Doctoral student in Chemistry Örebro University in Sweden

Örebro University is offering a full-time doctoral position in Chemistry within the School of Science and Technology. The project is part of the COAST PFAS – Coastal PFAS Transition Lab for Source Control, Substitution and Governance, a transdisciplinary research initiative focused on the spread of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from urban and industrial sources to coastal environments.

The doctoral student will work on the work package PFAS flows from land to sea, which aims to identify, map, and quantify PFAS sources and transport pathways in urban water systems and coastal environments. The research combines environmental analytical chemistry, wastewater and stormwater studies, process understanding, and systems perspectives to support preventive and sustainable PFAS management.

The project includes targeted and non-targeted PFAS analysis in wastewater, stormwater, industrial effluents, and receiving waters. Methods and techniques mentioned include LC-MS/MS, combustion ion chromatography, extractable organofluorine (EOF), oxidation methods for PFAS precursors, and high-resolution mass spectrometry for suspect and non-target screening. The work also involves interpretation of large analytical datasets and integration of findings into source-tracking and fate-assessment frameworks.

The doctoral student will be part of an interdisciplinary and international environment with collaboration across Örebro University, IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute, Chalmers University of Technology, VA SYD, Malmö City, and other partners in Sweden and internationally. The position includes field sampling campaigns, laboratory work, workshops, and collaborative research activities.

Supervision will be provided by Leo Yeung as principal supervisor and Felicia Fredriksson as assistant supervisor. The doctoral programme leads to a doctoral degree, comprises 240 credits, and corresponds to four years of full-time study. The position is tied to a full-time doctoral studentship for the duration of the programme, with an initial salary of SEK 32,300 per month.

Applicants must meet the university’s general and specific entry requirements for doctoral studies in Chemistry, including a second-cycle qualification or equivalent, and at least 120 credits in chemistry or a related subject area with an independent project at advanced level. The successful candidate should have knowledge of organic analytical chemistry and a strong interest in PFAS research, mass spectrometry, and multivariate statistics. Experience with sample preparation, relevant oxidation processes, LC-MS/MS, Q-TOF, high-resolution mass spectrometry, and combustion ion chromatography is considered valuable. A valid driver’s licence is a merit because the project involves fieldwork and partner collaboration.

The application deadline is 2026-08-31. Applications must be submitted online and include a CV, degree certificates and transcripts for Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees, the independent project, and other documents proving eligibility. If documents are not in Swedish, Danish, Norwegian, or English, they must be translated by an authorised translator.