Work duties

The main duties of doctoral students are to devote themselves to their research studies which includes participating in research projects and third cycle courses. The work duties will also/can also include teaching and other departmental duties (no more than 20%).

This doctoral position is centered on the advanced study of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) as applied to biomass thermochemical conversion. The primary research focuses on developing mathematical and computational modeling to predict the composition of bio-oil and permanent gases released during the pyrolysis process, biochar properties, and feedstock variation's effect under CO2-rich pyrolysis. The morphology of the produced biochar, pore size distribution, and specific surface area, depend on the parent biomass's structure and the pyrolysis reactions' operating conditions. In CO2-rich pyrolysis, the morphology of char is expected to be different from pyrolysis in the N2 environment.

Detailed description of the work duties:

    Mathematical model development for biomass pyrolysis and char production
    Implementation of the developed model in CFD software
    Conduct CFD simulations to analyze the pyrolysis condition effect on the products’ properties,
    CFD of pyrolysis reactor,
    Expand the model to release of inorganic species from biomass,
    Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams and contribute to academic publications and presentations,
    Participate in conferences and workshops to disseminate research findings,
    Engage in teaching and other departmental duties as required (no more than 20%).

Admission requirements 

A person meets the general admission requirements for third-cycle courses and study programs if the applicant:

    has been awarded a second-cycle qualification, or
    has satisfied the requirements for courses comprising at least 240 credits of which at least 60 credits were awarded in the second cycle, or
    has acquired substantially equivalent knowledge in some other way in Sweden or abroad.

A person meets the specific admission requirements for third-cycle studies in Energy Sciences if the applicant has:

    at least 90 credits in the subject of the third cycle program, of which at least 60 credits are from second-cycle courses of relevance to the subject and 30 credits from a second-cycle degree project of relevance to the subject
    an MSc or a master's degree in mechanical engineering, engineering physics, or an associated field.

Additional requirements:

    Very good oral and written proficiency in English.
    Knowledge of fluid mechanics and reacting flow 
    Demonstrable experience in computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation.
    Strong analytical skills and the ability to conduct independent research.
    Ability to collaborate effectively with interdisciplinary research teams.

Assessment criteria

Selection for third-cycle studies is based on the student’s potential to profit from such studies. The assessment of potential is made primarily based on academic results from the first and second cycles. Special attention is paid to the following: 

    Knowledge and skills relevant to the thesis project and the subject of study. 
    An assessment of the ability to work independently and to formulate and tackle research problems.
    Written and oral communication skills.
    Other experience relevant to the third-cycle studies, e.g. professional experience.
     

Other assessment criteria:

    Knowledge and practical experience in computational fluid dynamics (CFD)
    Knowledge and practical experience in mathematical modeling, such as biomass pyrolysis chemistry, reacting porous media, pore-scale modeling
    Knowledge of biomass thermochemical conversion
    Knowledge of chemistry and reaction kinetics in the gas phase
    A track record of published research in relevant scientific journals

Consideration will also be given to good collaborative skills, drive, and independence, and how the applicant, through experience and skills, is deemed to have the abilities necessary for completing the third cycle program.