Postdoc in sustainable materials and electrochemical systems

Tasks

The Department of Applied Physics is seeking a postdoc in sustainable materials technology, electrochemical technologies, and innovation in environment-related processes. The position is located in an internationally recognized research environment with a focus on the development of advanced materials and processes for water purification, resource recovery, renewable energy conversion, and sustainable chemical production.

You will conduct research on functional nanomaterials and electrochemical systems for applications such as Capacitive Deionization (CDI), advanced oxidation processes, photocatalysis, photo-Fenton-based water purification, green hydrogen production, and sustainable ammonia synthesis. The research includes studies of charge transport, interface phenomena, catalytic mechanisms, as well as the relationship between structure, properties, and performance in nanostructured materials.

The work also involves the design and optimization of materials and reactors using advanced characterization methods, data-driven approaches, and AI-supported workflows. Particular emphasis will be placed on accelerating the development of next-generation materials and processes that contribute to the transition towards a circular and sustainable society.

The tasks also include supervision of students and other researchers, collaboration with academic and industrial partners in Sweden and internationally, active work in seeking external research funding, and contributing to the scientific development within the research group and the department. Teaching and pedagogical duties may be included in the employment.

Qualifications

Requirements

• A completed doctoral degree or a foreign degree in materials science, applied physics, chemical engineering, chemistry, nanotechnology, or related subject areas assessed to correspond to a doctoral degree. This eligibility requirement must be met no later than the time the employment decision is made.
• Documented research expertise in sustainable materials, electrochemical systems, environmental technology, photocatalysis, or renewable energy conversion, evidenced through publications in leading international scientific journals.
• Experience in the development of advanced materials and nanostructures for applications in water, energy, or the environment.
• Very good ability to express yourself in English, both orally and in writing, as the work is conducted in an international research environment.
• As a person, you are creative, independent, and highly motivated, with very good collaborative skills and experience in interdisciplinary work.
• Great importance will be placed on scientific excellence, innovation capability, and the ability to translate sustainable technology into industrial and societal applications.

Meritorious

• At the closing date of the application, at most three years since the doctoral degree or a foreign degree assessed to correspond to a doctoral degree was obtained.
• Documented research experience in capacitive deionization, membrane-free desalination, water purification technology, or resource recovery systems.
• Experience of photocatalytic and photo-Fenton-based processes for environmental remediation and water purification.
• Experience of research in electrocatalysis, green hydrogen production, climate-neutral fuels, or sustainable ammonia synthesis.
• Knowledge of charge transfer mechanisms, electrochemistry at interfaces, transport phenomena, and catalyst design.
• Experience in supervising doctoral students, master's students, or junior researchers.
• Good communication skills as well as documented experience in translating research results into societal benefit and industrial application.
• Experience of leadership, project management, innovation work, and collaboration with industry.
• Awareness of diversity and equal treatment issues, with a particular focus on gender equality.

We will place great emphasis on personal qualities.

Become a part of KTH

KTH shapes the future through education, research, and innovation. As a leading international technical university, we play an active role in driving and contributing to the transition to a sustainable society. Here, you are offered the opportunity to grow and develop in a creative and dynamic workplace with good working conditions and benefits. Equality, diversity, and equal opportunities are a matter of quality and an inherent part of KTH's values as a university and a government agency.

Read more about our benefits and what it is like to work and develop at KTH.

Union representatives

Contact details for union representatives.

Application

You apply via KTH's recruitment system. As an applicant, you are primarily responsible for ensuring that your application is complete when it is submitted.

The application shall include:

• CV including relevant professional experience and knowledge.
• Copy of degree certificates and transcripts from your previous university studies. Translations into English or Swedish if the original documents are not issued in either of these languages.
• A brief account of why you want to conduct research, your academic interests, and how they relate to your previous studies and future goals. Max 2 pages long.

The application must reach KTH no later than the closing date at midnight, CET/CEST (Central European Time/Central European Summer Time).

About the employment

The employment is permanent, but for a maximum of two years.

An employment as a postdoc is a time-limited qualifying position primarily focused on research, intended as a first career step after graduation.

Other

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An employment at KTH may be subject to security clearance. If this is the case for this specific employment, a security clearance of the applicant will be conducted in accordance with the Security Protection Act (2018:585) after consent. In these cases, a prerequisite for employment is that the applicant is approved after the security clearance.

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