PhD Research Fellowship in Resource Optimization and Recovery in the Materials industry,Norway

June 4, 2010

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The Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Department of Materials Science and Engineering, invites applicants for a PhD research fellowships in the area of Resource Optimization and Recovery in the Materials Industry.

The position is linked to the joint SINTEF/NTNU programme ROMA – Resource Optimization and Recovery in the Materials Industry, which is funded jointly by the Research Council of Norway and the Norwegian materials industry companies Hydro Aluminium, Elkem Aluminium, Sør-Norge Aluminium, Elkem, FESIL, Finnfjord, Eramet Norway, and Tinfos Titan and Iron (TTI). The ROMA project is running totally for 6 years, to 2013.

The Norwegian ferroalloy and aluminium producers are already among the global leaders in terms of process operation, material qualities produced and environmental performance. The ROMA programme will be instrumental in maintaining existing competence and enhancing the scope of expertise in the future, both for the Norwegian industry and the research centres. The increasing scarcities of suitable raw materials for ferroalloy and aluminium production stimulate innovation and accelerate the implementation of new production methods and production equipments. The programme also aims at developing efficient technologies for electricity production from a number of sources such as furnace cooling, furnace off-gases etc., including energy recovery from particle-laden waste gases.

PhD project: Recovery of valuables from secondary alumina
In aluminium primary production, dry scrubbing of raw gas is an effective means of reducing external gas and particulate emissions. With up to 99 % efficiency, using primary alumina as adsorbent later consumed by electrolysis makes up a closed-loop system. While the fluoride recovery is beneficial both to the environment and the aluminuim production cost, the recovery of impurities is not. The only remaining sinks for these impurities are the aluminuim metal and the surplus electrolysis bath, thus resulting in decreased metal purity. Classification of secondary alumina suggests that up to 50 % of the impurities can be found amongst particles of size less than 10 µm. While this fraction only account for 1 % of the secondary alumina, the economic potential of recovery of valuables is promising.

The PhD project will put focus on chemical methodology for recovery of valuables from secondary alumina. Separation of the fine fraction will be performed by impactor, where chemical and physical characterization of the individual size fraction can be performed. Relevant experience within characterization of materials and/or hydromeltallurgy will be taken into consideration.
The project work will be performed in collaboration with relevant industry represented in ROMA.

The successful candidate should have a master degree in materials technology or chemistry. Applicants must be qualified for PhD study at NTNU. The fellowships will be awarded on a competitive basis.

The appointment of the PhD fellow will be made according to Norwegian guidelines for universities and university colleges and to the general regulations for university employees in Norway.

Applicants are obliged to engage on an organized PhD training program, and appointment requires approval of the applicant’s plan for a Ph.D. study. Their MSc degree results are thus expected to qualify for acceptance as a PhD student at NTNU. The Fellow and the University must sign a mutual contract regarding the period of appointment and the obligations of the Ph.D. fellow.

NTNU’s PhD-rules require a master degree or equivalent with at least 5 years of studies and an average grade of A or B within a scale of A-E for passing grades (A best). Candidates from universities outside Norway are kindly requested to send a Diploma Supplement or a similar document, which describes in detail the study and grade system and the rights for further studies associated with the obtained degree:

PhD scholarship recipients are employed for three years, or alternatively up to four years with 25 % teaching duty included in the position. The salary is adjusted according to the Norwegian state salary scale at 45 points, corresponding to NOK 355 400,- a year (before tax) at appointment, with a deduction of 2 % premium for the Norwegian State Pension Fund.

For further information please contact:
Head of Department Arne Petter Ratvik, NTNU, Dept. of Materials Science and Engineering, Ph: +47 73594915
Research scientist Thor Anders Aarhaug, SINTEF Materials and Chemistry, Ph: +47 98230514

Information on the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, NTNU can be found at

For information about NTNU and Trondheim, see www.ntnu.no and http://www.trondheim.no/engelsk/

The position adheres to the Norwegian Government’s policy of balanced ethnicity, age and gender. Persons with immigrant background are encouraged to apply. NTNU’s objective is to increase the number of females in scientific positions. Female applicants are therefore encouraged to apply.

The application must contain information on previous education, exams, and professional experience. All applicants must be able to communicate fluently in English (in speaking and writing). Applicants must indicate their level of language skills in English.

Applications with CV, certified copies of transcripts and reference letters should be submitted electronically through this page. We prefer the attachments in one single file.
The position’s ref.no. is NT 19/10.

Publications and other scientific reports that the applicant would like the University to consider, must be scanned and submitted electronically along with the other attachments. Having produced such publications is, however, not a requirement for the PhD position. Joint papers will be considered, but in these cases the candidate should account for her or his contribution.

Application deadline: 2010.06.27

For further information :

Scholarship Tags: Fellowship, INDUSTRY, materials, Norway, optimization, PhD, Recovery, research, Resource