PhD Position in Packaging Logistics with a Focus on Trade and Logistics

About VTI

The Swedish National Road and Transport Research Institute (VTI) is a government agency that conducts applied research and qualified investigations in the transport sector. We have approximately 250 employees and an annual turnover of around 300 million SEK. The headquarters are located in Linköping, with other offices in Stockholm, Gothenburg, and Lund. We are now looking for an additional employee for the Traffic Analysis and Logistics unit. The unit has about 35 employees and works with applied and socially motivated research as well as qualified investigations in logistics, transport, energy supply, digitization, and traffic systems. The focus is on developing knowledge and models that enable more reliable decision-making bases to meet goals in areas such as efficiency, accessibility, mobility, environment, energy supply, resilience, and safety.

About LTH

LTH offers a stimulating and international environment with doctoral students, postdoctoral researchers, senior researchers, and professors from various parts of the world. Research, innovation, and education are conducted in an open and creative climate that promotes collaboration both within academia and with industry partners. A doctoral degree provides an excellent foundation for an exciting career in academia or industry. The doctoral position is funded within the framework of the Triple F program (Fossile Free Freight). Triple F is the Swedish Transport Administration's research and innovation initiative aimed at contributing to the transition of the Swedish freight transport system to fossil-free. The project is carried out in collaboration between the Swedish National Road and Transport Research Institute (VTI) and Lund University, with supervision from both parties. The doctoral student will be based in Lund but will spend half the time with each party, i.e., VTI and Lund University.

About the Employment

Packaging logistics is a multidisciplinary research field that integrates and develops logistics and packaging. It applies various theoretical approaches and methods to understand, explain, and improve the efficient and sustainable use of resources in supply chains. Research in packaging logistics contributes to sustainable development by integrating packaging with logistics, innovation, and product development in the areas of technology, economics, and the environment.

The doctoral project you will be working on addresses return management in e-commerce. For further description of the project, see full advertisement here: LINK (LINK)

A PhD position involves both theoretical and practical work. As a PhD student, you are trained in scientific work through the publication of scientific articles in journals and at national and international conferences. You also take mandatory and elective PhD courses. Additionally, you may have the opportunity to try out the teaching role. As a researcher, you work as a neutral party in many contexts, which provides a fantastic opportunity to learn how to manage challenging development projects. Your work will include theoretical models and simulations, but some practical measurements may also be included.

Your Profile

To apply for this position, you need to meet the basic eligibility requirements for education at the doctoral level and specific eligibility for the doctoral subject packaging logistics. For information on eligibility and assessment criteria, see the announcement at: LTH (LTH). The tasks involve contacts with clients, partners, and other researchers. Therefore, good collaboration skills are required. The tasks require grounding in theory and methodology, and you should be able to independently compile, analyze, and present material. We place great importance on your ability to take initiative, be creative, and work independently. Advanced knowledge in written and spoken English is a requirement.

Appointment Period

In this announcement, only those admitted to doctoral education at LTH can be employed as doctoral students. The doctoral education is four years full-time. With teaching and other departmental/institute work, the employment is extended accordingly, but no longer than 5 years (i.e., max 20%). Annual evaluation of the doctoral education is conducted, and the position is extended if the studies progress according to plan. For more information about doctoral education at LTH, see: Doctoral Education | LTH (Doctoral%20Education%20%7C%20LTH). The planned start date is August 2025.

More Information

Information on how VTI handles your personal data can be read at Personal Data - vti.se (Personal%20Data%20-%20vti.se). We decline all offers of advertising or recruitment assistance in connection with this recruitment.

Ref. no: 2025/0102-3.1

Application

Welcome to submit your application, no later than April 25th 2025, with a personal letter, CV, degree certificate, grades and other documents you wish to submit. Applications received after the deadline will not be considered. NOTE that applications are required to both organizations. Apply to LTH here: LTH (LTH)