Postdoctoral researcher in chemistry with a focus on sustainable production of cellulose fibers

Postdoctoral researcher in chemistry with a focus on sustainable production of cellulose fibers

Karlstad University is to provides broad-based, multidisciplinary programmes for students, while developing strong areas of research.

Sapere Aude—dare to be wise—is our motto. Our students and employees develop knowledge and expertise that enrich both people and the world around them. Our academic environment is characterised by curiosity, courage and perseverance. Gender equality, diversity and a democratic approach form the foundation of our organisation. We are located in an active and scenic region and we promote sustainable development in close collaboration with the wider society.

We are now seeking a highly motivated postdoctoral researcher to join our dynamic team to work on biobased polymer development for the Mission 0 House initiative. This position focuses on experimental research into sustainable production of cellulose fiber, both complementary to and supported by, computational chemistry to optimize and predict process parameters.

Description

The successful candidate will lead experimental investigations into the dissolution and regeneration of cellulose for textile applications with a focus on reducing the amount of chemicals used in traditional processes and identifying new, sustainable alternatives. The candidate will also apply computational chemistry to model and refine experimental designs to better understand molecular interactions and process efficiencies.

Mission 0 House was created to establish an industry-led, mission-driven, collaborative research arena in Gothenburg, Sweden, where scientists from academia and engineers from industry can work side by side to eliminate anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions at the chemical reaction level from the production of materials and products. Five Swedish universities and representatives from industry sectors such as steel, chemicals, textiles, and automotive manufacturing, are partners in this program. Ten new postdoctoral positions are planned, with the first five starting in 2025. In addition to the team at the House, scientists and engineers from the partners' home sites will support and contribute to the program's activities with specific expertise. Thus, the work is to take part in a major effort to reach zero emissions in biobased polymer manufacturing. The research will be performed 50% of the time at Karlstad University and 50% at the Mission 0 House in Gothenburg. Accommodation arrangements will be discussed on an individual level during the interviews.

The employment will be at the Chemistry subject, but integrated with relevant research at the Chemical Engineering and Environmental and Energy Systems subjects.

Job Duties

The postdoctoral researcher will work on the development of regenerated cellulose fibers, with a focus on dissolving pulp performance for viscose filament production. They will review chemicals employed in the regenerated cellulose production from a greenhouse gas perspective to design a zero-emission production pathway.

The challenges faced in this research will be tackled by combining experimental and computational approaches. The researcher will investigate alternative cellulose dissolution and regeneration methods for textile fibers. The most promising techniques will be subjected to fiber spinning trials and property testing in collaboration with the Swedish School of Textiles in Borås and automotive textile industry partners.

Computational chemistry will provide molecular insights into cellulose-solvent interactions and fiber formation. The candidate will develop models at different levels, including molecular dynamics, DFT, and mesoscale simulations. This multiscale approach will assist in optimizing the viscose process and evaluate new solvents, ensuring computational results align with experimental goals.

The researcher will also examine the environmental sustainability of the processes with a focus on solvent recovery and recycling with the goal of zero greenhouse gas emissions.

The position may include up to 20% teaching in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or Environmental and Energy Systems. To contribute to a positive work environment and further the department's activities, you are expected to be a present and active part of the day-to-day operations and workplace community.

Qualification requirements

We are looking for a candidate with a PhD in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or Materials Science with a solid content of chemistry, or a related field, who has a strong background in experimental methodologies, particularly in polymer or cellulose processing techniques, strong analytical skills, and a demonstrated interest in computational chemistry. The ideal candidate should be willing to improve their computational skills as part of this role, if this competence does not already exist. Previous experience in both experimental methods and computational chemistry will be highly valued.

The doctoral degree must be issued before a decision on employment is made and no more than three years before the end of the application period. Older degrees can be considered when there are special reasons, for example, documented parental leave.

You also need to be able to teach Applied Chemistry and have the ability to work in interdisciplinary teams as well as independently.

Since you will be working in an international environment, you need to be proficient in oral and written English.

Assessment criteria

Special weight is given to experience in experimental techniques, particularly in polymer or cellulose processing, such as wet-spinning, dissolution studies, or fiber characterization. Special weight is also given to scientific publications, both in number and in relevance to the research area, as well as graduate level courses in the chemistry of polymer and chemical thermodynamics.

Considerable weight is given to experience (basic to intermediate) in computational chemistry, molecular modeling, or simulations (e.g., Gaussian, GROMACS, LAMMPS).

Considerable weight is also given to personal qualities such as good cooperation, good judgment, responsibility, commitment, and a positive attitude towards colleagues.

Weight is given to work/visits at research level at a university other than the university that issued your doctorate, as well as international research stays. Weight is also given to active participation and presentations at international conferences.

A valuable qualification is experience of education and completed training in higher education pedagogy.

Terms

The employment is fixed term for two and a half years and full time with eventual opportunity of extension according to the Agreement on fixed-term employment as a postdoctoral fellow. The starting date is 1 June 2025 or as soon as possible by agreement. The research part position is based 50% in Karlstad and 50% in Gothenburg.

The application should include:

• CV
• list of publications (in case of joint publications, your contribution must be stated)
• personal letter
• documented description of qualifications in relation to the content of the employment
• copies of relevant grades, certificates, and diplomas
• copy of the doctoral thesis and the three most relevant publications for the position
• statement of language skills
• two references, where one is from a former or current manager and the other from a supervisor or scientific colleague.

All documents that you wish to be part of your application must be attached to the digital application. Do not provide links to documents.

Name each uploaded document so it is clear what it contains.

Documents that cannot be submitted electronically, such as books or publications, should be sent to:

Karlstads universitet
Hanna Ljungdahl
651 88 Karlstad
Sweden

State the reference number: 2025/28

Application deadline: 2025-04-02

We look forward to your application

HR Excellence in Research
Karlstad University received the European Commission's HR Excellence in Research award September 2020. The award is issued to employers with a stimulating work environment and good conditions for researchers and its continuous improvement. The award also conveys the university's commitment to fair and transparent recruitment as well as favorable professional development for researchers.

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