PhD Scholarships within Novel Silicone Polymers and Elastomers for Soft Robotics – DTU Chemical Engineering

Are you intrigued by the many fascinating properties and advanced uses of polymers and elastomers? Are you looking to establish yourself as a scientist? Then you need not look further than The Danish Polymer Centre at the Technical University of Denmark. We are currently seeking three Ph.D. candidates to join a Novo Nordisk Foundation-funded project, “Soft wearables with high energy density: merging chemical biology and silicone chemistry with compliant active devices (WeArAble).
Are you intrigued by the many fascinating properties and advanced uses of polymers and elastomers? Are you looking to establish yourself as a scientist? Then you need not look further than The Danish Polymer Centre at the Technical University of Denmark. We are currently seeking three Ph.D. candidates to join a Novo Nordisk Foundation-funded project, “Soft wearables with high energy density: merging chemical biology and silicone chemistry with compliant active devices (WeArAble).

The project’s focus will be on the design, synthesis, and characterization of novel silicone polymers and elastomers. Tasks include synthesizing and preparing silicone polymers and elastomers and chemical, mechanical, and dielectric characterization.

Responsibilities and qualifications
We are looking for highly motivated candidates who can work independently and in collaboration with colleagues and have excellent oral and written English skills. You should strive towards scientific excellence and be ambitious and hard-working.

PhD student 1:
Will work with dielectric elastomer fibers, initially focusing on preparation methods for the fibers. Later, the focus will be on conductive materials that can be incorporated into the developed process. The candidate will work closely with several postdocs on the project. The ideal candidate has a background in polymer processing, with some experience in 3D printing and polymer characterization. Candidates with experience in micro-scale device fabrication will be preferred.

PhD student 2:
Will work on the incorporation of proteins into silicone elastomers. The candidate will work closely with PhD student 3 and another PhD student. The ideal candidate has experience with polymer chemistry and characterization and a strong knowledge of organic chemistry.

PhD student 3:
Will collaborate with DTU Biosustain on protein expression using bacterial hosts. The candidate should have a strong knowledge of molecular biology, bacterial physiology, and biochemistry. Candidates with experience with heterologous protein expression using microbial systems, protein purification and characterization, and bioinformatics for data mining will be preferred.

Please indicate in your application which of the three positions you prefer.

Applicable for all scholarships

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 scholarships for the PhD degree are subject to academic approval, and the candidates 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 Professor Anne Ladegaard Skov, [email protected].

You can read more about The Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering at www.kt.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 16 June 2024 (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

In the field “Please indicate which position(s) you would like to apply for”, please indicate which project you are applying for (title from the above list of PhD projectsor individual research projects).

Incomplete applications will not be considered. 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.

At DTU Chemical Engineering, it is our mission to develop and utilize knowledge, methods, technologies, and sustainable solutions within: Chemical and biochemical process engineering and production, Design of chemical and biochemical products and processes, Energy and environment.

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.

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