PhD Candidate in Crystallization of Critical Raw Materials

School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health at KTH

Project description

Third-cycle subject: Chemical Engineering

At the Department of Chemical Engineering research is conducted to develop sustainable separation processes. The doctoral student in this project will develop crystallization processes within biomining. The student will be part of the new research school BioGeoMetals, focused on biogeochemical approaches to sustainable metal recovery from mining waste rock, tailings, and run-off water in Sweden. Biological metal extraction will be investigated from different perspectives in seven parallel and complementary doctoral projects at three Swedish universities. The doctoral students will receive an interdisciplinary education in geology, biology, chemistry, process engineering and environmental science through integrated coursework, seminars, international exchanges and collaboration with industry and thereby be well equipped to contribute to a more sustainable future.

The work at KTH focuses on developing knowledge in crystallization and includes design and experimental studies of simple model systems as well as more applied studies. The applicant should have experience of laboratory work and is expected to work both independently and in collaboration with colleagues at different universities.

The project is funded by the Swedish Research Council and will be conducted in close collaboration with Luleå University of Technology (LTU). The work will also be supported by an international advisory group. The start date is open to discussion, but we would like the position to be filled no later than September 2026.

Supervision: Kerstin Forsberg at KTH is proposed as main supervisor and Sadia Ilyas at LTU is proposed as assistant supervisor. Decisions are made on admission

Admission requirements

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

• passed a second cycle degree (for example a master’s degree), or
• completed course requirements of at least 240 higher education credits, of which at least 60 second-cycle higher education credits, or
• acquired, in some other way within or outside the country, substantially equivalent knowledge

In addition to the general eligibility requirements, the applicant must have:

a Master of Science in Engineering degree or a Master’s degree in Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Materials Science or equivalent 

In addition to the above, there is also a mandatory requirement for English equivalent to English B/6.

Selection

In order 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 upon their ability to:

• independently pursue his or her work
• collaborate with others,
• have a professional approach and
• analyze and work with complex issues.

After the qualification requirements, great emphasis will be placed on personal skills. 

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 be longer than what corresponds to full-time doctoral education in four years’ time. An employed doctoral student can, to a limited extent (maximum 20%), perform certain tasks within their role, e.g. training and administration. A new position as a doctoral student is for a maximum of one year, and then the employment may be renewed for a maximum of two years at a time. In the case of studies that are to be completed with a licentiate degree, the total period of employment may not be longer than what corresponds to full-time doctoral education for two years.

As a doctoral student, you are entitled to a workplace with many employee benefits and monthly salary according to KTH’s Doctoral student salary agreement . Read more about Doctoral studies (PhD) Sweden .

Union representatives

Contact information for  union representatives.

Doctoral Students’network (Students’ union on KTH Royal Institute of Technology)

Contact information for  doctoral section .

To apply for the position

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

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

Applications must include the following elements:

• CV including your relevant professional experience and knowledge.
• Application letter with a brief description of why you want to pursue research studies, about what your academic interests are and how they relate to your previous studies and future goals. (Maximum 2 pages long)
• 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 issued in one of these languages.Copies of originals must be certified .
• Representative publications or technical reports. For longer documents, please provide a summary (abstract) and a web link to the full text.

Other information

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

It may be the case that a position at KTH is classified as a security-sensitive role in accordance with the Protective Security Act (2018:585). If this applies to the specific position, a security clearance will be conducted for the applicant in accordance with the same law with the applicant’s consent. In such cases, a prerequisite for employment is that the applicant is approved following the security clearance.

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.

 

 

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Type of employment

Temporary position

Contract type

Full time

Full-time equivalent

100%

First day of employment

According to agreement

Salary

Monthly salary according to KTH’s doctoral student salary agreement

Number of positions

1

Location

Stockholm

County

Stockholms län

Country

Sweden

Reference number

PA-2026-0545

Published

12.Mar.2026

Last application date

02.Apr.2026

Contact

Kerstin Forsberg
kerstinokth.se