Institut für Umweltsystemwissenschaften

Doctoral Candidate position at University of Graz within the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions – Doctoral Networks (MSCA-DN) RE-Fibre

Ihre Aufgaben:

PhD position at University of Graz – DC7: Reference Driven Sustainability by Design- within the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions – Doctoral Networks (MSCA-DN) RE-Fibre

Applications must be submitted on https://refibre-dn.eu/  from 01.February 2025 at 17:00 central European time 2025 at 28 February 2025  at 17:00 central European time.

Offer Description

RE-Fibre is a Doctoral Network funded by Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA-DN) that aims to revolutionize Bio-fibre composite landscape by designing high-performance, fully renewable, and recyclable wood and plant fibre materials. RE-Fibre will train 11 Doctoral Candidates (DCs) with an entrepreneurial and sustainability-mindset in the disciplines of green/lignin chemistry, new biobased materials, and environmental systems science. 

The DCs will build on ground-breaking findings being generated at the RE-Fibre consortium, to enable the development of fully recyclable functional biobased composites with properties on par with fossil-based counterparts. They will gain competencies, not only in a breakthrough scientific field but also in interdisciplinary and interpersonal skills. Additionally, they will expand their network and gain experience through participating in secondments (research stays at a site of an academic or industrial partner). Finally, DCs will learn the best practices by developing online research and training tools, enabling them to work and collaborate across academic and industrial sectors. RE-Fibre training will contribute to DCs employability as future leaders, while supporting the green transition and a sustainable circular economy in Europe.

Project title: Reference Driven Sustainability by Design

Main Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Tobias Stern (UG), Co-Supervisor: Claudia Crestini (UNIVE), Industrial Supervisor: D. Bournas (JRC ISPRA)

Project description: 

The evaluation of sustainability and environmental impacts of bio-based products when compared to fossil-based counterparts has been done at late stage in the development process and is largely case-specific. Moreover, no studies comparing the performance of fully bio-based fibre composites to either fossil-based or glass-fibre based analogues exist due to lack of suitable target materials.

Objectives:

• Overcome the eco-design paradox by linking the development of new materials much straighter to reference materials that are considered for substitution;
• Extend standard LCA towards consequential approaches by linking multi-regional input-output analysis with LCA results;
• Guide the development of innovative bio-based composite production by implementing a SbD process
• Overseeing and coordinating the efforts with regard to RE-Fibre eTool

Secondments:

• TNO (4 months) alignment of modelling and LCA analysis (J. Van Hal)
• JRC ISPRA (4 months) LCA implementation for selected applications of the lignin-based materials (TBD)

Ihr Profil:

• Required education level: Master's degree in Environmental Science, Industrial Ecology or Sustainable Development
• Preferred background: Chemistry or biorefinery background; methodological knowledge/interest with regards to LCA and/or Input-Output-Analysis; Systems thinking; Sustainability-by-design
   
• Specific Requirements
  There are strict eligibility requirements for the DC positions in MSCA-Doctoral Networks (DNs). Please ensure to be qualified before applying, as ineligible candidates cannot be considered.
  • Admission to the program is open to applicants who hold a 2nd Level Master Degree (120 ECTS + 180 ECTS in a bachelor degree) or a Single Cycle Degree (minimum 300 ECTS), or a comparable university degree (Second Cycle qualification), as required by the partner universities for admission to doctoral studies.
  • At the time of recruitment applicants must not have been awarded a doctorate.
  • At the time of recruitment applicants must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the country of their host organization for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately before their recruitment date. Compulsory national service and/or short stays such as holidays and time spent as part of a procedure for obtaining refugee status under the Geneva Convention are not taken into account.
  • Applicant must be able to communicate fluently in English (at least B2-level speaking and writing).

The Supervisory Board will pay special attention to respect gender balance.

Wir bieten:

• Sinn: Wir bieten sinnstiftende Arbeit für die Welt von morgen.

• Unser internes Weiterbildungsangebot ist so bunt wie die Universität.

• Zusammenarbeit: Bei uns finden Sie interdisziplinäre, berufsgruppenübergreifende Möglichkeiten zur Zusammenarbeit.

• Benefits: Selbstverständlich gibt es alle gängigen Benefits von A wie Altersteilzeit bis Z wie Zumbakurse am Universitätssportinstitut (USI).

• Vielfalt: Neben der inhaltlichen Vielfalt der verschiedenen Wissenschaftsdisziplinen bieten wir ein Arbeitsumfeld, in dem Diversity gelebt wird und einen hohen Stellenwert einnimmt.

• Flexibilität: Flexibilität beweisen wir nicht nur mit den verschiedenen Arbeitszeitmodellen sondern auch mit den Angeboten zur Vereinbarkeit von Familie und Beruf.

Wir bieten ein Jahresbruttogehalt auf Basis Vollzeit von mindestens € 52007.20 Eine Überzahlung je nach Qualifikation und Erfahrung ist möglich.

Die Universität Graz strebt eine Erhöhung des Frauenanteils an, insbesondere in Leitungsfunktionen und beim wissenschaftlichen Personal, und lädt deshalb qualifizierte Frauen ausdrücklich zur Bewerbung ein. Im Falle der Unterrepräsentation werden Frauen bei gleicher Qualifikation grundsätzlich vorrangig aufgenommen. Wir freuen uns über Bewerbungen von Menschen mit Behinderung, die über eine ausschreibungsadäquate Qualifikation verfügen.

Bitte beachten Sie, dass wir Bewerbungen aufgrund der geltenden datenschutzrechtlichen Vorgaben ausschließlich über unser webbasiertes Bewerber:innen-Tool entgegennehmen können.

Über uns

An der Universität Graz arbeiten 4700 Mitarbeiter:innen gemeinsam an Zukunftsfragen und Lösungen für die Welt von morgen. Unsere Studierenden und unsere Forscher:innen stellen sich den großen Herausforderungen der Gesellschaft und tragen das Wissen hinaus. We work for tomorrow. Werden Sie Teil davon!

Kontakt

Main Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Tobias Stern (UG), Co-Supervisor: Claudia Crestini (UNIVE), Industrial Supervisor: D. Bournas (JRC ISPRA)