Wageningen University & Research
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2 days ago
PhD Position on Faecal Sludge Briquettes and Clean Energy in Kenya and Ethiopia Wageningen University & Research in Netherlands
Degree Level
PhD
Field of study
Environmental Science
Funding
The four-year Sandwich PhD provides a gross Wageningen salary of €3,059 per month in the first year, rising to €3,881 in the fourth year under the Dutch university collective labour agreement, based on a 38-hour full-time week. The remaining 24 months at partner institutes in Kenya and Ethiopia are funded through a gross local fellowship subject to local tax and granting-council rules. The project is funded by the Dutch Research Council (NWO), NRF-Kenya, and MInT, Ethiopia.
Deadline
Nov 24, 2026
Country
Netherlands
University
Wageningen University & Research
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About this position
Wageningen University & Research is offering a four-year Sandwich PhD focused on turning faecal sludge into clean energy in Kenya and Ethiopia. The project investigates faecal sludge briquettes (FSB) as a sustainable alternative to firewood and charcoal, supporting urban sanitation, resource recovery, climate resilience, and just energy transitions.
The PhD candidate will be based at the Environmental Technology group at Wageningen University & Research, with research carried out in collaboration with Egerton University in Kenya and Adama Science and Technology University in Ethiopia. The work will involve characterizing the physicochemical and microbial properties of faecal sludge, assessing pretreatment requirements, and optimizing locally available binding materials to improve briquette strength, calorific value, storage stability, and emissions performance.
This is a laboratory-intensive environmental science and chemical/materials engineering project requiring expertise in proximate analysis, calorific-value determination, thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, and quantitative data analysis using tools such as SPSS or R. Candidates should hold a relevant Master's degree, demonstrate C1-level English, communicate fluently in relevant local languages, and have experience working with communities in Kenya. A willingness to spend 24 months in Kenya and Ethiopia is essential.
The PhD includes 24 months in Wageningen across three stays and 24 months at partner institutes in Kenya and Ethiopia. The Wageningen salary ranges from €3,059 to €3,881 gross per month over the first to fourth year, while the overseas period is supported by a local fellowship subject to applicable rules. The application deadline is 24 November 2026. Applicants should submit a concise CV, motivation letter, and a journal article or MSc thesis chapter through the official vacancy page.
Funding details
The four-year Sandwich PhD provides a gross Wageningen salary of €3,059 per month in the first year, rising to €3,881 in the fourth year under the Dutch university collective labour agreement, based on a 38-hour full-time week. The remaining 24 months at partner institutes in Kenya and Ethiopia are funded through a gross local fellowship subject to local tax and granting-council rules. The project is funded by the Dutch Research Council (NWO), NRF-Kenya, and MInT, Ethiopia.
What's required
Applicants must hold a completed Master's degree or equivalent in Environmental Science or Engineering, Sanitation Engineering, Biotechnology or bio-based sciences, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, or a relevant field. Excellent academic English speaking and writing skills are required, with recognized TOEFL or IELTS testing where applicable, and English proficiency at C1 level. Applicants must have fluent speaking, writing, and reading capability in relevant local languages; proven experience working with local communities in mid-sized Kenyan cities; practical laboratory competence in physicochemical analysis, including proximate analysis, calorific value determination, thermogravimetric analysis, and differential scanning calorimetry; strong quantitative data-analysis skills using software such as SPSS or R; and the ability and willingness to spend 24 months in case-study sites in Kenya and Ethiopia. Desirable qualifications include experience working with Kenyan communities on water and sanitation issues, familiarity with living-lab methodology, and affiliation with a local institution to which the candidate can return after the PhD.
How to apply
Apply through the Apply button on the Wageningen University & Research vacancy page; only website applications will be considered. Submit a CV of no more than three pages including language skills, a one-page motivation letter, and a journal article or MSc thesis chapter. The CV and motivation letter together must not exceed four pages.
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ApplyKite TwinLearns as you applyMake your next move.
Prepare your application
Review drafts and confirm requirements with the university.