PhD scholarship in Metastable Calcium Carbonate Cement

Are you passionate about low-carbon cement and advanced cementitious materials characterization? We're looking for a full-time PhD to join the Digital Building Technology (DBT) section at DTU, Department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering (DTU Construct). 

In this role, you are advancing innovation by integrating material science, advanced processing techniques, and modelling to gain a comprehensive understanding of calcium carbonate formation & growth at environmental boundary conditions of cementitious materials, across different scales and timeframes. This position plays a crucial role in our DFF-Sapere Aude project, PolYCEM, supported by Independent Research Fund Denmark, dedicated to developing "Metastable calcium carbonate cement toward cultivating carbon neutrality." Join our team and contribute to the field of cement research.

Responsibilities

Your main focus will be to study how cement-based materials undergo carbonation and how the carbonated phases interact with cementitious phases under different atmospheric conditions. You will work directly with advanced laboratory equipment and computational modeling tools (e.g., thermodynamic modelling and life cycle analysis) to investigate carbonation and phase changes at both micro and macro scales.

• Conduct experimental work on the formulation and optimization of calcium carbonate–rich cementitious materials.
• Characterizing the fresh and hardened properties of the cementitious materials over time using techniques such as rheological characterization, SEM, XRD, µCT, TGA, Raman imaging, and multiscale mechanical testing. 
• Thermodynamic modelling. 
• Close collaboration with the rest of our interdisciplinary team, particularly the PolYCEM Postdoc in "Metastable calcium carbonate cement".
• Dissemination of your research through publications in "top rank journals of the field" and attendance to conferences.
• Research and teaching efforts at a section and departmental level as appropriate and relevant (e.g., teach and supervise MSc/BSc student projects).

Qualifications

• Background within building materials, material science, inorganic chemistry or related fields. 
• Experience in microstructural testing of cementitious materials is a great plus.

Flexibility is essential. We are looking for a team player who can also work independently, who is motivated to help and be part of a dynamic research environment; and who has a positive, supportive and creative outlook. We expect you to have good communication and personal interaction skills and to be fluent in English.

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.

You can read more about career paths at DTU here.

Further information 

Further information may be obtained from Navid Ranjbar, e-mail  

You can read more about Department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering at  

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 4 December :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:

• A letter motivating the application (cover letter)
• Curriculum vitae 
• Grade transcripts and BSc/MSc diploma (in English) including official description of grading scale

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. Interviews will be conducted continuously.

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.

DTU Civil and Mechanical Engineering develops and utilizes science and technical knowledge for the benefit of society and sustainable development. We undertake research, education, innovation, and scientific advice of the highest quality within building design and processes, building construction and safety, building energy and installation, solid mechanics, fluid mechanics, materials technology, manufacturing engineering, engineering design and thermal energy systems. 

Technology for people
DTU develops technology for people. With our international elite research and study programmes, we are helping to create a better world and to solve the global challenges formulated in the UN's 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Hans Christian Ørsted founded DTU in 1829 with a clear mission to develop and create value using science and engineering to benefit society. That mission lives on today. DTU has 13,500 students and 6,000 employees. We work in an international atmosphere and have an inclusive, evolving, and informal working environment. DTU has campuses in all parts of Denmark and in Greenland, and we collaborate with the best universities around the world.