VILLUM FONDEN has provided a substantial grant over the next 8 years to “The Villum Center for the Science of Sustainable Fuels and Chemicals” (V-SUSTAIN). The clear aim of the center is to provide the science necessary to phase out fossil fuels and thereby alleviate the negative impact the continuous use of these have on the earth’s climate and environment. The center is a collaboration between DTU, Stanford University, University of Copenhagen, and University of Southern Denmark.

The PhD studentship is within the field of electronic structure theory and computation. The stipend is focused on the design of new materials for light-induced water splitting and involves the development of theory and computations for materials screening. The work will be carried out within V-SUSTAIN in close collaboration with experimental partners performing synthesis and testing of new materials. The project will mainly apply Density Functional Theory.

V-SUSTAIN and CAMD provide a social and open scientific environment at the Department of Physics, DTU with close collaboration between theory and experiment. Substantial computational resources are available through the DTU-supercomputer facility Niflheim.   

Qualifications
The successful candidate will have obtained excellent grades in his/her Bachelor and Masters degrees. He/she should be well-motivated, hardworking, and willing and able to work as part of a team. Previous experience with electronic structure calculations is preferable but not a requirement.

Candidates for the PhD position should have a Masters’ degree in Physics, Chemistry, or Materials Science by the time they commence the project.    

Approval and Enrollment of PhD Students
The scholarship for the PhD degree is subject to academic approval, and the candidate will be enrolled at the Physics PhD School at DTU. For information about the general requirements for enrollment and the general planning of the scholarship studies, please see please see PhD Programme – DTU.    

Assessment
The assessment of the applicants will be made by Professor Karsten W. Jacobsen.   

Salary and appointment terms
The salary and appointment terms of the PhD position are consistent with the current rules for PhD degree students. The period of employment is 3 years. 

The position is available immediately, but the starting date can be as late as August 2017.  

Further information
For further information about the research at V-SUSTAIN and CAMD please visit http://www.v-sustain.dtu.dk and http://www.camd.dtu.dk. 

Should you have any queries regarding the position, please contact Professor Karsten W. Jacobsen, [email protected].    

Application
Please go to PhD studentship at The VILLUM Center for the Science of Sustainable Fuels and Chemicals (V- SUSTAIN) and submit your online application no later than 1 April 2017. Applications must be submitted as one pdf file containing all materials to be given consideration. To apply, please open the link "Apply online," fill in 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
• Excel sheet with translation of grades to the Danish grading system (see guidelines and excel spreadsheet here)

Candidates may apply prior to ob­tai­ning their master's degree, but cannot begin before having received it.

All interested candidates irrespective of age, gender, race, disability, religion or ethnic background are encouraged to apply.

DTU is a technical university providing internationally leading research, education, innovation and scientific advice. Our staff of 5,800 advance science and technology to create innovative solutions that meet the demands of society; and our 10,600 students are being educated to address the technological challenges of the future. DTU is an independent academic university collaborating globally with business, industry, government, and public agencies