Doctoral student in developing PEM fuel cells by multiscale modeling

Chalmers Tekniska Högskola Aktiebolag; Göteborgs kommun; On-site; SEK 362,808 - 434,573; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employee benefits

Dynamic working environment

Swedish language courses

Job summary

Chalmers Tekniska Högskola Aktiebolag in Gothenburg is seeking a Doctoral student to advance the understanding of proton-exchange membrane fuel cells through atomistic modeling. The role involves collaborative research and teaching duties up to 20%.

Candidates should have a Master's degree in Physics, Chemistry or Materials Science, with proficiency in programming and a strong interest in surface reactions. The position is fully funded for four years, with a starting salary of 35,725 SEK per month.

Qualifications

• Master's degree (120 credits) or equivalent in relevant fields.
• Background in quantum mechanics, thermodynamics, and statistical mechanics.
• Experience in programming and atomistic modeling.

Responsibilities

• Perform research in the project.
• Develop and communicate scientific concepts.
• Take advanced courses within the Graduate School.
• Take on teaching duties corresponding to 20 percent of working hours.

Skills

Programming

Quantum mechanics

Thermodynamics

Statistical mechanics

Atomistic modeling

Education

Master's degree in Physics, Chemistry or Materials Science

4-year Bachelor's degree (for foreign students)

Tools

Python

Job description

Do you want to use advanced simulation methods to understand and improve the performance of fuel cells? Join Chalmers and contribute to atomistic modelling of catalytic reactions to enhance the stability of proton-exchange membrane fuel cells.

About us

Chemical Physics develops sustainable energy systems by using heterogeneous (electro) catalysis for alternative fuel production, emission control, energy storage, and fuel cells. The research is interdisciplinary with strong connections between fundamental and applied science. Chemical Physics is a dynamic and international environment that strives for scientific excellence through teamwork and combined theoretical and experimental efforts. The theoretical activities at Chemical Physics focus on electronic structure calculations within the density functional theory together with mean-field modeling and Monte-Carlo simulations for reaction kinetics. By linking quantum mechanical calculations with kinetic modeling, it is possible to bridge both length and time scales.

About the research project

Proton‑exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC) convert the chemical energy in hydrogen to electrical energy. The main parts of a PEMFC are the anode, cathode and electrolyte. The reactions at the anode and cathode electrodes are catalyzed by metal nanoparticles on carbon. A current issue for large‑scale implementation of the PEMFC technology is long‑term stability. The project will use atomistic first‑principles methods to understand the governing mechanism for fuel cell degradation. Increased understanding of the governing processes will provide information on how catalysts could be improved and how the system should be operated to minimize degradation. The project is a collaboration between Volvo Technology AB and Chemical Physics at Chalmers.

Who we are looking for

• To qualify as a Doctoral student, you must have a Master's degree (masterexamen) of 120 credits or a Master's degree (magisterexamen) of 60 credits in Physics, Chemistry or Materials Science.
• Background in quantum mechanics, thermodynamics and statistical mechanichs.
• Documented experience in programming.
• Strong interest in atomistic modeling of surface reactions.
• Good communication skills in written and spoken English.
• *for students with an education earned outside of Sweden, a 4‑year Bachelor's degree is accepted.

Experience that will strengthen your application:

• Experience in atomic scale modeling.
• Experience from modeling reaction kinetics.
• Experience in python programming.

What you will do

• Perform research in the project.
• Develop your own scientific concepts and communicate the results of your research verbally and in writing.
• Take courses at an advanced level within the Graduate School of Materials Science or Physics.
• Take on teaching duties at the undergraduate level or other duties corresponding to 20 percent of working hours.

Contract terms

The Doctoral student positions are fully funded from start. The position is a fixed‑term appointment of four years, with the possibility to teach up to 20 percent, which extends the position up to five years. A starting salary of 35 725 SEK per month (valid from May 1 2026). Doctoral studies require physical presence throughout the entire study period. A valid residence permit must be presented by the study start date; otherwise the admission may be withdrawn.

What we offer

As a Doctoral student at Chalmers, you are an employee and enjoy all employee benefits. A dynamic and inspiring working environment in the coastal city of Gothenburg. Chalmers is dedicated to improving gender balance and actively works with equality projects. 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. General information about doctoral studies at Chalmers is available at https://www.chalmers.se/en/research/we-train-new-researchers/about-doctoral-studies/.