Job Information
Organisation/Company: KTH Royal Institute of Technology Department: Department of Chemistry Research Field: Chemistry » Physical chemistry Researcher Profile: First Stage Researcher (R1) Positions: PhD Positions Application Deadline: 20 Sep 2026 - 23:59 (Europe/Stockholm) Country: Sweden Type of Contract: Temporary Job Status: Full-time Offer Starting Date: 1 Nov 2026 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?: Horizon Europe - MSCA Reference Number: DC9 Marie Curie Grant…
Agreement Number: 101311389 Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?: Yes
Offer Description
Objective
This PhD project explores the behavior of electrolytes within nanoporous electrodes, with particular emphasis on how pore size, morphology, and surface chemistry govern ion confinement and charge storage. A central objective is to distinguish and quantify the respective contributions of in-pore and ex-pore ions, providing molecular-level insight into ion-electrode interactions. The project focuses on ionic liquid electrolytes as promising candidates for next-generation energy storage systems. You will investigate ion transport processes during charging and discharging in batteries and supercapacitors using advanced NMR techniques, complemented by targeted computational modelling. This integrated approach will enable identification of the dominant ion transport mechanisms in carbon-based electrodes and support the development of robust structure–property relationships for high-performance electrochemical devices.
Expected results
- Gaining insights into functional and transport properties of energy storage materials using NMR studies and atomistic simulations.
- Detailed static and operando analysis of materials used within the project, providing feedback about electrolyte stability and degradation mechanisms.
Where to apply
Website: https://www.kth.se/en/studies/phd
Requirements
Research Field: Chemistry » Physical chemistry
Education Level: Master Degree or equivalent
Skills/Qualifications
We are looking for a person with a strong background in physical chemistry who enjoys experimental work. 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.
Experience with NMR spectroscopy methods is considered a merit.
After the qualification requirements, great emphasis will be placed on personal skills.
To be admitted to postgraduate education at KTH, 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.
A suitable background is a master's degree in Chemistry, Physical Chemistry, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Electrochemistry or closely related disciplines.
There is also a mandatory requirement for English equivalent to English B/6 (https://www.kth.se/en/studies/phd/entry-requirements-for-doctoral-studies-1.520175).
Excellent communication and writing skills, thorough command of the English language
Languages: ENGLISH
Level: Excellent
Additional Information
Benefits
KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm has grown to become one of Europe’s leading technical and engineering universities, as well as a key centre of intellectual talent and innovation. We are Sweden’s largest technical research and learning institution and home to students, researchers and faculty from around the world. Our research and education cover a wide area including natural sciences and all branches of engineering, as well as architecture, industrial management, urban planning, history and philosophy. The School of Chemical Science and Engineering spans Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, and Fibre and Polymer Technology, integrating fundamental and applied research with a focus on sustainability. The Division of Applied Physical Chemistry conducts research in analytical and spectroscopic methods, quantum and radiation chemistry, solar energy, and materials chemistry.
The selected candidate will be required to enroll in a PhD program at KTH.
Supervisors are
- Prof. Sergey Dvinskikh (KTH, https://www.kth.se/profile/sergeid)
- Dr. M. Rincon Bonilla (BCAM, https://www.bcamath.org/en/people/bcam-members/mrincon)
Supervisors from secondments:
- Dr. Pavel V Yushmanov (https://www.plscientific.se)
- Prof. Elena Akhmatskaya (BCAM, https://www.bcamath.org/en/research/areas/m3a/mslms)
Doctoral Candidate will stay 5 months at Basque Center for Applied Mathematics in Bilbao (Prof. Elena Akhmatskaya) and 4 months at P&L Scientific in Stockholm (Dr. Pavel V Yushmanov).
The salary will comply with the rules of the 2025 MSCA Doctoral Network program under Horizon Europe and consists of:
- a living allowance (country correction coefficient applies),
- a mobility allowance (€710/month),
- and, if applicable, a family allowance (€660/month).
All amounts are subject to national taxation and social security regulations.
- Social security coverage
- Training, networking and secondment opportunities
- Career development plan.
The position is funded for 36 months under the MSCA Doctoral Network. In accordance with national regulations, the total duration of the employment contract may extend beyond the MSCA-funded period. In this case, the total contract duration is expected to be 48 months.
Start date: from 01.11.2026 but not later than 01.04.2027
Type of contract: Full-time employment contract in accordance with national regulations
Hours per week: Full time
Local language: English is the main working language at KTH.
Diversity statement
Striving towards gender equality, diversity, and equal conditions is both a question of quality for KTH and a given part of our values.
Eligibility criteria
Applicants must not already hold a doctoral degree at the date of recruitment and must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in Sweden for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before the recruitment date.
Eligibility will be verified at the time of recruitment.
Selection process
Applicants must submit:
- Copies of diplomas and grades from previous university studies and certificates of fulfilled language requirements. Translations into English or Swedish if the original document is not issued in one of these languages. Copies of originals must be certified.
- CV including your relevant professional experience and knowledge, and a detailed description of residence and main activities over the last 3 years.
- 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).
- Representative publications or technical reports. For longer documents, please provide a summary (abstract) and a web link to the full text.
- The names and emails of two reference persons.
It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that the application is complete in accordance with the instructions in the advertisement.
Application Deadline: Please check the application webpage at KTH.
Apply via: https://www.kth.se/lediga-jobb?l=en
Selection of candidates
Recruitment will follow the MSCA Doctoral Network principles of:
- Open, transparent and merit-based selection
- Equal opportunities and non-discrimination
- Evaluation by a qualified selection committee
Shortlisted candidates may be invited for interviews. The selection process will be properly documented in accordance with MSCA requirements.
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.
As a doctoral student, you are entitled to a workplace with many employee benefits. Read more about Doctoral studies (PhD) | KTH | Sweden.
Union representatives: Contact information to trade union representatives.
Doctoral Students’ network (Students’ union on KTH Royal Institute of Technology): Contact information for PhD chapter.
For information about processing of personal data in the recruitment process: https://www.kth.se/en/om/jobba-pa-kth/behandling-av-personuppgifter-i-samband-med-rekrytering-till-kth-1.823440
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.
More details about the position, application procedure and recruitment can be found on the e-ChemIn webpage (www.e-chemin-dn.eu).
This will receive funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation program under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement No. 101311389.
Additional comments
The e-ChemIn network brings 12 academic and 6 industrial partners from 9 countries formed an international, interdisciplinary and inter-sectoral team. 15 Doctoral candidates will enjoy a multi-disciplinary and international environment with plenty of training opportunities and exchange with all labs involved in the Network.
The doctoral candidates will be hired in one of the following institutions/organisations:
- Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces (DC1);
- Leibniz Institute for New Materials (DC2, DC3, DC15);
- Stockholm University (DC4, DC13);
- Basque Center for Applied Mathematics (DC5);
- CIC energiGUNE (DC6, DC7);
- VSB Technical University of Ostrava (DC8);
- Royal Institute of Technology (DC9);
- Leiden University (DC10);
- University of Liverpool (DC11);
- University of Trieste (DC12);
- MONOLITHOS Catalysts and Recycling Ltd. (DC14)
Scientific background
The climate targets set by the EU with the goal of climate neutrality by 2050 require a transformation of all sectors of the economy towards the use of renewables-based electricity, calling for joined forces between EU countries in order to achieve a more resilient energy system. In the e-ChemIn we are united by the idea of applying a new paradigm in designing energy devices, which shifts the current approach of creating individual materials towards engineering electrochemically ACTIVE MATERIALS INTERFACES. Working together we will:
- design multiple sets of electrochemical interfaces using renewable, abundant, and circular materials and optimize them for new generations of energy conversion and storage devices. Created lab-scale prototypes which outperform characteristics of current benchmarks and will be ready for further developments at high TRLs (5-9);
- develop multimodal approaches for the characterization of interfaces operando at the nanoscale, providing unprecedented insights into interfaces in action and making the characterization of active interfaces accessible to the broader scientific community;
- successfully establish processes for the recovery of critical raw materials from end-of-life devices and apply them at the industrial scale.
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Website for additional job details
https://www.kth.se/lediga-jobb?l=en
Work Location(s)
Number of offers available: 1
Company/Institute: KTH Royal Institute of Technology - Department of Chemistry
Country: Sweden
State/Province: Stockholms Iän
City: Stockholm
Postal Code: 114 28
Street: Teknikringen 30
Contact
State/Province: Stockholms Iän
City: Stockholm
Website: https://www.kth.se/che/tfk
Street: Teknikringen 30
Postal Code: 114 28
E-Mail: sergeid@kth.se
Phone: +4687908224
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