Doctoral student in Sustainable Antifouling strategies -evaluation of ultrasound as antifouling method from environmental and economical perspective

We are looking for a Doctoral student to become part of our team at the Division of Maritime Environmental Science at the Department of Environmental and Energy Sciences. Join us in a collaborative and dynamic environment and contribute to research on sustainable shipping and the marine environment. 

About us 

The Department of Environmental and Energy Sciences was established in 2026 and represents a clear and strategic consolidation of efforts in the environmental field, with links to both interdisciplinary research areas and collaboration with society, industry, and academia. Here, expertise and infrastructure are brought together to support new research initiatives, strengthen education, and develop competitive and sustainable solutions to some of the greatest environmental challenges of our time. 

Your doctoral studies in Maritime Environmental Science will be carried out within a team with extensive experience in shipping and sustainable antifouling strategies, at an exciting time when new solutions are needed and regulations are rapidly evolving. We have strong collaboration with national and international research groups and established contacts with organizations and industrial partners.  

About the research project  

This doctoral student project on Sustainable Antifouling strategies will investigate ultrasound as a method to hinder marine organisms (biofouling) on ship hulls. The opportunities and challenges of ultrasound as antifouling method will be illustrated and evaluated from environmental and economical perspective. Ultrasound technology will be compared to existing and emerging antifouling alternatives. The project will perform studies of effects in marine ecosystems and result in recommendations on cost- and energy-efficient use of ultrasound as an antifouling measure without negatively impacting marine life.

Who we are looking for

The following requirements are mandatory:

• To qualify as a Doctoral student, you must have a Master's degree (masterexamen) of 120 credits or a Master’s degree (magisterexamen) of 60 credits* in Environmental engineering, Natural Sciences (ie Biology, Oceanography, Environmental- or Marine Sciences) or equivalent education in a related field
• Strong written and verbal communication skills in English 
• Experience in practical and analytical work from lab or field.
• Experience in collection of data, statistical analyses and presentation of results
• You are a motivated and independent researcher with good analytical skills and has a strong commitment to scientific inquiry.
• You are interested in finding solutions for challenges in connection to sustainability, marine environment and shipping and look forward to perform interdisciplinary research. 
• We also believe that you have a strong curiosity and a genuine wish to learn and develop your skills and knowledge further in the fields of research, research communication and project management. 

*for students with an education earned outside of Sweden, a 4-year Bachelor’s degree is accepted. 

The following experience will strengthen your application: 

• Experience in experimental work and design, analytical work in lab and fieldwork in aquatic environment are considered meritorious
• Experience in programming (e.g., R, Matlab or Python) and demonstrated proficiency in the use of statistical tools are considered meritorious

What you will do

• Take courses at an advanced level within the Graduate school of Maritime Environmental Science (länk till specifik graduate school Graduate schools | Chalmers ) 
• Develop your own scientific concepts and communicate the results of your research verbally and in writing 
• The position generally also includes teaching on Chalmers' undergraduate level or performing other duties corresponding to 20 percent of working hours
• Project specific tasks for the position include experimental and analytical work, field measurements, data processing, presentation of results to a diverse audience including environmental agencies, industry and academia and publication writing

Contract terms  

• The Doctoral student positions are fully funded from start. 
• The position is a fixed-term appointment of four years, with the possibility to teach up to 20%, which extends the position up to five years. 
• A starting salary of 35,725 SEK per month (valid from May 1, 2026). 
• Doctoral studies require physical presence throughout the entire study period. A valid residence permit must be presented by the study start date; otherwise the admission may be withdrawn. 

What we offer 

• As a Doctoral student at Chalmers, you are an employee and enjoy all employee benefits. Read more about  working at Chalmers  and our benefits for employees. 
• A dynamic and inspiring working environment in the coastal city of Gothenburg. 
• Read more about Sweden’s generous parental leave, subsidized day care, free schools, healthcare etc at Move To Gothenburg. 

Chalmers is dedicated to improving gender balance and actively works with equality projects, such as the GENIE Initiative for gender equality and excellence. We celebrate diversity and consider equality and inclusion as fundamental aspects of all our activities. 

If Swedish is not your native language, Chalmers offers Swedish courses to help you settle in.

Find more general information about doctoral studies at Chalmers here.  

Application procedure 

The application should be written in English and attached as PDF-files, as below. Maximum size for each file is 40 MB. Please note that the system does not support Zip files. 

CV 

Personal letter 

• A brief introduction about yourself. 
• A brief motivation as to why you are interested in this position. 

Bachelor’s and, if available, master’s thesis together with the transcripts. 

Use the button at the foot of the page to reach the application form.  

A background check may be conducted as part of the application process.

Please note: The applicant is responsible for ensuring that the application is complete. Incomplete applications and applications sent by email will not be considered. Contact details to references will be requested after the interview. 

We welcome your application no later than October 31st, 2026

For questions, please contact:  

Lena Granhag, associate professor
[email protected]

We look forward to your application! 

*** Chalmers declines to consider all offers of further announcement publishing or other types of support for the recruiting process in connection with this position. ***  

 Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg conducts research and education in technology and natural sciences at a high international level. The university has 3100 employees and 10,000 students, and offers education in engineering, science, shipping and architecture. With scientific excellence as a basis, Chalmers promotes knowledge and technical solutions for a sustainable world. Through global commitment and entrepreneurship, we foster an innovative spirit, in close collaboration with wider society. 
Chalmers was founded in 1829 and has the same motto today as it did then: Avancez – forward.