Postdoctoral researcher in Environmental and energy systems, specialised in systems analysis and sustainable development of fibre-based products

Description

Do you want to be a part of a research environment where a variety of perspectives and skills contribute to novel solutions that promote a sustainable society? Department of Engineering and Chemical Sciences comprises a staff of approximately 60 people working in fields such as construction engineering, chemistry, chemical engineering, and environmental and energy systems. The department is part of the Faculty of Health, Science and Technology and offers an open environment focused on cooperation, where research and education are developed through joint efforts.

The department is now welcoming applications for four postdoctoral appointments, which are part of the eight-year project Infinity Fiber. The four postdoctoral researchers will be working closely together with each other as well as with senior researchers and fourteen industry partners, in a multidisciplinary and practice-focused research environment. Close collaboration between academia and industry enables research focused on practical utility.

Infinity Fiber takes on challenges related to the entire forest-based value chain, with a particular emphasis on fibre circularity, innovative separation processes, carbon circularity and sustainability assessment. Work duties are focused on analysis and modelling of sustainable value chains, and provide the opportunity to examine how various technological development paths can contribute to a more sustainable and competitive utilisation of forest-based materials.

You can find more information about Infinity Fiber here.

Due to the postdoctoral appointment’s nature as a career-development position for junior researchers, we are looking for candidates who have completed their PhD no more than three years before the application deadline.

Duties

As a postdoctoral researcher, you will contribute to the development of an integrated framework for the assessment of the environmental and financial performance of innovative, climate-smart fibre technologies and circular value chains. The research is conducted in close collaboration with the industry partners that participate in the project and aims to contribute to the understanding of and comparison between alternative technological development paths and their potential, both in terms of competitiveness and sustainability.

You will collect, compile and process data from various sources, including experimental studies within the project and data from industry partners, and develop high-quality databases. The research will include modelling and analysis of value chains, as well as assessment of alternative technological development paths and potential future scenarios. Process simulation, techno-economic assessment (TEA) and life-cycle assessment (LCA) of fibre-based production systems will be integrated with and complemented by AI-based methods such as machine learning. Duties will also include analysis of uncertainties and dynamic system responses.

You will also assess strategies for managing the end-phase of the fibre-based product cycle, with an emphasis on reutilisation, recycling and prolonging the functional longevity of cellulose fibres over several product cycles.

The resulting framework will provide useful and industry-relevant tools for data-driven product and process development, technology choice, and sustainability planning that spans the entire value chain. Consequently, this work contributes to the creation of knowledge that can be used as a basis for decision-making with regard to the transition to climate-friendly and circular fibre value chains.

You will work in close collaboration with researchers within the fields of chemistry, chemical engineering, and environmental and energy systems, as well as with industry partners. These collaborative efforts provide opportunities for mutual exchange and ensure that the knowledge and expertise available at the university is of benefit to society.

In order to contribute to a positive work environment and the development of the department’s activities, we expect you to be present and that you participate in the workplace community and day-to-day operations.

Qualification requirements

To be eligible for the postdoctoral appointment, applicants are required to hold a PhD in environmental engineering, industrial engineering and management, chemical engineering, or other related subject of relevance for the position, or have equivalent qualifications from abroad. The PhD must have a clear specialisation in the following areas: environmental systems analysis and sustainability assessment, process simulation, and techno-economic viability. The PhD must be completed before a decision to appoint an applicant is made. The candidate must have completed the degree no more than three years before the application deadline.

Qualifications obtained earlier may be considered if there are special grounds, such as sick leave, parental leave, clinical service, service as a union representative, military service or similar, or service/assignment of relevance to the appointment.

The work duties require you to conduct research independently and responsibly, as well as to collaborate closely in interdisciplinary groups. Hence, you must be able to plan and carry out research on your own, as well as contribute to joint research efforts.

You have strong teamwork skills. In addition, you are also good at following instructions, and you are open to feedback and the perspectives of others. You possess sound judgment and collaborate well with colleagues, private companies and other collaboration partners. You take responsibility for your duties, you communicate clearly and constructively, and you contribute to the development of your colleagues. You are structured, focused on common goals and can prioritise and deliver quality work within agreed-upon timeframes.

Due to the international nature of the work environment, a good command of spoken and written English is required.

In addition, all employees at Karlstad University are expected to demonstrate strong collaborative skills and to treat colleagues and students with respect. They are also expected to take responsibility for both the organisation and their own work, and to contribute to a positive work environment.

Assessment criteria

Special weight is given to research experience related to AI, including machine learning, predictive analytics, and data-driven modelling, in particular in combination with LCA and decision support systems. Experience of developing smart or data-driven platforms for optimisation, forecasting, and scenario analysis is of particular relevance in relation to the field of forest bioeconomy.

Special weight is also given to published research, both in terms of quantity and relevance for the research field, as well as to completed master’s and doctoral courses on programming (for example Python) and simulation and optimisation methods within AI (for example machine learning).

Considerable weight is given to experience of industry collaboration.

Weight is given to research visits or work at a university other than the one that issued the applicant's doctoral degree, as well as international research visits.

Proficiency in Swedish, both in speech and writing, is also desirable.

For eligibility requirements and bases for assessment in general, please refer to Karlstad University’s Appointments Procedure.

Terms

This is a full-time, fixed-term postdoctoral appointment for 2 years with the possibility of an extension, in accordance with the collective agreement on fixed-term employment for postdoctoral appointments. Start date at the earliest convenience, as agreed by both parties.

Application

Submit the application via the University’s web-based recruitment tool, Varbi. Applicants are responsible for submitting a complete application in accordance with the advertisement, for providing translations of any documents written in a language other than Swedish, Norwegian, Danish or English, and for ensuring that the documentation allows for objective and qualitative assessments. A complete application must be submitted by the application deadline. An incomplete application may jeopardise a fair assessment of qualifications.

The application should include:

• CV
• Cover letter describing the applicant’s qualifications in relation to the duties of the position
• An account of your administrative experience
• A list of publications (in multi-authored publications, the role of the applicant must be specified)
• An account of language skills
• Copy of PhD degree certificate or documented equivalent academic expertise, or equivalent professional qualifications deemed relevant to the nature of the position and the duties included therein
• No more than 10 scientific publications and no more than 5 materials intended to convey knowledge, such as textbooks, computer programs for teaching, or popular science articles
• Two references, at least one of which is a current or former supervisor

Attach all the documents and publications you wish to be considered to the electronic application (do not just provide links). Name each uploaded document to clearly indicate its content. Documents that cannot be submitted electronically, such as books or publications, should be sent in triplicate to the following address:

Karlstads universitet
HR-administratör
651 88 Karlstad Sweden

Application deadline: 2026-11-24

State the reference number: REK2026/236

We look forward to your application!

Karlstad University has chosen advertising channels for this recruitment and firmly declines any contact with advertising or recruitment agencies.

This translation carries no legal weight.