Doctoral Position

Europe accounts today for more than 70% of all wind power installed in the world, which satisfy nearly 14% of the total EU’s electricity demand, helping to greening the electricity market for the sustainable energy transition. However, the exponential growth that wind energy production has experienced in Europe since the 90’s is starting to impose relevant environmental challenges related to the end-of-life management of wind turbines that have reached the end of their service lives.

The main goal of this PhD thesis is to support the circular (eco-)design of wind turbine blades and the optimisation of innovative recycling technologies (low carbon pyrolysis and green chemistry solvolysis) to recover materials for subsequent use (through reprocessing) in the automotive and construction industries. In this process, the student will perform a number of eco-design, circularity and life cycle assessment studies to compare the potential resource and environmental impacts and savings between different alternatives in order to define the most sustainable technology strategies and pathways for implementation. The results will be also useful to support the co-development of a decision-support circular economy framework integrating different technology and territorial variables and considerations.

The student would join the Research Group of Circular Economy and Industrial Sustainability (CEIS) in the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Mondragon. CEIS is a young dynamic research group that integrates experts from the fields of industrial product design, industrial organisation and production, environmental engineering, corporate social responsibility, and innovation and business management who work closely with industries, business associations and public organisations to facilitate a sustainable energy transition and circular economy deployment. More specifically, the research group works on four major lines of research and innovation: i) circular and sustainable design of products and technologies, ii) circular and sustainable industrial manufacturing, iii) technology-enabled circular and sustainable business models, and iv) circularity and sustainability assessment methodologies, tools and indicators.

**Position details**
- Researcher profile: First Stage Researcher (R1).
- Research field: Circular Economy, Industrial Ecology, Eco-design, Eco-Innovation, Environmental Technologies, Life Cycle Assessment, Material Science, Renewable Energy, Sustainability Indicators.
- Type of contract: 3 years (36 months)
- Job status: Full time
- Hours per week: 40
- Application Deadline: 17-03-2023 (CET, GMT+01:00)
- Starting date: March-April 2023.
- Is the job funded through an EU Research Framework Programme? (YES)
- Programme: Horizon Europe Framework Programme; Climate, Energy and Mobility.
- Reference number: Grant agreement ID: 101096425

**Some skills acquired after completing the PhD projects**
- High understanding of circular economy and industrial sustainability concepts, strategies and technology innovations
- Expertise in the publication of journal papers (preparation, submission, revision)
- Expertise in the participation to international conferences (oral presentations)
- Expertise in the participation to international project meetings and research stays
- Planification, organisational, communication and networking skills
- Project management and development
- Critical thinking and analytical skills

**Hiring Organisation & Offer Posting Contact Details**
- Organization: Mondragon Unibertsitatea, Faculty of Engineering.
- Research group: Circular Economy and Industrial Sustainability.
- Organisation type: Higher Education Institute
- Location: 20500, Arrasate-Mondragon, Gipuzkoa, SPAIN
- Phone: +34943794700

**How to apply**
- Complete CV
- Motivation letter
- Recommendation letter would be also appreciated (although not essential)

For more information, please contact Joan Manuel F. Mendoza.
- Education level:

- Essential: Applicants must hold an official master’s degree in any of the following areas, Industrial Ecology, Sustainable Innovation, Industrial Product Design, Material Engineering, Industrial Technology Engineering, Renewable Energy, Industrial Engineering.
- Desirable: additional knowledge and training on Circular Economy, Eco-design, Life Cycle Assessment, or similar.
- Skills and experience (desirable):

- High interest in developing a PhD thesis and become a researcher.
- Be able to operate both independently and in a multidisciplinary team.
- Good organisational and time management skills
- Good communication skills
- Excellent work ethics
- Required languages (essential): English - advance level - written and spoken