Doctoral Position at UNIBO Restorative MSCA Doctoral Network : DC"Ex-Ant

Position: Doctoral Candidate position at UNIBO in the RESTORATIVE MSCA Doctoral Network : DC14 on "Ex-Ant[...]
Organisation/Company Alma Mater Studiorum - Università di Bologna Department Department of Civil, Chemical, Environmental, and Materials Engineering - DICAM Research Field Engineering » Chemical engineering Engineering » Systems engineering Technology » Energy technology Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Positions PhD Positions Final date to receive applications 31 Aug 2026 - 23:59 (Europe/Rome) Country Italy Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Hours Per Week 40 Offer Starting Date 1 Nov 2026 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?

Horizon Europe - MSCA Reference Number DC14  Marie Curie Grant Agreement Number  Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No
Offer Description
The successful candidate for this post (DC14) will be employed full-time for a fixed-term of 36 months and enrolled on a PhD at the University of Bologna from 1st November 2026 to research and write a PhD thesis on Ex-Ante LCA tools for the environmental impact assessment of TM-GSES systems.
Job duration: 36 months
Main research field:
Chemical Engineering
Research subfield:
Systems Engineering, Life Cycle Assessment, Energy Storage
The project aims at developing an innovative prospective (“ex-ante”) life cycle assessment (LCA) approach for the quantitative evaluation of the sustainability of grid‑scale energy storage (GSES) technologies.
It will define the scope and boundaries of the ex‑ante LCA within a cradle‑to‑grave perspective, with the goal of creating a novel framework for assessing environmental impacts of energy storage technologies, with particular reference to thermo‑mechanical GSES (TM‑GSES) systems.
The approach will incorporate a forward‑looking perspective into life cycle modelling, by addressing uncertainties related to technological scaling and learning, as well as the evolution of the background energy scenarios. Dedicated metrics will be developed to capture the key impacts related to material sourcing, manufacturing, operation, and end‑of‑life management. These metrics will be designed to allow a seamless integration into a broader sustainability assessment framework including also socio‑economic impacts, also developed within the RESTORATIVE Doctoral Network.
The expected outcomes of the project are:

Validation and demonstration, through application to practical case studies, of an innovative ex‑ante LCA methodology, specifically tailored to the assessment of energy storage systems;
Definition of metrics and indicators specifically designed for integration into a comprehensive sustainability assessment framework, supporting both environmental and socio‑economic dimensions;
Application of the developed LCA methodology to case studies of energy systems developed within the RESTORATIVE Doctoral Network.

Where to apply
E-mail dicam.restorative-unibo
Requirements
Research Field Engineering » Chemical engineering Education Level Master Degree or equivalent
Skills/Qualifications
Preferred selection criteria

A degree obtained by July 2026 giving access to doctoral studies in Chemical Engineering or Environmental Engineering or Energy Engineering.
Experience in the assessment and modelling of material flows and energy balances of industrial energy systems.
Good understanding of process safety.
Good understanding of process sustainability.
Good understanding of decision support tools.

Knowledge of mass and energy balances, process flow diagrams, LCA, process safety is required. Knowledge of LCC and cost assessment is also an advantage. Knowledge of decision‑support tools is also an advantage. Knowledge of equipment sizing and process scale‑up are also significant advantages.
Excellent communication skills for both research and industrial contexts and creative, open‑minded, and able to work in team and independently are required.
Good communication skills in English and ability to understand and express in both written and spoken English are compulsory.
Willingness to travel internationally for the purpose of research, training and dissemination is mandatory.
Personal characteristics
Emphasis will be placed on personal and interpersonal qualities.
Languages…