Applications are invited for a prestigious, fully funded Joint PhD Position (Co-tutelle) between Toulouse INP (Laboratoire de Génie Chimique – LGC) in France and Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB – EVERGi) in Belgium. This doctoral research project focuses on “Integration of planetary boundaries into the optimization of energy systems: a life cycle assessment approach applied to critical materials.”
The successful candidate will work at the cutting edge of process systems engineering, life cycle assessment (LCA), and sustainable energy transition planning, developing innovative frameworks to ensure low-carbon technologies respect planetary resource limits.
Fully Funded Joint PhD Scholarship in Energy Systems Optimization and Planetary Boundaries – Toulouse INP & VUB
Position Overview
| Designation | PhD Candidate / Doctoral Researcher (Co-tutelle / Joint PhD) |
| Research Topic | Integration of planetary boundaries in energy system optimization using LCA applied to critical materials |
| Host Institutions | Toulouse INP – Laboratoire de Génie Chimique (France) & Vrije Universiteit Brussel – EVERGi (Belgium) |
| Doctoral School | ED MEGEP (ED 177) |
| Lead Supervisor | Prof. Catherine Azzaro-Pantel (Toulouse INP) |
| Location | Toulouse, France (with a mandatory research stay in Brussels, Belgium) |
| Contract Start Date | September 1, 2027 |
| Application Deadline | November 23, 2026 (23:59 CET) |
Research Area and Project Description
The transition toward low-carbon energy systems requires a rapid roll-out of renewable energies, storage units, transport electrification, and hydrogen infrastructure. However, reducing greenhouse gas emissions alone does not guarantee ecological sustainability. Many low-carbon technologies place immense pressure on water, land, and critical mineral resources such as lithium, cobalt, nickel, rare earth elements, and copper.
This PhD project aims to bridge the gap between global planetary boundaries, detailed Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), and Energy System Models (ESM) through three core scientific challenges:
- Downscaling Planetary Boundaries: Translating global planetary boundaries into actionable environmental budgets at national and regional levels, directly embedding them into mathematical optimization models.
- Reconciling LCA Data with Optimization Models: Creating an intermediate translation layer between LCA databases (e.g., ecoinvent) and multi-objective optimization models (MILP) to reconcile dynamic allocation, technology substitution, and system-expansion assumptions.
- Critical Materials and Resource Constraints: In collaboration with the VUB–EVERGi research group, developing material-flow constraint models to assess how critical raw material dependencies restrict or reshape technology choices for electric vehicles, wind turbines, electrolyzers, and batteries.
Host Institutions and Location
The candidate will prepare a joint doctorate between two leading European academic institutions:
- Toulouse INP – Laboratoire de Génie Chimique (LGC), Toulouse, France: Primary host providing world-class facilities in process modelling, multi-objective optimization, and industrial systems engineering.
- Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB – EVERGi), Brussels, Belgium: Host institution where the researcher will spend a minimum mobility period of six months focusing on material-flow analysis, battery technologies, and resource sustainability.
Eligibility and Qualifications
Applicants must hold a Master’s degree (or equivalent graduate degree) prior to the start of the contract in one of the following or related fields:
- Energy Engineering / Energy Systems
- Chemical Engineering or Process Engineering
- Environmental Engineering or Industrial Ecology
- Mechanical Engineering
- Operations Research, Applied Mathematics, or Computer Science
Required Skills & Assets
- Strong quantitative background and interest in energy transitions, circular economy, and environmental sustainability.
- Familiarity with mathematical optimization tools (e.g., Python, GAMS, Pyomo) or LCA platforms (e.g., SimaPro, Brightway, openLCA) is an asset.
- Willingness to conduct interdisciplinary research across computational engineering and environmental sciences.
- Language proficiency: Upper-intermediate English (written and spoken) is required to present at international conferences and author scientific publications.
Scholarship Benefits and Working Conditions
- Full doctoral funding for the standard duration of the PhD program.
- Award of a Joint Doctoral Degree (Cotutelle) from both Toulouse INP (France) and Vrije Universiteit Brussel (Belgium).
- Access to advanced computing clusters, proprietary and open-source optimization software, and leading LCA databases (ecoinvent).
- Opportunities to present findings at flagship international symposia (e.g., ECOS, ESCAPE, ICAE) and publish in high-impact peer-reviewed journals.
How to Apply
Interested candidates should prepare their application portfolio containing their detailed curriculum vitae, cover letter outlining research interests, academic transcripts, and contact details of academic referees.
Applications must be submitted electronically via the official University of Toulouse doctoral application portal or through the ADUM platform proposition system.
Important Dates
- Application Deadline: November 23, 2026 (at 23:59 CET)
- Anticipated Start Date: September 1, 2027
Official Links
For additional scientific queries, you may contact Prof. Catherine Azzaro-Pantel at Catherine.AzzaroPantel@ensiacet.fr.
To submit your application or view the complete doctoral listing, visit the official recruitment portal:
Apply Online via University of Toulouse Project Portal
Reference / Proposition Listing: ADUM Proposition #76657
