DTU Tenure Track Researcher in Development of Pressure Retarded Osmosis (PRO) Processes – DTU Chemical Engineering

Join DTU as a Tenure Track Researcher to develop high-pressure-resistant membranes for energy generation via Pressure Retarded Osmosis (PRO). Work with top industry partners to enhance PRO performance and drive innovation in sustainable energy. Be part of the future of clean power!
The Process and Systems Engineering Center (PROSYS) at the Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, Technical University of Denmark (DTU), is seeking a highly motivated and skilled researcher to develop high-pressure-resistant membranes and modules for energy generation through pressure-retarded osmosis on saline solutions (PRO). We invite applications from ambitious engineers who have completed their PhD and wish to advance their careers in membrane technology. The ideal candidate will have a strong foundation in membrane technology and a keen interest in its practical applications. This position, funded by the Innovation Found Denmark, offers an excellent opportunity to build expertise and drive innovation in the development of advanced PRO process.

PRO is an advanced and sustainable technology that harnesses the salinity gradient between freshwater and seawater to generate clean energy. Investing in PRO development, especially in high-pressure-resistant membranes, can significantly improve energy output and system durability, making it a viable alternative in the transition toward sustainable energy solutions. If you would like to become an expert in this strategically important interdisciplinary field and contribute to the green energy production, we have an opportunity for you:

The department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering at the Technical University of Denmark offers a tenure-track researcher position in:

Enhancement of the PRO performance, particularly via membrane modification, optimization of operational condition and membrane cleaning strategies. This project will utilize commercial membranes and high salinity solution for PRO process to enhance the efficiency of power generation.

This position will be hosted at the Center for Process and Systems Engineering and the activities will be developed at lab and pilot plant scale. This project is a collaboration between multiple partners, including Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, DTU and industry leaders – Danfoss and SaltPower that has developed the necessary facilities to scale up from laboratory research to real-world applications. This initiative bridges academic research with industrial implementation, offering a dynamic environment for innovation and practical impact.

Responsibilities and qualifications

Your overall focus will be to strengthen the department’s competences within the field of downstream processing, with special focus on the development and evaluation of a PRO system. Fouling reduction will be one of the core topics of the project, which will also entail the internal and external concentration polarization mitigation to reduce fouling and improve the net power generation in a PRO process. In addition, membrane cleaning strategies need be applied to improve the lifespan of the system. You will work with nearby colleagues, and with both academic and industrial partners in Denmark.

Following are the main tasks the person will develop in the position; it is expected that you have previous experience on each of them:

• Handling of unit operations involving liquid separation systems
• Lab and pilot plant experiments involving membrane technology applied to high-pressure filtration systems via PRO and RO
• Development of membrane modification protocols
• Work with techniques to reduce fouling, particularly in handling internal and external concentration polarization
• Development of membrane cleaning protocols
• Use analytical skills for the characterizations of membranes and saline solutions, such as Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and zeta potential measurement.
• Teach Membrane Technology at MSc level

You must contribute to the teaching of courses. DTU employs two working languages: Danish and English. You are expected to be fluent in at least one of these languages, and in time are expected to master both.

As formal qualification you must hold a PhD degree (or equivalent).

You will be assessed against the responsibilities and qualifications stated above and the following general criteria:

• Research experience
• Experience and quality of teaching
• Research vision and potential
• International impact and experience
• Societal impact
• Innovativeness, including commercialization and collaboration with industry
• Leadership, collaboration, and interdisciplinary skills
• Communication skills

The applications will be assessed based on the qualifications, academic and personal skills of the candidates.

Salary and terms of employment

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 expected starting date is 1 September 2025.

The position is part of DTU’s Tenure Track program. Read more about the program and the recruitment process

here.

You can read more about career paths at DTU

here.

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.

Further information

Further information may be obtained from Prof. Manuel Pinelo,

mp@kt.dtu.dk.

You can read more about the DTU Chemical 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.

Application procedure

Your complete online application must be submitted no later than 23 April 2025 (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:

• Application (cover letter)
• Vision for teaching and research for the tenure track period
• CV including employment history, list of publications, H-index and ORCID (see

http://orcid.org/)

• Teaching portfolio including documentation of teaching experience
• Academic Diplomas (MSc/PhD)

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.

At the Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering it is our main objective to meet today’s industrial challenges and create value through education, innovation and research. DTU Chemical Engineering’s main activities lie within the areas of product design, process design and production in the chemical, biotechnological, pharmaceutical, food technological and energy technological industries.

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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