The PhD position is for a period of 3 years.Desired start date: 1 January 2026 or earlier.
The PhD project is part of TIES project “Tunable ion separations with micro-structured composite membranes”. The project is funded by The Research Council of Norway and aims to develop a novel electromembrane process of ion separation for recovery of rare earth elements and removal of micropollutants from water.
The central scientific question of the TIES project is how to achieve selective ion separation based on differences in diffusion coefficients within electromembrane processes. The research will focus on designing advanced composite membranes that enable trace-level accumulation by coupling electroosmosis with current-induced ion concentration polarization.
The project also integrates data science and material design into a novel interdisciplinary approach of data-driven membrane discovery that includes material space construction and exploration, candidate selection and verification, providing data for machine learning models to optimise membrane properties, structure, and fabrication.
The PhD candidate will play a key role in the experimental part of the project, including:
You will join the research efforts at the Department of Water and Environmental Engineering at NMBU and contribute to its development. As a student in the PhD Programme for Science and Technology, you will work towards your doctoral thesis and earn your PhD upon successful defence of your thesis.
The successful candidate is expected to enter a plan for the progress of the work towards a PhD degree during the first months of the appointment, with a view to completing a doctorate within the PhD contract period.
The following experiences and skills will be emphasized:
Applicants who have recently graduated with excellent results may be given preference.
Personal qualities
The successful applicant must meet the conditions defined for admission to a PhD programme at NMBU. For more detailed information on the admission criteria please see the PhD Regulations and the relevant PhD programme description.
The appointment is to be made in accordance with Regulations on terms of employment for positions such as postdoctoral fellow, Phd candidate, research assistant and specialist candidate and Regulations concerning the degrees of Philosophiae Doctor (PhD) at the Norwegian University of Life Science (NMBU)
The engagement is to be made in accordance with the regulations in force concerning State Employees and Civil Servants, and the acts relating to Norwegian Security and Control of the Export of Strategic Goods, Services and Technology. Candidates who by assessment of the application and attachment are seen to conflict with the criteria in the latter laws will be prohibited from recruitment.
To apply online for this vacancy, please click on the ‘Søk på stillingen’ button above. This will route you to the University’s Web Recruitment System, where you will need to register an account (if you have not already) and log in before completing the online application form.
Application deadline: 03.11.2025
Applicants who, in addition to the mandatory documents, submit a brief research proposal relevant to the project — outlining the planned research — can be prioritized for the first round of interviews.
Please note that all documents should be in English or a Scandinavian language.
By applying the candidate confirms that information and documentation submitted via the job application can also be used by NMBU in a possible admission process to the PhD program.
Interviews with the best qualified candidates will be arranged. Applicants invited for an interview are expected to present original diplomas and certificates.
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