PhD of Environmental Engineering

Why Environmental Engineering at RTU?

Students in Riga Technical University’s Environmental Engineering program have opportunities for study and cutting-edge research that have an immediate impact on society and that are at the nexus of energy, water, smart cities, and the environment, with an emphasis on long-term sustainability and resilience.

The study program focuses on a comprehensive and systematic approach to analyzing environmental systems, thereby allowing the doctoral candidate to understand, assess, and address the effects of human impacts.

Students learn from world renowned faculty members with a broad range of experience and expertise dedicated to creative, comprehensive teaching and research that ranges from fundamental to applied.

This interdisciplinary backdrop allows students to achieve their educational and professional goals— and prepares them to be “doctors for the Earth.”

About Environmental Engineering

Research in environmental engineering focuses on the understanding and management of physical, chemical, and biological processes in the environment and in engineering systems.

Environmental engineers bear tremendous responsibility and are essential for the proper functioning of society, developing the technological innovations needed to safeguard, improve, and economize infrastructure and society.

They design systems that produce safe drinking water, treat wastewater so that it can be reused and/or safely returned to the environment, accommodate municipal and hazardous waste, mitigate air pollution, and protect public health. They ensure that the built environment functions properly following disasters such as earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, and terror attacks.

By 2050, 70% of the world’s population will live in urban areas — this represents an increase of 3.5 billion people over today. Climate change and population increase in the 21st century will impact urban environments in many ways — water scarcity, global sea rise, more frequent and severe storms, and hurricanes. As a result, a major global engineering challenge is how to create and rebuild cities of the future to be fully sustainable.

Degree offered: Doctor of Science in Environmental Engineering and Energy.

The study program prepares internationally competitive higher-skilled environmental engineering specialists for academic and scientific work in universities, research centres, and organizational work in public and private institutions which have developed environmental engineering skills and working techniques to the extent that they are able to tackle environmental problems critically, including complex issues in research and innovation, and the ability to provide new understanding and solutions for complex and dynamic systems.

The tasks of the doctoral study program include:

• Carry out independent research work to obtain a doctoral degree on the selected topic in the field of environmental engineering and energy, and to reflect the results of scientific studies in scientific publications and present them to scientists and decision-makers.
• Within the framework of the study program, in post-graduate studies and in the system for obtaining a doctorate, in lectures, practical and laboratory activities, and in independent studies, using basic and applied scientific achievements, acquire in-depth theoretical knowledge in the environmental research methodology.
• Acquire skills through modern research methods, performing high-quality scientific research and providing advice on climate and environmental technologies and energy supply systems.
• Obtain the skills to manage and develop sustainable development processes at the level of the industrial and energy sector or scientific institutions.
• Promote the introduction of scientific research in manufacturing and public and private enterprise management.
• Improve teaching skills.

Well-educated graduates capable of handling the diverse problems of pollution and human impact on the environment are in continuing demand.

The number of jobs for environmental engineers is forecasted to grow by 8.3% by 2026. There are projected to be about 4,000 openings on average every year for professionals in this field in the next few years— giving environment enthusiasts a great opportunity to work towards finding solutions to the current environment problems.

Graduates of RTU’s PhD program in Environmental Engineering are highly sought after and are pursuing careers in both the public and private sectors. The diverse range of career opportunities include:

• Environmental Protection
• Energy (thermal and smart efficiencies)
• Resource Management
• Climate Technology
• Consultancy
• Research and Development
• Green Marketing
• Government Agencies
• Non-Profits
• Academia

RTU graduates also can conduct research in the environmental engineering and energy sector, as well as develop and implement environmental engineering projects