisement and will reach the University no later than closing date for application.

We look forward to receiving your application.

We decline all contact with recruiters and salespersons of advertisements. We have made our strategic choices for this recruitment.

Union representatives:

Michaël Le Duc (SACO), tel: +46 (0) 21-10 14 02
Susanne Meijer (OFR), Tel: +46 (0) 21-10 14 89

Contact person
URL to this page

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