PhD student position in Aftertreatment Modelling

Information about the division
We are offering a position as a PhD student in the field of catalyst modelling.

The Division of Combustion is one of six research divisions at the Department of Applied Mechanics. Combustion is a leading research division working in the field of Internal Combustion Engines. The Division of Combustion currently has 6 professors, 3 adjunct professors, 30 PhD students and 6 research engineers. The division is the host for Combustion Engines Research Centre (CERC). The research covers spray formation, spray combustion, engines and modelling. The engine research addresses efficiency (reduced CO2 emissions), emissions (mainly NOx and particulate emissions) and alternative fuels.

Many of our research projects involve emissions aftertreatment and some projects are specifically devoted to bridge between detailed catalyst models to real engine data and powertrain modelling. Design of experiments are used to efficiently iterate between experiments and modelling.

For further information about the Combustion division, please see our web page: http://www.chalmers.se/en/departments/am/research/combustion/

The research project aims at enabling validated catalyst models for automotive emission control. This will be addressed by developing improved models for mass and heat transfer which are de-coupled with the kinetic models (which often becomes confounded with mass transfer phenomena).

By developing these catalyst models and associated methodologies, the requirements of current and future legislations will be achievable. The methodology will enable advanced combustion system thereby contributing to reduction of CO2 emissions.

As a PhD student in this project, you will be active in a research project at the Division of Combustion at Chalmers University of Technology. The project is carried out in close cooperation with Johnson Matthey and Volvo Car Corporation. The experimental work will be performed at the Johnson Matthey test facility in Högsbo, Gothenburg.

Working as a PhD student requires a great deal of creativity and ability to think "outside the box". Furthermore, the current project involves cooperation between Chalmers and two industrial partners, implying that collaborative and communicative skills will be essential. We therefore expect that you have an interest to further develop your competence with regard to project management and the various forms of communication needed (orally and in writing, in meetings, at conferences, between project participants and to stakeholders). 

Major responsibilities
Your major responsibilities as a PhD student is to pursue your own doctoral studies. You are expected to develop your own scientific concepts and communicate the results of your research verbally and in writing, both in Swedish and in English. Your research will be supervised by well-reputed senior researchers at the involved departments. The position generally also includes teaching on Chalmers' undergraduate level or performing other duties corresponding to up to 20 percent of working hours.  

Position summary
The position is a full-time temporary employment limited to a maximum of 4,5 years.

Qualifications
To qualify as a PhD student, you must have a master's level degree corresponding to at least 240 higher education credits in a relevant field. The position requires sound verbal and written communication skills in Swedish and English. If Swedish is not your native language, you should be able to teach in Swedish after two years. Chalmers offers Swedish courses.

You have a background in Chemical engineering and a strong interest in mathematical modelling and numerical methods. E.g.: Chemical reaction engineering, Design of Experiments (DoE), Computing in Matlab.

You like to work independently and you plan and think strategically. You are creative and like to put new ideas into practice. You have a solid interest in scientific computing, and you understand and are able to handle numerical codes and experimental data efficiently and accurately. You like to work in interdisciplinary projects and you have the ability to discuss and communicate your work with people of different backgrounds. We also believe that you are a motivated person, with a strong curiosity and a genuine wish to learn more and develop your skills and knowledge further in the fields of research, research communication and project management. 

Chalmers continuously strives to be an attractive employer. Equality and diversity are substantial foundations in all activities at Chalmers.

Application procedure
The application should be marked with Ref 20170104 and written in English. The application should be sent electronically via Chalmers webpage.

Application deadline: 31 March 2017

For questions, please contact:
Assoc. Prof. Jonas Sjöblom, 
Applied Mechanics, 
Division of Combustion, 
jonas.sjoblom@chalmers.se, 
031-772 1389 

*** Chalmers declines to consider all offers of further announcement publishing or other types of support for the recruiting process in connection with this position. ***