Project Description

Third-cycle subject: Highway and Railway Engineering

Asphalt concrete relies heavily on the extraction and processing of non-renewable resources, depleting finite fossil fuel reserves and contributing to resource scarcity. In recent years, bio-asphalt has emerged as an environmentally responsible solution for road construction, offering a promising alternative to petroleum asphalt. Lignin, a natural polymer found in plant cell walls, has gained attention as a valuable resource that can be extracted from a wide range of residual lignocellulose biomass sources, making it an abundant biopolymer. Given its distinctive molecular structure, lignin possesses significant potential as a functional additive in composite materials. This project aims to explore the feasibility of incorporating lignin as a partial substitute for both crude oil and mineral aggregates in asphalt concrete.

Supervision: Professor Nicole Kringos and Assistant Professor Maria Chiara Cavalli are proposed to supervise the doctoral student. Decisions are made on admission.

What We Offer

• The opportunity to study in a dynamic and international research environment, collaborating with industries and prominent universities worldwide.
• A workplace with numerous employee benefits and a monthly salary according to KTH’s Doctoral Student Salary Agreement.
• A postgraduate education at an institution committed to working conditions, gender equality, diversity, and study environment.
• The chance to work and study in Stockholm, close to nature and water.
• Assistance to relocate and settle in Sweden and at KTH.

Admission Requirements

To be admitted to postgraduate education (Chapter 7, 39 § Swedish Higher Education Ordinance), the applicant must have basic eligibility in accordance with one of the following:

• A second cycle degree (e.g., a master's degree), or
• Completed course requirements of at least 240 higher education credits, of which at least 60 are second-cycle higher education credits, or
• Acquired substantially equivalent knowledge in some other way within or outside the country

Additionally, there is a mandatory requirement for English equivalent to English B/6.

Selection
Previous experience in rheology and material chemistry is advantageous.

Very good English language skills in speech and writing are essential for the position, as they are required daily.

Candidates should be team workers, able to collaborate with lab personnel and project partners. To succeed as a doctoral student at KTH, you need to be goal-oriented and persevering in your work. During the selection process, candidates will be assessed on their ability to:

• Independently pursue their work
• Collaborate with others
• Maintain a professional approach
• Analyze and work with complex issues

Great emphasis will be placed on personal skills after meeting the qualification requirements.

Target Degree: Doctoral Degree

Information Regarding Admission and Employment

Only those admitted to postgraduate education may be employed as a doctoral student. The total length of employment may not exceed full-time doctoral education for four years. An employed doctoral student can perform certain tasks within their role, such as training and administration, to a limited extent (maximum 20%). A new position as a doctoral student is for a maximum of one year, with the possibility of renewal for a maximum of two years at a time. For studies leading to a licentiate degree, the total period of employment may not exceed full-time doctoral education for two years.

Union Representatives

Contact information for union representatives.

Doctoral Section (Students’ Union at KTH Royal Institute of Technology)

Contact information for the doctoral section.

How to Apply

Apply for the position and admission through KTH's recruitment system. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that the application is complete according to the instructions in the advertisement.

Applications must be received by the last closing date at midnight, CET/CEST (Central European Time/Central European Summer Time).

Applications must include the following elements:

• CV including relevant professional experience and knowledge.
• Application letter with a brief description of why you want to pursue research studies, your academic interests, and how they relate to your previous studies and future goals (maximum 2 pages).
• Copies of diplomas and grades from previous university studies and certificates of fulfilled language requirements (see above). Translations into English or Swedish if the original document is not in one of these languages. Copies of originals must be certified.
• Representative publications or technical reports. For longer documents, provide a summary (abstract) and a web link to the full text.

Other Information

KTH strives towards gender equality, diversity, and equal conditions as a part of our values and quality commitment.

For information about processing of personal data in the recruitment process.

According to The Protective Security Act (2018-585), the candidate must undergo and pass security vetting if the position is placed in a security class. Information regarding whether the position is subject to such a classification will be provided during the recruitment process.

We firmly decline all contact with staffing and recruitment agencies and job ad salespersons.

Disclaimer: In case of discrepancy between the Swedish original and the English translation of the job announcement, the Swedish version takes precedence.

About KTH

KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm has grown to become one of Europe’s leading technical and engineering universities, as well as a key center of intellectual talent and innovation. We are Sweden’s largest technical research and learning institution, home to students, researchers, and faculty from around the world. Our research and education cover a wide area, including natural sciences and all branches of engineering, as well as architecture, industrial management, urban planning, history, and philosophy. Read more here.

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Contact: Assistant Professor Maria Chiara Cavalli, mcca@kth.se

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