PhD Position in Electromembrane Processes

About the position

A PhD position in Electromembrane Processes is available at the Membrane Laboratory at the Faculty of Science and Technology .

The PhD position is for a period of 3 years.
Desired start date: 1 January 2026 or earlier.

The PhD project is part of TIES project “Tunable ion separations with micro-structured composite membranes”. The project is funded by The Research Council of Norway and aims to develop a novel electromembrane process of ion separation for recovery of rare earth elements and removal of micropollutants from water.

The central scientific question of the TIES project is how to achieve selective ion separation based on differences in diffusion coefficients within electromembrane processes. The research will focus on designing advanced composite membranes that enable trace-level accumulation by coupling electroosmosis with current-induced ion concentration polarization.

The project also integrates data science and material design into a novel interdisciplinary approach of data-driven membrane discovery that includes material space construction and exploration, candidate selection and verification, providing data for machine learning models to optimise membrane properties, structure, and fabrication.

The PhD candidate will play a key role in the experimental part of the project, including:

• Preparation and characterization of novel membrane materials
• Design, assembly, and testing of electromembrane cells
• Investigation of ion separation mechanisms under controlled conditions
• Contribution to the design of stack systems and their evaluation at both laboratory and pilot scale

You will join the research efforts at the Department of Water and Environmental Engineering at NMBU and contribute to its development. As a student in the PhD Programme for Science and Technology, you will work towards your doctoral thesis and earn your PhD upon successful defence of your thesis.

Main tasks

• Analytical literature review on electromembrane processes and applicable membrane materials.
• Selection and characterisation of material candidates for the composite membrane.
• Preparation and characterisation of composite membranes.
• Testing of composite membranes in electrochemical cells.
• Separation of ion species in laboratory and pilot settings.

The successful candidate is expected to enter a plan for the progress of the work towards a PhD degree during the first months of the appointment, with a view to completing a doctorate within the PhD contract period.

Competence

Required qualifications

• A Master's degree or equivalent in Chemical Engineering, Material Science, Material Engineering, Physical Chemistry or similar. Foreign degrees must correspond with the admission criteria for the PhD program.
• Experience from relevant laboratory work.
• Fluency in written and spoken English in agreement with the admission criteria for the PhD program.

Grade requirements

• The average grade point for courses included in the Master’s degree in the Norwegian educational system or equivalent must be B or better 
• The Master’s thesis in the Norwegian educational system or equivalent must have the grade B or better

Desired qualifications

The following experiences and skills will be emphasized:

• Specialisation in electrochemical processes or membrane technology, polymers or membrane materials, physical or polymer chemistry, lab experience in electrochemistry.
• Experience with multivariate data analysis, statistics, numerical simulations, and programming.
• Skills in academic writing illustrated by published works.
• Skills in Norwegian or other Scandinavian languages will be an extra advantage.

Applicants who have recently graduated with excellent results may be given preference.

Personal qualities

• Creativity, analytical and conceptual thinking demonstrated by previous work.
• Drive and determination to advance and finish a project
• Independence.
• The openness to feedback and input from others as well as the ability to collaborate, negotiate and influence others.

The successful applicant must meet the conditions defined for admission to a PhD programme at NMBU. For more detailed information on the admission criteria please see the PhD Regulations and the relevant PhD programme description.

Remuneration and further information

We offer:

• Salary 550 800 NOK per annum. For exceptionally well qualified candidates a higher salary may be considered.  
• Government pay scale position code 1017 PhD Research Fellow.

Formal regulations

The appointment is to be made in accordance with Regulations on terms of employment for positions such as postdoctoral fellow, Phd candidate, research assistant and specialist candidate and Regulations concerning the degrees of Philosophiae Doctor (PhD) at the Norwegian University of Life Science (NMBU)

The engagement is to be made in accordance with the regulations in force concerning State Employees and Civil Servants, and the acts relating to Norwegian Security and Control of the Export of Strategic Goods, Services and Technology. Candidates who by assessment of the application and attachment are seen to conflict with the criteria in the latter laws will be prohibited from recruitment. 

For further information, please fill in the online form

Information for PhD applicants and general Information to applicants

Application

To apply online for this vacancy, please click on the 'Apply for this job' button above. This will route you to the University's Web Recruitment System, where you will need to register an account (if you have not already) and log in before completing the online application form.

Application deadline: 03.11.2025

Applicants who, in addition to the mandatory documents, submit a brief research proposal relevant to the project—outlining the planned research—can be prioritized for the first round of interviews.

Please note that all documents should be in English or a Scandinavian language.

By applying the candidate confirms that information and documentation submitted via the job application can also be used by NMBU in a possible admission process to the PhD program.

Interviews with the best qualified candidates will be arranged. Applicants invited for an interview are expected to present original diplomas and certificates.

The application must include:

• Motivation letter (maximum 1 page)
• Curriculum Vitae (with a list of education, positions, teaching experience, administrative experience and other qualifying activities, including a complete list of publications)
• Certified copies of academic diplomas and certificates. Diplomas, transcripts and diploma supplements that are not in Norwegian or English must be uploaded in the original language. An English translation of these documents must also be attached.
• Applicants from universities outside Norway are kindly requested to send a diploma supplement, or a similar document, which describes in detail the study program and grading system. 
• Documentation of proficiency in written and oral English in accordance with NMBU PhD regulation section 5-2 (3). 
• Master’s thesis abstract or publications. If it is difficult to judge the applicant’s contribution for publications with multiple authors, a short description of the applicant’s contribution must be included.
• Additional relevant documentation of knowledge and skills.
• Names and contact details for two references.

About The Faculty of Science and Technology

The Faculty of Science and Technology (REALTEK) develops research-based knowledge and educates civil engineers and lecturers needed to reach the UN's sustainability goals. We have approximately 150 employees, 70 PhD students and soon 1500 students. The education and research at REALTEK cover a broad spectrum of disciplines.

This includes data science, mechanics and process engineering, robotics, construction and architecture, industrial economics, environmental physics and renewable energy, geomatics, water and environmental engineering, applied mathematics as well as secondary school teacher education in natural sciences and use of natural resources such as in agriculture, forestry and aquaculture. The workplace is in Ås, 30 km from Oslo.

What is it really like to work at the Faculty of Science and Technology (REALTEK) at NMBU?

 - Guided tour of the Faculty of Science and Technology on Vimeo