Postdoctoral position in Environmental Chemistry (2 years)

The Department of Chemistry at Umeå University seeks a postdoctoral researcher to work on recovering carbon and organic material from hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) filtrates. HTC turns wet residues such as pulp-mill sludge into carbon-rich hydrochar without drying, but much of the carbon dissolves into the process water, which is currently discarded. In that filtrate, self-generated carbon (SGC) forms spontaneously as low-ash carbon microspheres with promising properties for energy storage and environmental applications.

The project asks how SGC forms and which aspects of filtrate chemistry control it. The work is part of RE-FIL, a four-year Formas-funded project to turn HTC filtrate into a resource. Full-time for two years from 1 March 2027 or by agreement (reference AN 2026/1154).

Doctoral degree in a relevant subject as specified in the advert.