PhD Student in Packaging Logistics, Focus on Trade and Logistics

Lund University was founded in 1666 and is consistently ranked as one of the world's leading universities. It has around 47,000 students and more than 8,800 employees in Lund, Helsingborg, and Malmö. We unite in our efforts to understand, explain, and improve our world and the conditions of people.

Lund University welcomes applicants with diverse backgrounds and experiences. Gender equality, equal opportunities, and diversity are fundamental principles for all parts of our operations.

Description of Workplaces

Lund University, Lund University of Technology (LTH), and the Swedish National Road and Transport Research Institute (VTI) announce a joint recruitment for a PhD position in packaging logistics, focusing on trade and logistics.

The Department of Packaging Logistics at the Faculty of Design Sciences at LTH and the Traffic Analysis and Logistics unit at VTI are seeking a PhD candidate for an exciting interdisciplinary project at the interface of logistics, transport, trade, and sustainability. This opportunity offers a unique chance to delve into the dynamic world of modern trade logistics with a focus on circular fossil-free freight flows.

The department at LTH offers a stimulating and international environment with PhD students, postdoctoral researchers, senior researchers, and professors from different parts of the world. Research, innovation, and teaching take place in an open and creative climate that promotes collaborations both within academia and with industry partners. A PhD provides an excellent foundation for an exciting career in academia or industry.

The Swedish National Road and Transport Research Institute, VTI, is a government agency conducting applied research and qualified investigations in the transport sector. The recruiting unit works with applied and socially motivated research as well as qualified investigations in logistics, transport, energy supply, digitization, and traffic systems.

The PhD position is funded within the framework of the Triple F program (Fossil 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 solutions. The project is conducted in collaboration between Lund University and the Swedish National Road and Transport Research Institute, VTI, with supervision from both parties. The position is shared between the two organizations, and the applicant must therefore apply to both Lund University and VTI. The PhD candidate will be enrolled full-time in the doctoral program at LTH, but the employment is split 50% at each employer. The PhD candidate will be based in Lund but will spend half the time at each party, i.e., Lund University and VTI.

Application links to both organizations can be found at the bottom of this announcement. PLEASE NOTE that applications are required to both organizations.

Subject Description

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

Return management is a central part of sustainable development, focusing on optimizing collection, sorting, and reuse of products to reduce resource consumption and transport. Digital transformation plays a crucial role in automating and streamlining return flows, enabling sustainable solutions that support the green transition in the trade and logistics sector. Research is conducted through case studies, follow-up research, and close collaboration with, for example, retail companies and logistics actors, focusing on qualitative methods and practical application.

Job Responsibilities

The main task of a PhD candidate is to engage in their doctoral education, which includes participation in research projects as well as doctoral courses. The responsibilities also include participation in teaching and other departmental/institute work, but a maximum of 20% of the working time.

The PhD project focuses on the digital transformation of return management processes within trade, aiming to create more efficient and sustainable solutions. The PhD candidate will play a key role in the project and is expected to combine theoretical and practical methods to investigate and drive the digital transformation of return management processes. This includes collecting and analyzing data through interviews, site visits, focus groups, and business system data from companies. The work involves close collaboration with companies and organizations to implement fossil-free returns and create standards for sustainable logistical solutions. The PhD candidate will also contribute to formulating policy recommendations and creating innovative solutions that promote circular flows. Dissemination of results will occur through publication of scientific articles, presentations at conferences, and collaboration with the industry, while the PhD candidate develops their skills through coursework and supervision.

For the full advertisement, please see: https://lu.varbi.com/se/what:job/jobID:793366/ (https://lu.varbi.com/se/what:job/jobID:793366/)

LTH – Lund University of Technology – is the technical faculty at Lund University. At LTH, we educate people, build knowledge for the future, and work hard to develop society. We create space for brilliant research and inspire creative development of technology, architecture, and design. Nearly 10,000 students study here. Each year, our researchers – many of whom work in world-leading profile areas – publish around 100 dissertations and 2,000 scientific findings. A number of research results and student projects are refined into innovations. Together we explore and create – for the benefit of the world.

We kindly ask all contacts from ad sellers, recruitment, and staffing companies to refrain from reaching out due to government procurement regulations.