Postdoc - Geochemistry, Mineralogy or Materials Science CO2 conversion to solids: Transforming waste to New, Valuable Products - DTU Physics

We are developing a fast, cheap, environmentally friendly way to mineralise CO2, to make stable, useful products. We invite enthusiastic applicants to join our cross disciplinary team.

We seek a Postdoctoral Fellow with expertise in geochemistry or mineralogy or materials science or other, who has experience in X-ray diffraction analysis (for example, with Rietveld refinement) and geochemical speciation calculations (such as with PHREEQC or a similar code). 

We are running several projects in parallel, ranging from fundamental investigations of mineral-water-gas properties, through developing predictive models and new experimental methods and instrumentation, to design creative and cost effective CO2 trapping processes. The need is urgent, the task is challenging and a multidisciplinary approach is essential - so our group consists of highly motivated scientists and engineers, including chemists, physicists, nanoscientists, geoscientists, engineers and innovation experts. Our group includes members at all academic levels, from bachelor students to experienced scientists and engineers.

Our goals are to develop a local method for mineralising CO2, to convert it back to solid, where it will remain stable on the long term. Even with the very best alternative energy sources and conversion of CO2 into products, current air and ocean CO2 levels will need 1,000 to 10,000 years to return to preindustrial levels. To reduce climate change and ocean acidification, CO2 must be converted to solid and put back into the Earth, where it came from in the first place.

The job
We expect that your background in materials characterisation and solution composition modelling will contribute to the efforts of our cross disciplinary team, for whom the aim is to understand solid-fluid (water and gas) interactions of natural materials and the effect of organic compounds on them. The team will merge data from traditional techniques with results from state-of-the-art, ultrahigh resolution instruments and modelling at scales ranging from atoms to metres. Our goals are to gain very fundamental new knowledge about how nature works and to apply it in a reactor, to convert CO2 and waste solids to a valuable product for use in new, low CO2 construction materials and to form a company. 

Our expectations of you
We are looking for a curious, enthusiastic colleague who has an interest in nature, enjoys solving problems and working together, to meet the projects’ goals. We expect a strong background in fluid-mineral interaction, i.e. experience with X-ray diffraction of natural materials and geochemical speciation modelling. As a formal qualification, you must hold a PhD degree (or equivalent). 

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

We offer
DTU is among the leading technical universities of Europe and top in the Nordic countries, globally recognised for excellence in research, education, innovation and scientific advice. We offer a rewarding and challenging position in an international environment. We strive for academic excellence in an environment characterised by collegial respect and academic freedom, tempered by responsibility. 

The CO2 projects unite researchers from several DTU departments as well as national and international researchers from a number of fields. The atmosphere in the research group is friendly and supportive, allowing us to produce groundbreaking results, essential for society. Our aim at a startup company is well supported by DTU’s focus on technology for people.

Salary and employment terms
The appointment will be based on the collective agreement with the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations. The salary will be determined, based on your qualifications and in agreement with the relevant union.

The position is full time and starts as soon as possible but we are prepared to wait for the right candidate. The position is initially for 2 years. 

The workplace is the DTU Lyngby Campus.

Further information
You can read more about career paths at DTU here and about the university and department at www.dtu.dk. 

Questions about the position can be addressed to Prof. S. Stipp, stipp@dtu.dk. 

If you are applying from abroad, you can find useful information on working in Denmark and at DTU at DTU – Moving to Denmark.  

Application procedure 
Your complete online application must be submitted no later than Wednesday 22 October 2025 (23:59 Danish time). Applications must be submitted as one PDF file containing all materials to be considered. To apply, open the link "Apply now", complete the online form and attach all your materials in English in one PDF file. The file must include:

• A cover letter (1 to 2 pages), explaining how you are perfect for the position, using your background as examples;
• Your CV, including employment history, research and teaching experience with dates, scientific highlights, ORCID identifier and other relevant information about you as a scientist and a person;
• Your course list and grades from your university education; a copy of your diploma (BSc/MSc/PhD – in English; your own translation is acceptable at application stage; only if you are chosen for the position, do we need an official translation).
• Publication list in proper reference list format; mark as many as 3 articles that you consider to represent your best work and write 2 or 3 lines about each of them, describing why you chose these papers (do not include the actual papers in your application)
• The name, email and phone number for 3 personal references (do not include letters of reference).

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.

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 vision 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 Greenland and we collaborate with the best universities around the world.