Doctoral Candidate position at UNIBO in the RESTORATIVE MSCA Doctoral Network : DC13 on "Quanti[...]

Organisation/Company Alma Mater Studiorum - Università di Bologna Department Department of Civil, Chemical, Environmental, and Materials Engineering - DICAM Research Field Engineering » Chemical engineering Engineering » Systems engineering Technology » Energy technology Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Positions PhD Positions Application Deadline 31 Jul 2026 - 23:59 (Europe/Rome) Country Italy Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Hours Per Week 40 Offer Starting Date 1 Nov 2026 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Horizon Europe - MSCA Reference Number DC13 UNIBO_RESTORATIVE Marie Curie Grant Agreement Number Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

The successful candidate for this post (DC13) will be employed full-time for a fixed-term of 36 months and enrolled on a PhD at the University of Bologna from 1st November 2026 to research and write a PhD thesis on Quantitative Socioeconomic-Sustainability Assessment of TM-GSES Systems.

Job duration: 36 months

Main research field: Chemical Engineering

Research subfield: Systems Engineering, Energy Storage, Process Safety, Sustainability Assessment

The project aims to redesign the approach to the quantitative assessment of the sustainability of grid-scale energy storage (GSES) technologies, a cornerstone for future net zero electricity grids.

It will explore the different dimensions of sustainability (social, economic, environmental) to identify appropriate quantitative Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) suitable for a prospective (“ex-ante”) evaluation of alternative GSES technologies since the R&D and the early design stages.

A comprehensive framework will be developed to assess the whole sustainability footprint of GSES systems, also incorporating key socio-economic factors, such as job creation, safety, and energy cost savings, associated with the deployment of these technologies.

Using quantitative models, the resulting assessment tool will support timely and informed decision making on investment and policy development, allowing stakeholders, such as energy companies or local communities, to evaluate potential benefits and trade-offs of different technological alternatives for energy storage.

The expected results are:

• A method, implemented in a specific tool, for the quantitative assessment of a comprehensive sustainability footprint, going beyond traditional cost-benefit analysis;
• A holistic framework capable of capturing the multifaceted aspects of sustainability, based on transparent metrics, capable of supporting the comparison of alternative solutions for a sound approach to decision making;
• Demonstration of the tool through case studies, in order to derive specific recommendations and guidelines to improve the overall sustainability of GSES systems.

Where to apply

E-mail

Requirements

Research Field Engineering » Chemical engineering Education Level Master Degree or equivalent

Skills/Qualifications

Preferred selection criteria

• A degree obtained by 31/07/2026 giving access to doctoral studies in Chemical Engineering or Environmental Engineering or Energy Engineering.
• NOT to hold any previous PhD degree (see eligibility requirements).
• Experience in the assessment and modelling of material flows and energy balances of industrial energy systems.
• Good understanding of process safety
• Good understanding of process sustainability
• Good understanding of decision support tools

A strong background in energy production and storage technologies is required. Knowledge of mass and energy balances, process flow diagrams, LCA, process safety is required. Knowledge of LCC and cost assessment is also an advantage. Knowledge of decision-support tools is also an advantage. Knowledge of equipment sizing and process scale-up are also significant advantages.

Excellent communication skills for both research and industrial contexts and creative, open-minded, and able to work in team and independently are required.

Good communication skills in English and ability to understand and express in both written and spoken English are compulsory.

Personal characteristics

Emphasis will be placed on personal and interpersonal qualities.

Languages ENGLISH Level Good

Research Field Engineering » Chemical engineering

Internal Application form(s) needed

Application Form_DC13_RESTORATIVE_UNIBO_.pdf

The selected candidate will be appointed under a 36-months full-time employment contract with full social security and fiscal coverage, as foreseen by the Italian national legislation.

The remuneration will be compliant with the rules of the DN-MSCA, as by the Horizon Europe Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Work Programme 2024 “Applicable unit contributions”. The gross amount per year of the salary includes the living allowance (45.858,36€ comprising the country-specific correction coefficient for Italy), the mobility allowance (8.520€) and the family allowance if eligible (7.920€). These gross amounts include all compulsory deductions under national applicable legislation (taxes depend on the country of the host entity).

Eligibility criteria

There are strict eligibility rules for the recruitment of Doctoral Candidates in Horizon Europe Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Network funded projects.

Career : applicants must be doctoral candidates at the date of recruitment. They must have obtained a degree which formally entitles them to access a doctorate and they must not have already been awarded a doctoral degree. A PhD degree in any field is not compatible with this DC position. Candidates who have successfully defended their doctoral thesis, but who have not yet formally been awarded the doctoral degree will not be considered eligible.

Mobility (transnational) : transnational mobility is an essential requirement of Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Networks. Applicants may be of any nationality and any age, but they must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work/study) in Italy for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before the recruitment date.

Secondments : during the project, applicants must be prepared to undertake mobility for industrial secondment for a duration of up to 3 month and transnational mobility for up to 6 months.

According to Italian law, applicants must not have obtained a second cycle/two-year master's degree or a single cycle master’s degree in Italy, or an equivalent qualification obtained abroad, more than six years before the deadline for the application.

Selection process

In assessing which candidate is best qualified, emphasis will be placed on education, experience, and personal and interpersonal qualities. Motivation, ambition, and potential will also be considered in the evaluation of candidates. The selection process will consist of several steps.

After the deadline, all submitted applications will be checked against the defined admissibility criteria (e.g. submitted electronically, readable, complete, in English, including references, etc.). The compliance of the candidates with the eligibility criteria associated with the recruitment in Marie Skłodówka-Curie Doctoral Networks will then be checked. The evaluation of CVs, motivation statements, and track records of eligible applicants will follow.

A shortlist of candidates who match the required profile will be interviewed online by a Selection Committee to assess their skills, motivation, and fluency in English. Following the interviews, some applications may be rejected.

The successful candidates will be ranked based on both their documentation and the interview performance. The highest-ranked candidate will be offered the position. If, for any reason, the selected candidate declines the offer or fails to meet the enrolment requirements for the position, the option will pass to the next candidate on the ranking list. This list can be used as a reserve list in case a recruited DC resigns during the project.

The applications for this position may be circulated within the consortium members as part of the selection process.

See the job advertisement for DC13 position, download the Job Description and Application Form.

Complete and send the Application Form with all the required documents to:

Number of offers available 1 Company/Institute UNIBO - Department of Civil, Chemical, Environmental, and Materials Engineering (DICAM) Country Italy State/Province Emilia-Romagna Region City Bologna Postal Code 40131 Street Via Terracini 28 Geofield