PhD scholarship in mineral resources - DTU Sustain

If you are establishing your career as scientist and you are looking for the best possible foundation for fulfilling your ambitions, it is right here in front of you. At DTU Sustain, you will break new ground by entering an interdisciplinary and international collaboration focusing on critical raw materials.

Responsibilities and qualifications
The position is one of two interdependent PhD projects hosted by DTU Sustain and University of Queensland (UQ), respectively. The applicant will receive joint supervision from the two hosts and is expected to spend a total of six months during the project at UQ (Australia), and to engage in collaboration with the UQ-hosted PhD project. 

The overall aim of the project is to create synergy between in depth mineral characterization and thermodynamic stabilities (DTU-lead), and its correlation with the propensity for microbially-mediated metal dissolution by nature-based mineral-based microbial consortia for metal recovery (UQ-lead) to create a fundamentals-to-application pipeline for sustainable metal recovery. The candidate will be responsible for conducting research on thermodynamic properties of minerals that are potential ores for critical raw materials. This will be done from first principle using, e.g., density functional theory. Other tasks will include teaching and possibly co-supervision of MSc and BSc students.

The candidate is expected to have a scientific background that enables independent research into thermodynamic systems using first principles. These qualifications must be demonstrated in the application. 

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 in geology, mineralogy, geoscience, physics, chemistry, crystallography or similar.

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. Please see DTU’s salary structure for scientific staff: www.inside.dtu.dk/en/human-resources/during-employment/salary/salary-structures 

The period of employment is 3 years.

Starting date is according to mutual agreement and as soon as possible. The position is a full-time position.

You can read more about career paths at DTU here.

Further information 
Further information may be obtained from Assistant Professor Ole Skursch (olsku@dtu.dk), DTU Sustain.

You can read more about DTU Sustain at https://sustain.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 31 December 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:

• 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.

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 Sustain - Department of Environmental and Resource Engineering - is one of the largest university departments specializing in environmental and resource engineering in Europe. The department conducts research, development & scientific advice and provides educational programs and service to society. We are working to develop new environmentally friendly and sustainable technologies, methods and solutions, and to disseminate this knowledge to society and future generations of engineers. The Department has approximately 300 staff from more than 50 nationalities.

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.