PhD scholarship in multiscale operando characterization of operating zinc-based batteries - DTU Energy

Are you passionate about exploring innovative ideas supporting the development of rechargeable batteries (RB) and supercapacitors (SC)? At the Technical University of Denmark (DTU), we are offering a fully funded PhD position focusing on providing an excellent triple-I (interdisciplinary / intersectoral / international) research and training network to Doctorial Candidates, with a focus on (a) training-through-research, (b) knowledge sharing, and (c) developing novel materials for RB and SC and new workflows for effective recycling & manufacturing, as well as potential business marketing for technological outcomes. 

It is expected that the Doctorial Candidates (DCs) trained within INCEPTION will maximize their ability to convert new knowledge/ideas into products and services for the industrial, social, and economic benefit, and thereafter become the future leaders in academia, industry, and the public sector. 

Responsibilities and qualifications
The aim of the PhD project is to develop and apply operando methods for studies of zinc-based batteries, mainly rechargeable zinc-air batteries. A combination of diffraction and tomography will be applied, using in-house facilities as well as synchrotron X-ray sources. By obtaining multi-scale (spatial resolution as well as time-resolution) information about the transformation dynamics in zinc-air electrodes and follow quantitatively the redistribution of the phases present, reaction mechanisms will be investigated and the information gained will be used for optimization of the battery. The position is part of the INCEPTION Doctoral Network (HORIZON EUROPE – Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions – Doctoral Networks 2024) and collaboration with the partners and external research stays at a partner university will be included.

Main duties of the position include: 

• Perform electrochemical characterization (Galvanostatic charge/discharge, Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy etc.) on zinc-air battery cells.
• Develop specialized in situ cells, which can be used for operando diffraction and imaging experiments on metal-air batteries during charge/discharge.
• Perform detailed materials characterization of the components of the battery using e.g. in-house powder diffraction. 
• Use in-house imaging experiments for detailed morphological analysis of the battery cells.
• Perform in situ and operando synchrotron X-ray diffraction and imaging studies of operating zinc-air batteries.
• Use automated Rietveld refinement for analysis of large data sets and Computed Tomography analysis of the imaging data.
• Dissemination of research results.

Qualifications expected:

• Expertise in X-ray diffraction and computed tomography
• Experience in electrochemical characterization of materials
• Experience with crystal structures analysis and Rietveld refinement
• Experience in working at large-scale facilities, e.g., synchrotrons
• Able to work independently in the laboratory
• Fluent spoken and writing English
• Creative problem solving and strategic thinking

You must have the ability to work independently and take responsibility for the progress and quality of the project, but also to work in a team environment.

Moreover, the successful candidate is:

• Highly motivated and enthusiastic about the research topic 
• Able to work in an organized fashion, document and disseminate scientific results such as writing results in reports and publications

You must have a two-year master's degree (120 ECTS points) or a similar degree with an academic level equivalent to a two-year master's degree.

Approval and Enrolment 
The scholarship for the PhD degree is subject to academic approval, and the candidate will be enrolled in one of the general degree programmes at DTU. For information about our enrolment requirements and the general planning of the PhD study programme, please see DTU's rules for the PhD education. 

We offer
DTU is a leading technical university globally recognized for the excellence of its research, education, innovation and scientific advice. We offer a rewarding and challenging job in an international environment. We strive for academic excellence in an environment characterized by collegial respect and academic freedom tempered by responsibility.

Salary and appointment terms
The appointment will be based on the collective agreement with the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations. The allowance will be agreed upon with the relevant union. The period of employment is 3 years and the start date is 1 October 2026.

You must be compliant with the MSCA mobility rule: not have resided or carried out your main activity (work/study) in Denmark for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to recruitment. 

You are expected to be full-time dedicated to the project and be willing to spend a prolonged period in another institution / country of the network during the PhD thesis period.

You can read more about career paths at DTU here.

Further information
Further information may be obtained from Professor Poul Norby on [email protected].

You can read more about DTU Energy at www.energy.dtu.dk

If you are applying from abroad, you may find useful information on working in Denmark and at DTU at DTU – Moving to Denmark. Furthermore, you have the option of joining our monthly free seminar “PhD relocation to Denmark and startup “Zoom” seminar” for all questions regarding the practical matters of moving to Denmark and working as a PhD at DTU. 

Application procedure 
Your complete online application must be submitted no later than 24 August 2026 (23:59 Danish time). 

Applications must be submitted as one PDF file containing all materials to be given consideration. To apply, please open the link "Apply now", fill out the online application form, and attach all your materials in English in one PDF file. The file must include:

• Identification document (passport or European ID card)
• Detailed academic CV in EUROPASS format
• Motivation letter (max. 1 page) + the contact (Name, email, institutional affiliation) of a reference person who endorses the application
• Digital copy of the Diplomas + the official English transcript of the academic degrees and academic records. (In the case an applicant doesn’t hold the official transcript at the moment of application, he/she can submit a regular transcript signed by him/her, and present the official transcript for hiring and PhD enrollment, in the case the applicant is selected for the DC vacancy).
• Certificate of English Proficiency (e.g., IELTS, TOEFL. This requirement does not apply to native English speakers nor to applicants that underwent formal education in institutions with English as the official language).
• Any additional documents required to meet the requirements of the targeted Recruiting Institution. (Please use “surnamenameDC.pdf” as the file name, and “INCEPTION DC APPLICATION” as the topic of the email)

You may apply prior to ob­tai­ning your master's degree but cannot begin before having received it.

Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.

All interested candidates irrespective of age, gender, disability, race, religion or ethnic background are encouraged to apply. As DTU works with research in critical technology, which is subject to special rules for security and export control, open-source background checks may be conducted on qualified candidates for the position.

The Department of Energy Conversion and Storage (DTU Energy) focuses on research and development of functional materials, components, and systems for sustainable energy technologies. The technologies include fuel cells, electrolysis, power-to-x, batteries, and carbon capture. The research is based on strong competences on electrochemistry, atomic scale and multi-physics modelling, autonomous materials discovery, materials processing, and structural analyses. We also focus on educating engineering students at all levels, ranging from BSc, MSc, PhD to lifelong learning students. We have about 300 dedicated employees. Read more about us at www.energy.dtu.dk.

DTU – For the benefit of society since 1829
DTU is one of Europe's leading elite technical universities. Through research and education at an international top level, we create solutions to the major societal challenges of our time and help secure Europe's global leadership in sustainable technological development. Since Hans Christian Ørsted founded DTU almost 200 years ago, our mission has remained the same: We develop and create value through the natural and technical sciences for the benefit of society. DTU has 13,800 students, 1,600 PhD students, and 6,500 employees. We work in an international environment and have an inclusive, stimulating, and informal work culture. DTU has campuses in all parts of Denmark and in Greenland and collaborates with the best universities around the world.