Ergang Wang

PFAS pollution represents a significant environmental challenge due to the persistence of these chemicals in water resources, ecosystems, and food webs. Current treatment technologies often fail to eliminate PFAS, instead transferring them between waste streams. At Chalmers University of Technology, this doctoral project aims to develop innovative treatment trains that concentrate PFAS from complex water matrices and subsequently destroy them using catalytic and photocatalytic approaches, supported by advanced analytical verification methods. The research is conducted in close collaboration with IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute, Örebro University, and municipal wastewater treatment plants. The Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering at Chalmers offers a broad and international research environment, spanning fundamental chemistry, health and medical technology, materials science, renewable energy, chemical engineering processing, material recycling, nuclear chemistry, theory, and modelling. The Ergang Wang group specializes in organic semiconductors for electronics and the development of photocatalysts for sustainable chemistry applications. The group is international, comprising a professor, permanent researcher, postdocs, and PhD students. This doctoral position is part of the Formas-funded COAST PFAS project, which aims to reduce PFAS emissions to coastal waters by combining source control, advanced analytics, treatment technologies, and governance innovation. The PhD project focuses on developing and evaluating treatment trains that combine PFAS pre-concentration, catalytic and photocatalytic destruction, and advanced analytical verification to achieve robust PFAS elimination in complex water matrices. Instead of merely capturing PFAS and creating waste streams, the project targets upstream solutions: concentrating PFAS into manageable side streams followed by catalytic and photocatalytic destruction, with robust verification to avoid hidden byproducts. Experimental work will involve visits to IVL’s Sjöstadsverket Water Innovation Centre in Stockholm and collaboration with Örebro University researchers. Applicants must have a relevant Master's degree (or equivalent) in material science, chemistry, chemical engineering, environmental engineering, or related fields. Strong English communication skills are required. Experience in catalysis, electrochemistry, photocatalysis, environmental chemistry, water treatment, or analytical chemistry is mandatory. Additional experience with PFAS, persistent organic pollutants, water/wastewater treatment, advanced oxidation/reduction processes, mass spectrometry, reactor design, QA/QC routines, programming/data handling, organic or materials synthesis will strengthen the application. The position is fully funded, with a starting salary of 35,725 SEK per month (from May 1, 2026), and includes employee benefits. The appointment is for four years, with the possibility to teach up to 20% and extend to five years. Doctoral studies require physical presence in Sweden throughout the study period, and a valid residence permit must be presented by the start date. As a doctoral student at Chalmers, you will take advanced courses, develop scientific concepts, communicate research results, and contribute to publications and project deliverables. The role involves interdisciplinary collaboration, periodic travel to partner organizations, and participation in experimental and joint research activities. Chalmers offers a dynamic working environment in Gothenburg, with support for gender equality and integration, including Swedish language courses for non-native speakers. Applications must be submitted in English as PDF files via the online application form. Required documents include CV, personal letter, introduction, motivation, thesis, and transcripts. Incomplete applications and those sent by email will not be considered. References will be requested after the interview. The application deadline is August 10, 2026. For questions, contact Ergang Wang ([email protected]), Linda Önnby ([email protected]), or Leo Yeung ([email protected]).

Doctoral Student in Sustainable Photocatalysis for Plastic Upcycling at Chalmers University of Technology (Gothenburg, Sweden). This PhD project sits in the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering and the Applied Chemistry division, within the Ergang Wang group . The research is part of SPECTRA , a Horizon Europe EIC Pathfinder consortium focused on circular resource utilization, combining expertise in materials science, photocatalysis, modelling, optical engineering, reactor development, sustainability assessment, and industrial innovation. The project focuses on advanced photocatalytic materials and processes for the selective conversion of plastic waste into valuable products . Research activities include photocatalyst synthesis and characterization, photocatalytic reaction studies, product separation and purification, mechanistic investigations, and collaboration with European partners on modelling, reactor engineering, and sustainability assessment. Applicants must have a relevant Master’s degree (or, for applicants educated outside Sweden, a 4-year Bachelor’s degree may be accepted) in materials science, chemistry, chemical engineering, environmental engineering, or equivalent. Strong English communication skills are required. Relevant experience in catalysis, photocatalysis, photochemistry, polymer science, environmental chemistry, or analytical chemistry is expected; additional experience in materials characterization, chromatography, spectroscopy, reactor operation, flow chemistry, separation/purification, or mechanistic studies will strengthen the application. The position is fully funded from the start , with a fixed-term duration of four years and the possibility of up to 10% teaching, extending the appointment to 4 years and 3 months. The starting salary is 35,725 SEK per month . Application deadline: 2026-08-20 . Apply in English via the online application form and upload a CV, personal letter, and thesis documents with transcripts. Incomplete applications or applications sent by email will not be considered.