Postdoc in Industrial Ecosystems and Circular Transition

Kungliga Tekniska högskolan; Stockholms kommun; On-site; SEK 441,550 - 551,937; Full time

Job summary

Kungliga Tekniska högskolan is seeking a Postdoc in Industrial Ecosystems to lead research on circular and resilient industrial systems. This role entails developing innovative models and methods to enable circular transition through close collaboration with industry partners, including AstraZeneca and Scania.

The ideal candidate will have a doctoral degree and a strong background in industrial ecosystems or related fields, focusing on empirical studies in real industrial settings. Regular availability in Södertälje is essential, as this role is integral to ongoing projects in conjunction with the PROCEED initiative.

Qualifications

• Documented research expertise in industrial ecosystems.
• Good communication skills in English required.
• Teaching ability and awareness of diversity issues.

Responsibilities

• Conduct independent research on circular transition.
• Develop models and methods for industrial collaboration.
• Engage with industrial and public actors.

Skills

Research expertise

Oral and written communication in English

Independent research ability

Collaboration skills

Education

Doctoral degree or equivalent

Job description

Postdoc in Industrial Ecosystems and Circular Transition

KTH Royal Institute of Technology, School of Industrial Engineering and Management

We are looking for a postdoctoral fellow who wants to contribute to the transition towards more circular and resilient industrial systems through research on industrial ecosystems, collaboration and sustainable transformation in the manufacturing industry.

The project is carried out in close collaboration with the Sustainability Technologies Innovation Centre in Södertälje and its main actors AstraZeneca, Scania and RISE, with a particular empirical anchoring at AstraZeneca. The research combines scientific analysis with active development of the platform's long-term adaptation capacity.

The focus is on how industrial ecosystems can be organized and mobilized to enable circular transition in mature manufacturing systems. Central research questions concern cross-company collaboration, Scope 3 challenges, supplier relationships, industrial symbiosis, resource flows, transparency mechanisms and circular business models. The work includes independent research, empirical case studies and analysis of industrial networks and forms of collaboration. In close dialogue with industrial and public actors, the postdoctoral fellow will develop and test research-based models and methods in real industrial environments.

The position is part of KTH's PROCEED initiative in Södertälje, which creates an internationally attractive research environment in close collaboration with Traton/Scania and AstraZeneca. Regular presence in Södertälje is a central part of the position. We are looking for an analytically strong and curious researcher with an interest in theoretically based and applied research on industrial transformation.

Qualifications

Requirements

• A doctoral degree or an equivalent foreign degree. This eligibility requirement must be met no later than the time the employment decision is made.
• Documented research expertise, ability to conduct independent research, and ability to publish in international scientific journals.
• Documented research competence in areas such as industrial ecosystems, circular transition, circular business model innovation, sustainable industrial transition, or related fields.
• Good ability to communicate orally and in writing in English, since this is part of the daily work.
• Ability to work independently and in collaboration with other researchers, companies and external actors.
• Teaching ability, including the ability to communicate research to students, researchers and wider audiences.
• Awareness of diversity and equal opportunity issues, with specific focus on gender equality.

Preferred qualifications

• A doctoral degree or an equivalent foreign degree, obtained within the last three years prior to the application deadline
• Experience of research on industrial ecosystems, innovation ecosystems, circular business models, industrial symbiosis, sustainability transitions, supply chains, Scope 3-related challenges or sustainable production systems.
• Experience of empirical research in industrial settings, such as case studies, interviews, document studies, workshops, actor mapping or analysis of collaborative processes.
• Experience of research or projects related to the pharmaceutical industry, process industry, manufacturing industry, or complex supplier and value chains.
• Experience of developing research applications, coordinating research activities or contributing to interdisciplinary research environments.
• Ability to communicate research in Swedish, or a willingness to develop such ability, as the position involves close collaboration with actors in Sweden.

Great emphasis will be placed on personal skills.

About the employment

The position offered is for, at the most, two years.

It may be the case that a position at KTH is classified as a security-sensitive role in accordance with the Protective Security Act (2018:585). If this applies to the specific position, a security clearance will be conducted for the applicant in accordance with the same law with the applicant's consent. In such cases, a prerequisite for employment is that the applicant is approved following the security clearance.