Postdoc in simulation model development climate-neutral waterborne transport coastal and inland waterways

Postdoc In Simulation Model Development For Climate-Neutral Waterborne Transport On Coastal And Inland Waterways

We are looking for a postdoc to join our team at the Division of Marine Technology, Department of Mechanical Engineering. Become part of our innovative group and contribute to exciting research in climate-neutral waterborne transportation within a collaborative and dynamic environment.

The rapid growth of freight transport challenges both infrastructure and the environment. Electrified waterborne transport offers a highly energy-efficient and climate-neutral alternative to road freight, particularly for coastal and inland waterways. This project focuses on advancing electromobility in shipping by integrating high-fidelity vessel operation simulations with energy system analysis to optimize performance, energy use, and infrastructure deployment.

Building on the VPF-IWV voyage planning framework and the ChaSE platform developed in previous projects at the Division of Marine Technology, the project will adapt electric propulsion and energy system modules for inland and coastal operations, including shallow, confined waterways and Swedish winter conditions. Route-specific simulations will quantify energy demand, assess battery performance, and evaluate operational reliability under environmental disturbances such as currents, waves, and ice.

The project will also perform life-cycle techno-environmental-economic assessment of alternative vessel concepts, comparing high-capacity ships and small-vessel platooning, while optimizing charging infrastructure location, power allocation, and utilization. By combining route-specific operational data, renewable energy integration, and electromobility assessment, the project will support the Swedish and the European shift from road to waterborne transport. The results will provide actionable guidance for industry adoption, policy development, and the deployment of resilient, low-emission, and electrified inland and coastal shipping systems.

• Develop a performance assessment framework for electrified coastal and inland vessels, using route-specific simulations of energy use under constrained-water operations.
• Create models for handling hydraulic data, operational profiles, and environmental conditions, which will be integrated to quantify energy demand across different operating states, including shallow, confined waterways and winter navigation.
• Conduct operational analyses to quantify the effects of ship dynamics and environmental disturbances, including confined waterways, waves, and currents, on electric propulsion performance and energy demand.
• Assess battery performance and operational reliability under Nordic winter conditions, including low temperatures and varying ice conditions, to support robust winter navigation.
• A life-cycle assessment framework will be developed to quantify the environmental and economic performance of alternative vessel concepts, including high-capacity vessels for open fairways and small-vessel platooning in confined waterways, while optimising charging infrastructure deployment and charging power based on route-specific operational profiles.
• Supervise master's and/or PhD students to a certain extent.
• Possibility to engage in teaching at undergraduate/master's level.

The position is a temporary full-time employment for two years with the possibility of a one-year extension.

The position requires physical presence throughout the entire employment. A valid residence permit must be presented by the start date, otherwise the offer may be withdrawn.

• As a postdoc at Chalmers, you are an employee and enjoy all employee benefits.
• A dynamic and inspiring working environment in the coastal city of Gothenburg.
• Read more about Sweden's generous parental leave, subsidized day care, free schools, healthcare etc at Move To Gothenburg.

Chalmers is dedicated to improving gender balance and actively works with equality projects, such as the GENIE Initiative for gender equality and excellence. We celebrate diversity and consider equality and inclusion as fundamental aspects of all our activities.

If Swedish is not your native language, Chalmers offers Swedish courses to help you settle in.

The application should be written in English be attached as PDF-files, as below. Maximum size for each file is 40 MB. Please note that the system does not support Zip files.

• A comprehensive CV, including a complete list of publications.
• Details of previous teaching and pedagogical experience.

• A brief introduction about yourself.
• A summary of your previous research fields and key research outcomes.
• An outline of your future goals and research focus.

Use the button at the foot of the page to reach the application form. A background check may be conducted as part of the application process. The applicant is responsible for ensuring that the application is complete. Incomplete…