Doctoral student in Chemistry

Ref no: ORU 2.1.1-04239/2026

Örebro University and the School of Science and Technology are looking for a doctoral student (PhD student) for the doctoral programme in Chemistry, concluding with a doctoral degree.
Start date: Fall 2026.

Project description

The doctoral student will be part of the research project COAST PFAS – Coastal PFAS Transition Lab for Source Control, Substitution and Governance, a transdisciplinary initiative addressing the spread of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from urban and industrial sources to coastal environments. The project combines environmental analytical chemistry, wastewater and stormwater research, process understanding, and systems perspectives to support preventive and sustainable PFAS management.

The PhD project is connected to the work package PFAS flows from land to sea, which focuses on identifying, mapping, and quantifying PFAS sources and transport pathways in urban water systems and coastal environments. The research will include targeted and non-targeted PFAS analysis in wastewater, stormwater, industrial effluents, and receiving waters. The research will also include the development of sector-specific PFAS fingerprints and mass-balance approaches.

The doctoral student will work with advanced analytical methods including 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 includes interpretation of large analytical datasets and integration of results into source-tracking and fate-assessment frameworks.

The project is conducted in close collaboration between IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute, Chalmers University of Technology, Örebro University, VA SYD, and Malmö City. The doctoral student will be part of an interdisciplinary and international research environment involving analytical chemistry, environmental engineering, and sustainability research. The position involves collaboration with researchers and stakeholders across academia, industry, and the public sector, and parts of the research may therefore be conducted at different research institutions and partner organizations in Sweden and internationally. The successful candidate is expected to actively participate in field sampling campaigns, laboratory work, workshops, and collaborative research activities within the COAST PFAS Transition Lab.

Supervision: The doctoral student will be supervised by Leo Yeung (principal supervisor) and Felicia Fredriksson (assistant supervisor).

The programme and the doctoral studentship

The doctoral programme consists of courses and an independent research project that you will present in a doctoral thesis. The programme concludes with a doctoral degree and comprises 240 credits, which corresponds to four years of full-time study.

Our ambition is for your doctoral studies to be stimulating and purposeful throughout the programme until you have obtained your doctoral degree. A thorough introduction will therefore get you off to a good start and provide a solid foundation on which you can build your studies. As a doctoral student at Örebro University, you will be offered a specially tailored seminar series, covering matters ranging from doctoral programme rules and careers to support during the study period and networking.

The place on the programme is linked to a full-time doctoral studentship for the duration of the study programme, which corresponds to four years of full-time study. More information on doctoral studentships, part-time studies and part-time doctoral studentships can be found in the Regulations Handbook. The initial salary for a doctoral studentship is SEK 32,300 a month.

Entry requirements and selection

For admission to doctoral studies, applicants are required to meet both general entry requirements and specific entry requirements. In addition, applicants must be considered in other respects to have the ability required to benefit from the programme. For a full account of the entry requirements, refer to the admissions regulations as well as to annex 2 to the general syllabus for Chemistry.

Applicants meet the general entry requirements if they

1. have been awarded a second-cycle qualification,
2. have satisfied the requirements for courses comprising at least 240 credits, of which at least 60 credits were awarded in the second-cycle, or
3. have acquired substantially equivalent knowledge in some other way in Sweden or abroad.

Applicants meet the specific entry requirements for doctoral studies in Chemistry if they received a passing grade in courses of at least 120 credits, including an independent project at the advanced course level or on the second cycle, in chemistry alternatively in a related subject area. The provision that a related subject area may provide access to the programme only applies on admission to the programme specialisations in life science or environmental science. A person who has acquired substantially corresponding knowledge, in Sweden or abroad, also meets the specific entry requirements.

The successful candidate should demonstrate knowledge in organic analytical chemistry and have a strong interest in PFAS research, mass spectrometric analysis, and multivariate statistics. Experience with sample preparation, relevant oxidation processes, LC-MS/MS, Q-TOF, high-resolution mass spectrometry, and combustion ion chromatography analyses are considered valuable merits, as is experience working in interdisciplinary and collaborative research environments. Since the project includes fieldwork and collaboration with external partners, a valid driver’s license is considered a merit.

Information

For more information about the programme and the doctoral studentship, contact Leo Yeung (Leo.Yeung@oru.se), Felicia Fredriksson (Felicia.Fredriksson@oru.se), or Head of Natural Science unit Ingrid Ericson Jogsten (Ingrid.Ericson@oru.se).

At Örebro University, we expect each member of staff to be open to development and change; take responsibility for their work and performance; demonstrate a keen interest in collaboration and contribute to development; as well as to show respect for others by adopting a constructive and professional approach.

Örebro University actively pursues equal opportunities and gender equality as well as a work environment characterised by openness, trust and respect. We value the qualities that diversity adds to our operations.

Application to the programme and for the doctoral studentship

The application is made online. Click the button “Apply” to begin the application procedure.

For the application to be complete, the following electronic documents must be included:

• CV
• Copies of the original certificate and official transcript for Bachelor's degree
• Copies of the original certificate and official transcript for Master's degree
• Independent project (degree project)
• Other relevant documents, course and degree certificates verifying eligibility

As a main rule, application documents and attachments are to be written in Swedish, Danish, Norwegian, or English. Certificates and documents in other languages verifying your qualifications and experience must be translated by an authorised translator to Swedish or English. A list of authorised translators can be obtained from Kammarkollegiet (the Legal, Financial and Administrative Services Agency), www.kammarkollegiet.se/engelska/start.

When you apply for admission, you automatically also apply for a doctoral studentship.

More information for applicants will be found on our career site:  https://www.oru.se/english/career/available-positions/applicants-and-external-experts/

The application deadline is 2026-08-31. We look forward to receiving your application!

As we have already made our choices in terms of external collaboration partners and marketing efforts for this recruitment process, we decline any contact with recruitment agencies and advertisers.

As directed by the National Archives of Sweden (Riksarkivet), we are required to deposit one file copy of the application documents, excluding publications, for a period of two years after the appointment decision has gained legal force.