PhD in Techno-Economic Optimisation of Thermal Energy Storage at KTH, Stockholm

Job Description

KTH’s School of Industrial Engineering and Management is recruiting a doctoral student in energy technology to build a modular techno-economic modelling and optimisation framework for industrial thermal energy storage (TES). The project compares particle and powder storage, molten salts and phase-change materials on consistent technical and economic terms, for steam up to about 300 °C and process air up to 400 °C, with renewable heat sources, electrification and heat upgrading in the mix.

At a glance

• Position: Doctoral student (1 post), up to four years full time
• Subject: Energy Technology
• Supervisors: Justin Chiu (main supervisor); Salvatore Guccione (proposed co-supervisor)
• Apply by: 25 September 2026
• Apply: 25 September 2026

About the thermal energy storage PhD

• Develop a modular modelling and optimisation framework to compare TES concepts under the same technical, operational and economic boundaries
• Model integration with geothermal and solar thermal heat, and hybrids with electrification and heat upgrading
• Work out which storage technology, charging strategy and sizing suit different temperatures, load profiles, storage durations and electricity markets
• Combine quasi-steady-state models and annual optimisation with dynamic modelling where transients matter
• Use experimental data and industrial case studies to produce validated tools, harmonised indicators and technology-selection maps

How KTH doctoral employment works

Only applicants admitted to doctoral studies can be employed as doctoral students. The first contract is for up to one year and is then renewed for up to two years at a time, adding up to at most four years of full-time study. Up to 20% of working time may go to tasks such as teaching and administration. Applicants need English at the level of Swedish upper-secondary English B/6.

PhD applicants: browse our Find a supervisor directory to see who works in your area.

What KTH is looking for

• A master’s degree, or at least 240 credits including 60 at second-cycle level, or equivalent knowledge
• Completed courses in engineering thermodynamics, heat transfer, energy system analysis and optimisation methods
• English equivalent to English B/6
• Ability to work independently and with others, and to analyse complex problems

Nice to have

• Programming in Python, machine learning and mixed-integer linear programming (MILP)
• Knowledge of thermal energy storage, heat exchangers and techno-economic modelling

Pay and location

Doctoral students at KTH are salaried employees, paid monthly under KTH’s doctoral student salary agreement; the advert gives no figure. The post is full time in Stockholm, starting by agreement.

How to apply

Apply through the official KTH page. The closing date is 25 September 2026.

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