Doctoral Position at UNIBO Restorative MSCA Doctoral Network : DC"Quanti

Position: Doctoral Candidate position at UNIBO in the RESTORATIVE MSCA Doctoral Network : DC13 on "Quanti[...]
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 Jul 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 DC13  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 (DC13) 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 Quantitative Socioeconomic-Sustainability Assessment of TM-GSES Systems.
Job duration: 36 months
Main research field:
Chemical Engineering
Research subfield:
Systems Engineering, Energy Storage, Process Safety, Sustainability Assessment
The project aims to redesign the approach to the quantitative assessment of the sustainability of grid-scale energy storage (GSES) technologies, a cornerstone for future net zero electricity grids.
It will explore the different dimensions of sustainability (social, economic, environmental) to identify appropriate quantitative Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) suitable for a prospective (“ex-ante”) evaluation of alternative GSES technologies since the R&D and the early design stages.
A comprehensive framework will be developed to assess the whole sustainability footprint of GSES systems, also incorporating key socio-economic factors, such as job creation, safety, and energy cost savings, associated with the deployment of these technologies.
Using quantitative models, the resulting assessment tool will support timely and informed decision making on investment and policy development, allowing stakeholders, such as energy companies or local communities, to evaluate potential benefits and trade-offs of different technological alternatives for energy storage.
The expected results are:

A method, implemented in a specific tool, for the quantitative assessment of a comprehensive sustainability footprint, going beyond traditional cost-benefit analysis;
A holistic framework capable of capturing the multifaceted aspects of sustainability, based on transparent metrics, capable of supporting the comparison of alternative solutions for a sound approach to decision making;
Demonstration of the tool through case studies, in order to derive specific recommendations and guidelines to improve the overall sustainability of GSES systems.

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 31/07/2026 giving access to doctoral studies in Chemical Engineering or Environmental Engineering or Energy Engineering.
NOT to hold any previous PhD degree (see eligibility requirements).
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

A strong background in energy production and storage technologies is required. 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.
Personal characteristics
Emphas…