Applications are invited for two Early Stage Researcher (ESR) positions to be funded by the Marie-Sklodowska-Curie Innovative Training Network "ReTraCE" - Realising the Transition towards the Circular Economy within the Horizon 2020 Programme of the European Commission. The ESRs will be based in Naples (Italy), will be hired for 36 months according to the salary provisions of the H2020 MSCA program and will be offered a PhD candidate position within the University of Naples Parthenope (UNP). UNP gives the opportunity to qualified students to enroll in the 3-years International PhD Programme in "Environment, Resources and Sustainable Development". Moreover, the ESRs will be exposed to diverse research environments (through at least 2 secondments to academic beneficiaries/partners) as well as various industrial environments (through at least 2 secondments to industrial beneficiaries/partners).
The ReTrace Consortium globally offers 15 ESR positions in Partner European Universities. The complete list is available at www.retrace-itn.eu. Applications to more than one position are allowed.
1. The ReTraCE project: Realising the Transition towards the Circular Economy
The ReTraCE project network brings together an exceptionally strong team of world-leading experts from a wide set of beneficiaries and partners in order to achieve breakthroughs in understanding how the transition towards a Circular Economy (CE) can be realised in a successful way in the European context, both within existing organisations and industries as well as through innovative and sustainable business models. The proposed approach is inherently multi-disciplinary, drawing upon research that will advance significantly the state-of-the-art in terms of the current understanding of the applicability of the CE paradigm from Economic, Environmental and Social points of view, providing policy insights and implications for practice. The consortium of 10 beneficiaries (including 7 academic and 3 non-academic groups from the UK, The Netherlands, Belgium, Sweden, Italy, Greece and Germany) will design and deliver world class multidisciplinary training to 15 Early Stage Researchers (ESRs), offering them an extended and valuable program of international exchanges and secondments through the wide network of partner organisations (from public, private and third sector) involved in the proposal.
The network builds on the success of previous projects in which beneficiaries have successfully delivered high impact research and knowledge exchange. ReTraCE is specifically designed to train a cohort of new thought leaders capable of driving the transition towards a more sustainable mode of production and consumption in Europe in the next decades, who will directly facilitate the implementation of the recently adopted ambitious Circular Economy strategy of the European Commission, which is closely linked to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Indeed, it is envisaged that ESRs will be employable not only by research institutions, but also by public sector bodies and within a wide range of manufacturing and service industries which will require new professional profiles for realising the transition towards the CE.
2. Entry Requirements
Students applying for the programme must have an excellent academic record (preferably Degrees with Distinction) and should possess a Master's Degree. In addition, potential work experience, research training and publications play an important role.
On top of the above, the candidates shall comply with the following MSCA requirements:
- Early Stage Researchers (ESR): ESRs are those who are, at the time of recruitment by the host, in the first four years (full-time equivalent) of their research careers and do not hold a doctorate. This is measured from the date when they obtained the degree which formally entitles them to embark on a doctorate, either in the country in which the degree was obtained or in the country in which the research training is provided, irrespective of whether or not a doctorate was envisaged.
- Conditions of international mobility of researchers: ESRs can be of any nationality. They are required to undertake physical, transnational mobility (i.e. move from one country to another) when taking up their appointment. At the time of selection by UNP, researchers must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in Italy for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to their recruitment. Short stays, such as holidays, are not taken into account.
- English language: Network fellows (ESRs) must demonstrate that their ability to understand and express themselves in both written and spoken English is sufficiently high for them to derive the full benefit from the network training.
3. Benefits and salary
The successful candidates will receive an attractive salary in accordance with the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) regulations for early stage researchers. The exact salary will be confirmed upon appointment and is dependent on the country correction factor (to allow for the difference in cost of living in different EU Member States)
Basic gross rates include a living allowance (€3270 per month), a mobility allowance (€600 per month) and a family allowance (€500, if applicable). ESRs will also get access to funds covering Research, Networking and Training costs. ESRs will also be enrolled for PhD studies at institutions which are part of the consortium. Funding will cover the entire 36-month period.
In addition to individual scientific projects, all fellows will benefit from further continuing education, which includes internships and secondments, a variety of training modules as well as transferable skills courses and active participation in workshops and conferences.
4. Main Duties and Responsibilities
Applicants are expected to have an outstanding education record, be highly motivated and proactive, have excellent organisation and communication skills, be able to work independently as well as in a team, and be eager to disseminate research results through publications and presentations at international conferences and seminars. Fluency in English is a prerequisite. Women are especially encouraged to apply. In general, all ESR positions will be dealing with the following main duties:
- Conduct research into the design and development of novel research in each related theme in collaboration with researchers from the host institution as well as with those from the entire ReTraCE network.
Other duties, commensurate with the post and H2020-MSCA-ITN regulations:
5. Submission process
All applications for the topics mentioned in Section 6 of this document must be uploaded by 15th January 2019 and must consist of a single .pdf file including:
The candidate will receive an e-mail attesting the submission of his/her application and indicating a protocol number, that must be saved as identifier for the following steps.
The applicants will be shortlisted by local ReTraCE Recruitment Committees. The selection process will involve one or more interviews (to be contacted via skype and/or at UNP in Naples, Italy) with the proposed supervisors. The shortlisted candidates will be expected to deliver a 20-minute presentation about their proposed research project within the framework of the ESR general objective described above. The selected ESRs are to start their research as quickly as possible (target: May 2019). Note that all candidates who will be selected for the interview phase will be asked to provide official documentation proving their CV claims (education, past employment etc).
The research proposal should be typed, the length should be up to maximum 2,000 words and should include the following:
6. Research topics
The ESRs will contribute to the ITN joint research by focusing on the following topics:
Fellow | Host Institution |
---|---|
Research Topic 1 - ESR5 | UNP - University of Naples Parthenope (Italy) |
Assessment of environmental costs and benefits of product reuse/recycling (WP2) Objectives: (i) To develop integrated biophysical assessment tools (based on the integration of LCA and Emergy Accounting) for monitoring and measuring costs & benefits, environmental impacts, progresses and bottlenecks of production systems in their pathway towards increased circularity (at micro and meso levels); (ii) To design a set of performance indicators to describe the environmental impact of recovery and disposal processes; (iii) To identify regulatory, organisational and technical solutions that are capable to remove barriers and promote increased circularity in the field of manufacturing industries; (iv) To test the tool applicability to the a selection of real-world case studies (e.g.: construction materials, road materials, metals). | |
Research Topic 2 - ESR6 | UNP - University of Naples Parthenope (Italy) |
Recovery of energy and materials from collection and treatment of organic residues (WP2) Objectives: (i) To evaluate circular patterns for treatment/recovery/disposal of urban waste organic residues, agricultural residues, industrial residues towards bioenergy and platform chemicals production via biological conversion (specific case studies: waste cooking oil, slaughterhouse waste, wastewater sludge and fermentation digestate); (ii) To identify the benefits related to the implementation of industrial eco-parks in terms of industrial organic waste and wastewater treatment, exchange of still usable resource flows, and agro-industrial integration (composting, fertirrigation, bioconversion); (iii) To evaluate to what extent the demand for energy, biomaterials, chemicals and fertilizers of the Campania Region (Italy) can be met by creating appropriate loops of resources and what are the needed processes and infrastructures. |
Required Background and Skills: MSc in Environmental Science, Biological Science, Chemical Science, Environmental Engineering or related topics. Qualitative and/ or quantitative research methods, in particular Life Cycle Assessment and Environmental Accounting.
Supervisors:
Prof. Sergio Ulgiati, expertise in Life Cycle Assessment and Environmental Accounting
Prof. Stefano Dumontet, expertise in Microbiology and Biorefineries, Coordinator of the international PhD course "Environment, Resources and Sustainable Development"
Prof. Renato Passaro, expertise in Management and Business Economics, Reverse Logistics, Supply Chain Management
Prof. Pier Paolo Franzese, expertise in systems ecology, GIS, Emergy Accounting
Dr. Roberto Cerchione, expertise in sustainable supply chain, knowledge management
Dr. Gabriella Fiorentino, expertise in green chemistry, biomass conversion processes, biorefineries and LCA of products and processes
Dr. Amalia Zucaro, expertise in environmental assessment, Life Cycle Assessment, GIS.
Dr. Gabriella Fiorentino, gabriella.fiorentino@uniparthenope.it