Predoctoral scientific researcher

ABOUT GHENT UNIVERSITY

Ghent University is a world of its own. Employing more than 15,000 people, it is actively involved in education and research, management and administration, as well as technical and social service provision on a daily basis. It is one of the largest, most exciting employers in the area and offers great career opportunities. With 11 faculties and more than 80 departments offering state‑of‑the‑art study programmes grounded in research in a wide range of academic fields, Ghent University is a logical choice for its staff and students.

The Sustainable Systems Engineering (STEN) group of Ghent University welcomes a candidate for a full time PhD position on Circular Design and Business Models for Sustainability of the next generation heat pumps. The PhD student will be appointed in the framework of the Ghent University – Daikin partnership (  ).

There is an important knowledge gap concerning the circular design and circular business models for heat pumps (HP). Optimal Circular Economy (CE) strategies should be identified and linked with various R strategies. A second challenge is the choice of sustainability indicators to be chosen in supporting the selection of the CE strategy. A third challenge is that the opportunities for certain circular economy strategies may be at the business implementation level, i.e. beyond an intervention at one single life cycle stage within one company but may require involvement of other actors along the value chain, e.g. waste processors.

The goal of this project is to build a decision support guidance on circular design and business models for sustainability of the next generation heat pumps. Understanding the potential sustainability impacts and indicators relevant to measure the impacts from a product and company perspective are essential, e.g. indicators related to environmental, economic and social impacts, but potentially also indicators related to the circularity and criticality of the materials involved.

Innovative scenarios for new circular business strategies must be identified that have the potential to achieve the intended circularity and sustainability strategy and targets.

In this PhD position, you will work in close collaboration with other STEN colleagues at Ghent University and with experts t of the work can be done via teleworking.

The scientific findings should lead to publications in international peer reviewed journals and should be presented at international conferences.

The start date is tentatively planned at October 1st 2026. The PhD duration is four years.

At least 90% of your assignment will be spent on academic research in preparation of a doctoral dissertation.

Candidates are expected to have a background in engineering and/or an affinity for sustainability analysis, sustainable use of materials and circular economy. We are looking for candidates with a critical and analytical attitude and a sense of initiative.

• You hold a master's degree in environmental engineering, bioscience engineering, chemical engineering, materials engineering, environmental technology, sustainable energy, product design or equivalent. Students graduating in  can apply as well.
• The degree requirements must be met at the start of the appointment;
• You have an interest in scientific research;
• You have a solid understanding of sustainability principles, circular economy concepts, and their application in product design.
• You have enthusiasm for environmental stewardship and a passion for creating sustainable solutions.
• You have a strong interest in energy technologies and want to actively contribute to achieving the goals of the Green Deal.
• You are a person with a strong technical interest, willing to lead and follow up a project.
• You can operate both independently and in a multidisciplinary team;
• You have organisational/managerial skills and are highly motivated;
• You have good writing and presentation skills;
• You master the English language, written and orally, in an academic context;
• Having experience with quantitative and/or qualitative research is essential;
• Additional requirements:
• You have experience with LCA software such as Sima Pro, open
  
  LCA, GaBi, etc.;
• You have experience with circularity indicators;
• You have experience with the development and comparison of different value chain scenarios;

• We offer you a contract of indefinite duration with a maximum term of 4 years.
• All Ghent University staff members enjoy a number of benefits, such as a wide range of training and education opportunities, 36 days of holiday leave (on an annual basis for a full‑time job) supplemented by annual fixed bridge days, a bicycle allowance and eco vouchers.

As Ghent University maintains an equal opportunities and diversity policy, everyone is encouraged to apply for this position.