PhD Candidate in Prospective Sustainability Assessment of Europe's Steel Transition Leiden University in Netherlands

Leiden University is offering a PhD position in Prospective Sustainability Assessment of Europe’s Steel Transition at the Institute of Environmental Sciences (CML) in Leiden, the Netherlands. The project is embedded in the Horizon Europe consortium DiversEAFy, which focuses on making future electric arc furnace (EAF) steelmaking more resilient through feedstock upgrading, flexible mix design, AI-supported process steering, and valorisation of slags.

The PhD research will contribute to understanding how changing material availability, steel quality, recycling systems, and technology deployment influence the environmental performance of the European steel sector as it transitions toward a circular and low-carbon economy. The work will develop dynamic material flow analysis (dMFA) models for the EU27, track steel stocks and flows, and assess scrap generation, scrap quality, and the movement of impurities and tramp elements through the steel life cycle.

The project also includes coupling material flow models with prospective life cycle assessment (LCA), market analysis, and technology deployment scenarios to evaluate future steel production pathways up to 2050. Environmental impacts to be assessed include climate change, energy and resource use, water consumption, waste generation, and emissions, alongside sensitivity and uncertainty analyses.

The successful candidate will work closely with researchers in metallurgy, industrial ecology, circular economy, life cycle assessment, and sustainability transitions, both at Leiden University and within the wider DiversEAFy consortium across Europe. This makes the position especially relevant for candidates interested in interdisciplinary environmental assessment, industrial systems, and the decarbonization of heavy industry.

Applicants should hold a completed MSc in environmental sciences, industrial ecology, sustainability science, engineering, materials science, systems analysis, or a related field. Strong quantitative and analytical skills are expected, along with interest in material flow analysis, environmental modelling, scenario analysis, and circular economy research. Programming or data analysis experience in tools such as Python, R, MATLAB, or GIS is preferred. Excellent English skills and the ability to work independently and collaboratively are also required.

The position offers an employment contract for one year with a view to permanent employment, a salary of €3059–€3881 gross per month for a full-time 38-hour appointment, and standard Dutch university employment benefits including holiday allowance, end-of-year bonus, pension, commuting reimbursement, and flexible working arrangements. The application deadline is 1 August 2026, and the desired start date is 1 September.