The Department of Environmental
Engineering at the Technical University of Denmark invites applications
for a position as PhD student on the topic: Composition of municipal waste and recyclables. Up-to-date data for assessing resources, energy and contaminants in waste
The project aims at generating up-to-date information about the waste composition in Denmark as platform for assessing resources, energy and contaminants in Danish municipal waste and recyclables. The project addresses the waste at the point of generation including source separated recyclables. Current data on the general waste composition are more than 10 years old and very little data exists on the composition of recyclables including misplaced items.
The student will work at the Department of Environmental Engineering at the Technical University of Denmark with Associate Professor Thomas Astrup as main supervisor. Senior Researcher, PhD Jacob Møller and PostDoc, PhD Alessio Boldrin are co-supervisors. The student will part of the time collaborate with Econet (Claus Petersen), which is the main company performing waste sorting analysis in Denmark.
Job description
Background Data on waste composition – i.e. data on material fractions, water content, chemical composition of the individual fractions – is paramount to any assessment of waste management approaches and technologies, because it represents the basis for quantifying the content of resources, energy and contaminants in the waste. For source separated recyclables also the content of miss-placed items and their effect on the quality of the recyclables are important; this will either determine the recycling process and the quality of the products or call for a different source-separation scheme where a lower content of miss-placed items can be achieved.
Waste composition data currently used in Denmark are among the most detailed in the world but they are more than 10 years old and, in particular for recyclable fractions, they are limited. Major decisions are being made these years regarding investment in recycling schemes and treatment technologies, but on old data. Issues as uncertainty and seasonal variations are also not well understood. These aspects have been recognized by the municipalities and the Danish company Econet which conducts sorting analysis of waste at many occasions in Denmark to determine the material fraction distribution within waste streams. However, a systematic science-based approach needs to be developed in order to provide consistent data regarding the composition of Danish waste streams, including issues regarding uncertainty, seasonal variation and contamination of recyclables.
Content The overall objective of the PhD project is to develop a scientifically based approach for waste characterization and to establish up-to-date data on the composition of major municipal waste streams in Denmark. The work is expected to include:
QualificationsCandidates should have a Master's degree in engineering or a similar degree with an academic level equivalent to the Master's degree in engineering. The applicant should have qualifications within the following areas:
We offerWe believe that we offer an exciting and challenging job in an international environment with a good team spirit and good possibilities for professional and personal growth. We are a family-friendly organisation with flexible working hours.
Approval and EnrolmentThe scholarships for the PhD degree are subject to academic approval, and the candidates will be enrolled in one of the general degree programmes of DTU. For information about the general requirements for enrolment and the general planning of the scholarship studies, please see the DTU PhD Guide.
Salary and appointment termsThe salary and appointment terms are consistent with the current rules for PhD degree students. The period of employment is 3 years.
Further information Further information may be obtained from Associate Professor Thomas Astrup, thas@env.dtu.dk
Do NOT send applications to this e-mail address, but use the electronic submission system mentioned below.
Information about DTU Environment can also be found at www.env.dtu.dk
ApplicationWe must have your online application by the 15 April 2012. Please open the link "apply for this job online", fill in the application form and attach the following documents;
All interested candidates irrespective of age, gender, race, disability, religion or ethnic background are encouraged to apply.
Graduate schoolThe student will be a part of the graduate school 3R• Residual Resources Research. This graduate school was established in Denmark in the fall of 2005 as an integrated graduate school for Ph.D. students within engineering and socioeconomic studies focusing on integrated resource and waste management. 3R • Residual Resources Research is a partnership between nine Danish universities, research institutions, private companies and utility companies. More information about the graduate school can be found on www.3r.env.dtu.dk
Further Information The project aims at generating up-to-date information about the waste composition in Denmark as platform for assessing resources, energy and contaminants in Danish municipal waste and recyclables. The project addresses the waste at the point of generation including source separated recyclables. Current data on the general waste composition are more than 10 years old and very little data exists on the composition of recyclables including misplaced items.
The student will work at the Department of Environmental Engineering at the Technical University of Denmark with Associate Professor Thomas Astrup as main supervisor. Senior Researcher, PhD Jacob Møller and PostDoc, PhD Alessio Boldrin are co-supervisors. The student will part of the time collaborate with Econet (Claus Petersen), which is the main company performing waste sorting analysis in Denmark.
Job description
Background Data on waste composition – i.e. data on material fractions, water content, chemical composition of the individual fractions – is paramount to any assessment of waste management approaches and technologies, because it represents the basis for quantifying the content of resources, energy and contaminants in the waste. For source separated recyclables also the content of miss-placed items and their effect on the quality of the recyclables are important; this will either determine the recycling process and the quality of the products or call for a different source-separation scheme where a lower content of miss-placed items can be achieved.
Waste composition data currently used in Denmark are among the most detailed in the world but they are more than 10 years old and, in particular for recyclable fractions, they are limited. Major decisions are being made these years regarding investment in recycling schemes and treatment technologies, but on old data. Issues as uncertainty and seasonal variations are also not well understood. These aspects have been recognized by the municipalities and the Danish company Econet which conducts sorting analysis of waste at many occasions in Denmark to determine the material fraction distribution within waste streams. However, a systematic science-based approach needs to be developed in order to provide consistent data regarding the composition of Danish waste streams, including issues regarding uncertainty, seasonal variation and contamination of recyclables.
Content The overall objective of the PhD project is to develop a scientifically based approach for waste characterization and to establish up-to-date data on the composition of major municipal waste streams in Denmark. The work is expected to include:
- Review of existing data from public and grey literature on waste composition in Denmark (with Econet)
- Identify major shortcomings in current data (where, what, why)
- Develop approach to waste sampling and analysis that includes or represents variation in time and geographical areas as well as general uncertainty
- Sample and characterize important waste and recyclable streams in Denmark (partly with Econet)
- Quantify the importance of waste data quality in the assessment of waste management in terms of resources, energy and contaminants relative to main management and treatment schemes
QualificationsCandidates should have a Master's degree in engineering or a similar degree with an academic level equivalent to the Master's degree in engineering. The applicant should have qualifications within the following areas:
- Background in waste management
- Knowledge about sampling and chemical analysis
- Knowledge about statistical data handling.
We offerWe believe that we offer an exciting and challenging job in an international environment with a good team spirit and good possibilities for professional and personal growth. We are a family-friendly organisation with flexible working hours.
Approval and EnrolmentThe scholarships for the PhD degree are subject to academic approval, and the candidates will be enrolled in one of the general degree programmes of DTU. For information about the general requirements for enrolment and the general planning of the scholarship studies, please see the DTU PhD Guide.
Salary and appointment termsThe salary and appointment terms are consistent with the current rules for PhD degree students. The period of employment is 3 years.
Further information Further information may be obtained from Associate Professor Thomas Astrup, thas@env.dtu.dk
Do NOT send applications to this e-mail address, but use the electronic submission system mentioned below.
Information about DTU Environment can also be found at www.env.dtu.dk
ApplicationWe must have your online application by the 15 April 2012. Please open the link "apply for this job online", fill in the application form and attach the following documents;
- A letter motivating the application (cover letter)
- Curriculum vitae
- Grade transcripts and BSc/MSc diploma
- Conversion of grade averages to Danish grades (see guidelines and excel spreadsheet for the conversion here).
All interested candidates irrespective of age, gender, race, disability, religion or ethnic background are encouraged to apply.
Graduate schoolThe student will be a part of the graduate school 3R• Residual Resources Research. This graduate school was established in Denmark in the fall of 2005 as an integrated graduate school for Ph.D. students within engineering and socioeconomic studies focusing on integrated resource and waste management. 3R • Residual Resources Research is a partnership between nine Danish universities, research institutions, private companies and utility companies. More information about the graduate school can be found on www.3r.env.dtu.dk
Application Deadline : 15 April 2012
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Posted on 2012-03-18 11:39:59
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