SLU University, Sweden invites online application for multiple fully funded PhD Programs in various research areas. Candidates interested in fully funded PhD positions can check the details and may apply as soon as possible.
1. PhD Programs in technology development of next generation sanitation systems
Summary of PhD Positions:
The sanitation sector is increasingly focusing on resource recovery as a way to adapt to environmental challenges. At the same time, the World needs flexible and safe sanitation systems that can be scaled-up quickly to service the billions of people currently lacking access to a proper toilet. A new sanitation paradigm is emerging with flexible, decentralized solutions that recover resources in the form of nutrients, water and energy for use in society.
SLU has developed a new technology to treat source-separated human urine, where fresh human urine is chemically stabilised and then evaporated to produce water and a solid fertilizer. The technology has been piloted in several locations across Sweden (e.g., at the offices of VA Syd in Malmö). If implemented globally, human urine could substitute about one-quarter of current nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers worldwide.
The aim of this PhD project will be to continue the technology development, with focus on performing research in support of scaling up the urine dehydrating sanitation system. During this project, lab-scale treatment systems available at SLU will be scaled up into full scale operations for the production of 25 kg of dry fertilisers per day. The project will involve both fundamental research (e.g., evaluating changes to composition and properties of urine during dehydration) and implementation research (e.g., developing reactors for stabilizing urine at the toilet).
The PhD project will be part of a larger Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Action collaborative project, “P2Green” (Closing the gap between fork and farm for circular nutrient flows), where three pilot regions will scale-up and implement innovative sanitation technologies in real-life conditions. The Island of Gotland will be one of the pilot regions where SLU will scale up and validate urine dehydration.
Application Deadlines: 2022-11-20
2. PhD Programs in sustainable assessment of new sanitation systems
Summary of PhD Positions:
The sanitation sector is increasingly focusing on resource recovery as a way to adapt to environmental challenges. At the same time, the World needs flexible and safe sanitation systems that can be scaled-up quickly to service the billions of people currently lacking access to a proper toilet. A new sanitation paradigm is emerging with flexible, decentralized solutions that recover resources in the form of nutrients, water and energy for use in a variety of productive sectors. The aim of this project is to investigate the potential for new sanitation innovations to provide sustainable benefits by quantifying trade-offs in terms of environmental impacts, costs and uncertainties.
The primary focus will be on developing decision-support tools that allow decision-makers to weight trade-offs and test options for integrating new sanitation systems into existing infrastructures. Methods used will include life cycle assessment, cost-benefit analysis and systems dynamic modeling. The assessment methods will be applied on case studies of emerging technologies for nutrient recovery from urine and wastewater in the context of an EU project. The work will include interaction with stakeholders to co-design of development trajectories for integrating new sanitation systems into the local context.
Application Deadlines: 2022-11-20
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