PhD Graduate Research Assistant for NSF CAREER Project on Circular Economy, Life Cycle Assessment, and Sustainable Textile Systems

2 Jun 2026 Job Information Organisation/Company University of Massachusetts Lowell Department Mechanical and Industrial Engineering Research Field Engineering » Industrial engineering Engineering » Systems engineering Engineering » Mechanical engineering Environmental science » Global change Computer science » Modelling tools Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Positions PhD Positions Application Deadline 4 Jul 2026 - 23:59 (America/New_York) Country United States Type of Contract Permanent Job Status Full-time Offer Starting Date 1 Sep 2026 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No Offer Description The position is part of an interdisciplinary research program that integrates Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), Circular Economy, Industrial Ecology, Machine Learning, Sustainability Science, and Systems Modeling to address critical environmental challenges associated with textile production, consumption, reuse, repair, remanufacturing, and recycling. The successful candidate will contribute to developing innovative methods and decision-support tools to evaluate circular economy strategies and sustainability transitions. Research activities may include life-cycle assessment of circular systems, machine-learning-assisted sustainability modeling, development of circularity metrics, uncertainty analysis, environmental systems modeling, and assessment of sustainable textile supply chains. The PhD student will work on projects associated with an

NSF CAREER

award and the development of the STITCH framework, an integrated sustainability assessment framework for circular textile systems. Opportunities will exist to collaborate with academic researchers, industry partners, nonprofit organizations, and policymakers. We are particularly interested in applicants who demonstrate intellectual curiosity, strong analytical and quantitative skills, independent problem-solving, and excellent written communication. Experience in life cycle assessment, circular economy, sustainability assessment, industrial ecology, data science, machine learning, operations research, textile systems, supply chain management, or related fields is desirable but not required. Applicants should hold a Bachelor's or Master's degree in engineering, environmental science, sustainability, industrial ecology, data science, operations research, economics, supply chain management, or a related discipline. The position includes graduate research assistant support, tuition coverage in accordance with university policy, opportunities for conference travel, and participation in cutting-edge sustainability research addressing global environmental challenges. Interested applicants must complete the application package and submit a (1) CV, (2) academic transcripts, a (3) writing sample, and (4) responses to research-focused application questions (

Link:

https://forms.gle/XLs2LrzNftk2knZW6 Review of complete applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. Where to apply E-mail jasmina_burek@uml.edu Requirements Research Field Engineering » Industrial engineering Education Level Bachelor Degree or equivalent Research Field Engineering » Mechanical engineering Education Level Bachelor Degree or equivalent Research Field Engineering » Systems engineering Education Level Bachelor Degree or equivalent Research Field Environmental science » Global change Education Level Bachelor Degree or equivalent Research Field Computer science » Modelling tools Education Level Bachelor Degree or equivalent Skills/Qualifications The ideal candidate will have a strong interest in sustainability, circular economy, and life cycle thinking, along with excellent analytical and communication skills.

Applicants should demonstrate:

Strong quantitative and problem-solving abilities Excellent written and verbal communication skills Ability to work independently and collaboratively Interest in interdisciplinary sustainability research Critical thinking and attention to detail Willingness to learn new methods and approaches Strong organizational and time-management skills Commitment to producing high-quality research outputs Experience with programming, data analysis, modeling, or sustainability assessment is advantageous but not required.

Specific Requirements Required:

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Environmental Science, Sustainability, Industrial Ecology, Data Science, Operations Research, Economics, Supply Chain Management, or a related field Academic preparation sufficient for admission to a PhD program at the University of Massachusetts Lowell Demonstrated interest in sustainability-related research Ability to communicate scientific concepts effectively in

English Preferred:

Experience with Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) Familiarity with Circular Economy concepts Knowledge of textile and apparel systems Experience with Python, R, MATLAB, machine learning, optimization, or data analytics Prior research experience resulting in technical reports, theses, publications, or conference presentations Languages ENGLISH Level Excellent Research Field Engineering » Industrial engineeringEnvironmental science » Global changeComputer science » Modelling tools Years of Research Experience 1 - 4 Additional Information Benefits The successful candidate will receive: Full Graduate Research Assistantship support Tuition coverage according to university policy Opportunities to publish in leading international journals Opportunities to present research at national and international conferences Access to interdisciplinary collaborations with academic, industry, nonprofit, and policy partners Professional development in proposal writing, scientific communication, teaching, and leadership Mentorship within an NSF CAREER-funded research program Eligibility criteria Applicants must: Meet the admission requirements for the PhD program at the University of Massachusetts Lowell Hold a Bachelor's or Master's degree before enrollment Demonstrate strong academic performance and research potential Show evidence of intellectual curiosity, initiative, and independent learning Qualified applicants of all nationalities are encouraged to apply. Selection process Applications will be evaluated holistically based on: Academic preparation Research experience Writing ability Analytical and quantitative skills Alignment with project objectives Evidence of independent problem-solving Quality of responses to application questions Motivation for pursuing research in sustainability, circular economy, and textile systems Shortlisted candidates will be invited for an interview. The interview process may include discussion of previous research experiences, research interests, problem-solving approaches, and future research goals. Additional comments This position is particularly well suited for students who enjoy tackling complex and open-ended sustainability challenges. The research involves significant independent learning, literature synthesis, quantitative analysis, and scientific writing. The successful candidate will be expected to develop preliminary ideas and approaches before seeking guidance, demonstrate strong self-editing habits, and contribute to a collaborative research environment. Applicants with interests in Life Cycle Assessment, Circular Economy, Industrial Ecology, Sustainable Textiles, Sustainability Assessment, Environmental Modeling, Machine Learning, Data Science, Sustainable Manufacturing, Supply Chain Sustainability, or related fields are strongly encouraged to apply. Successful candidates are typically those who demonstrate initiative, intellectual humility, persistence, and the ability to independently explore unfamiliar topics before seeking assistance. Work Location(s) Number of offers available 1 Company/Institute University of Massachusetts Lowell Country United States State/Province MA City Lowell Postal Code 01854 Geofield Contact State/Province MA City Lowell Website https://jasminaburek.

com/ https:

//www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/show-award?

AWD_ID=2542794 https://www.uml.edu/engineering/mechanical-industrial/ Street 1 University Ave Postal Code 01854 E-Mail jasmina_burek@uml.edu

STATUS:

EXPIRED