PhD student in Materials Chemistry with focus on Organic Waste Valorization

The Department of Chemistry, with more than 200 employees, is one of the largest departments at Stockholm University. The Research spans all areas of chemistry such as analytical chemistry, physical chemistry, materials chemistry, inorganic and structural chemistry and organic chemistry. The research projects are many from theory to experiment, from basic research to more applied projects often focusing on sustainable chemistry but also advanced analytical methods of chemicals and materials. The department has a very well-developed research infrastructure with state-of-the-art equipment with qualified support from staff scientists.

The department also hosts the Bachelor's degree programme in chemistry and three Master's programmes: analytical chemistry, sustainable chemistry, and organic chemistry. PhD programmes are conducted in five areas: analytical chemistry, physical chemistry, materials chemistry, inorganic chemistry and organic chemistry.

More information about us, please visit: the Department of Materials and Environmental Chemistry and the Department of Organic Chemistry.

Project description

Project title: Industrial waste streams as sustainable alternatives to peat in mushroom cultivation.

Supervisors: Dr. Ulrike Schimpf (main supervisor); Assoc. Prof. (Docent) Mika Sipponen (SU, co-supervisor); Assoc. Prof. Lauren McKee (KTH, co-supervisor); and Assoc. Prof. (Docent) Shaojun Xiong (SLU, co-supervisor).

The multidisciplinary project will be dedicated to repurpose abundant sludge wastes from paper mills to promote sustainable, peat-free mushroom farming and contribute to Sweden's circular bioeconomy. The research aims to develop sludge blends that mimic peat’s properties, investigate microbial interactions in the sludge, and assess its effect on mushroom growth, safety, and quality. The candidate will gain valuable experience in mushroom and peat production, material characterization and microbiome analysis.

This recruitment is connected to a call of MISTRA that not only funds projects, but also provides additional funding for activities that concern all funded projects, bringing people together for an exchange of knowledge and supporting collaboration. The candidate will attend events organized by MISTRA, the Swedish foundation for strategic environmental research that supports research of strategic importance for a good living environment and sustainable development. Read more about MISTRA: https://mistra.org/om-mistra/#eng.

Qualification requirements

In order to be admitted to postgraduate education, the applicant must have the general and specific entry requirements. The qualification requirements must be met by the deadline for applications.

You meet general entry requirements if you have completed a second-cycle degree, or completed courses equivalent to at least 240 higher education credits, of which 60 credits must be in the second cycle, or have otherwise acquired equivalent knowledge in Sweden or elsewhere.

Specific entry requirements are described in the general syllabus for doctoral studies in the field of chemistry.

Selection

The selection among the eligible candidates will be based on their capacity to benefit from the training. The following criteria will be used to assess this capacity:

• documented knowledge in a relevant field of research
• capacity for analytical and creative thinking
• initiative
• independence
• ability to collaborate
• written and oral proficiency in English.

A solid background in biochemistry and a good understanding of applying equipment for
analytical analysis (e.g., HPLC, GC, MS, SEM, porosimetry, or tomography) is desirable. Experiences on mushrooms and/or microbiology is considered an extra merit. Since the candidate will work at three different universities, the Stockholm University and KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, and the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences in Umeå, we value the ability to work effectively in a collaborative environment. As this is an interdisciplinary project, the ability of synthesizing results is appreciated.

Admission Regulations for Doctoral Studies at Stockholm University.

About the employment

We offer a fixed-term employment as a doctoral student according to Chapter 5 of the Higher Education Ordinance (1993:100). The period of employment may not be longer than what corresponds to full-time doctoral education for four years. As a doctoral student, you should primarily devote yourself to your own doctoral education, but the employment may include work with education, research and administration to a limited extent (maximum 20 %).

A new employment as a doctoral student is for a maximum of one year, the employment is then renewed for a maximum of two years at a time.

Stockholm University strives to be a workplace free from discrimination and with equal opportunities for all.

Contact

For more information, please contact the PI, ulrike.schimpf@su.se. For general information about the Department of Chemistry, please contact the Head of the Department, Prof. Niklas Hedin, niklas.hedin@su.se.

Application

Apply for the PhD student position at Stockholm University's recruitment system. Attach a personal letter and CV as well as the attachments requested in the application form. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that the application is complete in accordance with the instructions in the job advertisement, and that it is submitted before the deadline.

The instructions for applicants are available at: How to apply for a position.