Are you curious about how we can squeeze every bit of efficiency out of vehicles and make transport more sustainable? Do you enjoy turning equations, data and code into real-world impact? Chalmers University of Technology is recruiting two doctoral students in vehicle energy estimation to do cutting-edge research at the intersection of engineering, data science, and uncertainty quantification. One position is in mechatronics, at the Department of Electrical Engineering. The other is in vehicle dynamics, at the Department of Mechanical Engineering.
You will join a large, friendly academic community where asking "why?" one more time is seen as a strength, not a problem. Chalmers is a research-intensive university with a strong focus on engineering, natural sciences, and sustainable development. The environment is international, open, and collaborative, and the project includes partners from research institutes, vehicle manufacturers, and system suppliers.
What you will do
In the REACH project, two doctoral students will work side by side to model, estimate, and predict vehicle energy use in real traffic. You will help us understand where the energy goes, how much can be saved, and how confident we can be in our estimates.
PhD position 1 – Mechatronics (Department of Electrical Engineering)
You will model the loads that drive energy consumption, such as rolling resistance and aerodynamic drag, and how they vary under real driving conditions.
PhD position 2 – Vehicle dynamics (Department of Mechanical Engineering)
You will study how uncertainty in input data, such as the predicted speed profile ahead, propagates into the overall energy estimate, and develop methods to quantify and reduce it.
In both positions, you will:
- Develop and evaluate models for vehicle energy consumption and efficiency
- Analyse experimental, field and fleet data to understand real-world energy use
- Design and run simulations and estimation algorithms using model-based and/or data-driven methods
- Work closely with supervisors, other doctoral students, and partners in industry and research institutes
- Present your work at international conferences and in scientific journals
- Contribute to teaching and supervising students, corresponding to approximately 20% of full-time
Along the way, you will build solid skills in scientific methods, communication and collaboration.
Who you are
You like the idea of spending a few years going deep into one topic, learning a lot and sharing that knowledge with others. You enjoy solving complex problems step by step, and you are not afraid of equations, code, or getting stuck on a tricky bug before you finally crack it. You are also a team player who likes to discuss ideas and build on other people's perspectives.
To thrive in either position, you likely have:
- A master's degree (or equivalent) in mechanical, electrical or vehicle engineering, engineering physics, applied mathematics, or a related field
- Strong skills in mathematics and in modelling dynamic systems
- Experience programming in at least one language, for example Python or MATLAB
- An interest in vehicles, transport, energy systems or sustainable mobility
- Good spoken and written English for everyday teamwork and scientific communication
You are welcome to apply for one or both positions. Please state in your cover letter which position(s) you are applying for.
About us
The project spans two departments at Chalmers, and each department will host one doctoral student.
Department of Electrical Engineering – Division of Systems and Control (position 1)
The Department of Electrical Engineering conducts research and education across a broad range of fields, from machine learning, signal processing, and information and coding theory to automatic control and electric power engineering. It is an international environment with close ties to both academic and industrial partners. As a doctoral student in mechatronics, you will join the Division of Systems and Control, whose research covers automatic control, automation, and mechatronics. The division works on societal challenges such as energy efficiency, sustainable battery use, safety in autonomous vehicles, and helping industry stay competitive through smart automation.
Department of Mechanical Engineering – Division of Vehicle Engineering and Autonomous Systems (position 2)
The Department of Mechanical Engineering combines technology, people and society to drive the transition to a sustainable future. Through research, education and collaboration, the department creates solutions that link materials to mobility and ideas to impact. As a doctoral student in vehicle dynamics, you will join the Division of Vehicle Engineering and Autonomous Systems, whose research covers vehicle analysis and robotics. The division works on transport systems that combine safety, energy efficiency, driving experience, artificial intelligence and automation across road, rail, aviation and maritime transport.
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.
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.
Your development and support
During your doctoral studies, you will work closely with supervisors who support both your research and your broader development. You will have access to courses and training in research methods, teaching, communication and leadership, giving you a solid platform for many different future career paths. You will also be part of a wider network of doctoral students who share both the challenges and the fun parts of research life.
If you join us from abroad, you will find a welcoming international community and plenty of support in settling in, both at work and outside it. The university offers Swedish language courses for international staff, which makes it easier to integrate into daily life and collaborate more widely over time.
Application process
The application should be written in English and attached as PDF-files, as below. The 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.
Your bachelor’s and, if available, master’s thesis, along with 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 December, 31st.
For questions, please contact:
Fredrik Bruzelius: fredrik.bruzelius@chalmers.se
Jonas Fredriksson: jonas.fredriksson@chalmers.se
