PhD scholarship in Absolute Environmental Sustainability Assessment of ICT Technologies and Services – DTU Electro

This Ph.D.-project will develop a scientifically valid and transparent absolute environmental sustainability assessment (AESA) model for ICT systems, and based on this, an energy-certification of the ICT sector, aiming at laying the ground for achieving absolute.
If you are interested in laying the foundation for making ICT-based climate improvements, this position may be right for you. At DTU Electro and DTU Sustain you will work towards a greener world, by enabling the development of green ICT technologies. ICT is heralded as a key to ensure the green transition, and the tool developed through this PhD project will be the first of its kind and could play a vital role in ensuring that ICT solutions are employed for a greener future within the requirements of absolute environmental sustainability. You will be interacting with leading researchers in the field of communications and sustainability, and with a broad range of industrial and public entities, who all have a keen interest in the progress of the project.

Responsibilities and qualifications
This PhD-project will develop detailed models of the energy consumption of communication networks, evaluations of the used hardware and software, and modelling the absolute environmental sustainability impact based on life cycle assessment.

The PhD project will investigate the life cycle emissions of the communications infrastructure and combine the studies of communications and quantitative sustainability assessments. The PhD will investigate the production and installation of a network infrastructure regarding the choice of materials, installation methods of communication links and the depreciation of the asset emissions. Furthermore, the raw material efficiency during the use stage of networks will be investigated.

ICT is heralded as a key to ensure the green transition, and the tool developed through this PhD project will be the first of its kind and could play a vital role in ensuring that ICT solutions are employed for a greener future within the requirements of absolute environmental sustainability.

You will work with colleagues in the two departments at DTU, Electro and Sustain, more specific the High-Speed Optical Communications Group and the Centre for Absolute Sustainability.

Your primary tasks will be:

• Conduct detailed studies of the energy consumption of ICT networks and of data centres.
• Investigate the associated CO2 footprint for sending information.
• Develop an absolute environmental sustainability assessment model to evaluate the overall climate impact of ICT services.
• Work towards a suggestion for a standardised evaluation tool of ICT services and equipment.

The work will involve collaborations with several industrial and public entities.

You must have a two-year master's degree (120 ECTS points) or a similar degree with an academic level equivalent to a two-year master's degree. You must have a relevant background in either communication networks, climate footprint evaluations, or preferably both.

Approval and Enrolment
The scholarship for the PhD degree is subject to academic approval, and the candidate will be enrolled in one of the general degree programmes at DTU. For information about our enrolment requirements and the general planning of the PhD study programme, please see DTU's rules for the PhD education.

Assessment
The assessment of the applicants will be made by Prof. Leif Katsuo Oxenløwe and Prof. Michael Zwicky Hauschild.

We offer
DTU is a leading technical university globally recognized for the excellence of its research, education, innovation and scientific advice. We offer a rewarding and challenging job in an international environment. We strive for academic excellence in an environment characterized by collegial respect and academic freedom tempered by responsibility.

Salary and appointment terms
The appointment will be based on the collective agreement with the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations. The allowance will be agreed upon with the relevant union.

The period of employment is 3 years. The preferred starting date is 15 November 2024, or according to our mutual agreement. The position is full time.

You can read more about career paths at DTU here.

Further information
Further information may be obtained from Prof. Leif K. Oxenløwe, DTU Electro, [email protected].

You can read more about DTU Electro at https://electro.dtu.dk/.

If you are applying from abroad, you may find useful information on working in Denmark and at DTU at DTU – Moving to Denmark. Furthermore, you have the option of joining our monthly free seminar “PhD relocation to Denmark and startup “Zoom” seminar” for all questions regarding the practical matters of moving to Denmark and working as a PhD at DTU.

Application procedure
Your complete online application must be submitted no later than 20 September 2024 (23:59 Danish time). Applications must be submitted as one PDF file containing all materials to be given consideration. To apply, please open the link "Apply now", fill out the online application form, and attach all your materials in English in one PDF file. The file must include:

• A letter motivating the application (cover letter)
• Curriculum vitae
• Grade transcripts and BSc/MSc diploma (in English) including official description of grading scale

You may apply prior to ob­tai­ning your master's degree but cannot begin before having received it.

Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.

All interested candidates irrespective of age, gender, race, disability, religion or ethnic background are encouraged to apply.

At DTU Electro, we combine the immense possibilities of electrical and photonics engineering. Our research is, among other things, used in the healthcare sector for diagnostics, treatment and improving the quality of life. We research into the development of more sustainable energy systems, safer autonomous systems and a faster, greener and more secure internet. The High-Speed Optical Communications group works with most aspects of communication networks and has initiated modelling of energy consumption of the internet.

DTU Sustain is one of the largest university departments specializing in environmental and resource engineering in Europe. We are working to develop new environmentally friendly and sustainable technologies, methods and solutions, and to disseminate this knowledge to society and future generations of engineers. The section for Quantitative Sustainability Assessment (QSA) develops, adapts and applies quantitative methods for the assessment of relative and absolute environmental sustainability of products, technologies and large-scale systems.

The DTU Centre for Absolute Sustainability is a cross-departmental initiative at DTU, bearing the mission of fostering research and innovation to support fact-based strategic sustainability decision-making in Denmark and internationally. We define absolute environmental sustainability as meeting the needs of present and future generations within the biophysical boundaries of our climate and ecosystems. By gathering leading experts in assessment and engineering approaches in an orchestrated collaboration, the Centre is strengthening and consolidating sustainability competencies at DTU and enabling ground-breaking research results within technology-focused environmental sustainability transition.

Technology for people
DTU develops technology for people. With our international elite research and study programmes, we are helping to create a better world and to solve the global challenges formulated in the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Hans Christian Ørsted founded DTU in 1829 with a clear mission to develop and create value using science and engineering to benefit society. That mission lives on today. DTU has 13,500 students and 6,000 employees. We work in an international atmosphere and have an inclusive, evolving, and informal working environment. DTU has campuses in all parts of Denmark and in Greenland, and we collaborate with the best universities around the world.

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