Vacant job

Description

The Department of Chemistry - Ångström conducts research and education in the field of chemistry.

The department has 270 employees and a turnover of 300 million SEK. The six programs at the department conduct highly successful research of high international class. We have a large number of externally funded research projects, often with international collaboration, and we see continued good growth in our field. The department has educational assignments within engineering and master's programs. More information can be found on our website (https://kemi.uu.se/angstrom).

Job Duties

We are seeking a PhD candidate for the research program in structural chemistry at the Department of Chemistry - Ångström, starting in 2026. The selected candidate will participate in an interdisciplinary project focusing on developing biochar as a sustainable raw material for hard carbon anodes in sodium-ion batteries. In collaboration with Besca AB (Besca AB (https://www.bescacarbon.com/)), the project explores microwave plasma technology to efficiently convert biochar into battery-grade hard carbon with controlled properties and optimized electrochemical performance. The use of microwave plasma carbonization enables rapid synthesis of hard carbon, significantly reducing the time and energy required compared to traditional carbonization processes. Additionally, the joint research aims to identify optimal synthesis conditions to achieve control over the structure and electrochemical properties of hard carbon produced from local biochar resources.

The specific research direction will be tailored to match the student's interests and educational background. Possible focus areas include material synthesis and analysis, development of new characterization techniques, electrode manufacturing, electrochemical testing, and development of data-driven models to correlate synthesis parameters with material performance. The PhD candidate is expected to actively participate in project meetings, publish scientific articles, and contribute to patent applications where relevant. Under the supervision of both academic and industrial partners, the student will have the opportunity to independently drive fundamental and applied research questions. An individual study plan will be established at the beginning of the employment. The work will be conducted at the Ångström Laboratory with full access to research and development facilities at both the university and the industrial partner.

Qualification Requirements

Eligible for doctoral education is someone who has:

• completed a master's degree (second cycle or Master’s degree) in chemistry, materials science, chemical engineering, materials physics, or a related field, or
• completed course requirements of at least 240 higher education credits, of which at least 60 higher education credits at an advanced level (of which 15 higher education credits constitute independent work), with content relevant to the doctoral education or
• acquired equivalent knowledge in some other way, within or outside the country
• very good knowledge of English, in both spoken and written form.

Great emphasis will also be placed on personal qualities such as good collaborative skills, drive, and independence. We will also assess how the applicant's experience and competence complement and strengthen ongoing research at the department and how the applicant can contribute to its future development.

Desirable/meritorious qualifications

The following competencies are considered meritorious for this position:

• practical experience in material analysis
• basic knowledge of electrochemistry or battery technology
• practical experience in biomass valorization or material characterization.
• experience with plasma or microwave processing of materials.
• knowledge of carbon materials, biochar, or biomass pyrolysis.
• knowledge of sodium or lithium-ion batteries.
• experience with electrochemical methods
• previous experience in data analysis and programming (e.g., Python or Matlab).
• experience working on industrial projects or collaborative projects.

Conditions

The position is temporary, according to HF 5 chapter § 7. The extent is full-time. Start date 2026-04-01 or by agreement. Place of employment: Uppsala

Regulations for doctoral students can be found in the Higher Education Ordinance 5 chapter §§ 1-7 and in the Higher Education Ordinance (https://regler.uu.se/?languageId=3).

For inquiries about the position, please contact: Habtom Desta Asfaw, [email protected] (mailto:[email protected])

Welcome with your application by February 26, 2026, UFV-PA 2026/242.

Uppsala University is a broad research university with a strong international position. The ultimate goal is to conduct education and research of the highest quality and relevance to make a difference in society. Our most important asset is all 7,600 employees and 53,000 students who, with curiosity and commitment, make Uppsala University one of the most exciting workplaces in the country.

Read more about our benefits and what it is like to work at Uppsala University here (https://uu.se/om-uu/jobba-hos-oss/).

The position may be subject to security screening. In the case of security screening, a prerequisite for employment is that the applicant is approved.

We kindly decline offers of recruitment and advertising assistance.

Applications are received in Uppsala University's recruitment system.

Union representatives: Saco-S - [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]), Seko - [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]), ST (OFR/S) - [email protected] (mailto:[email protected])