PhD scholarship in Membrane Technologies for Seawater Desalination and Power-to-X - DTU Sustain

Ultrapure water (UPW) plays a crucial role in green hydrogen production at offshore Power-to-X (PtX) plants. This PhD project focuses on the design of high-performance membranes and their use in membrane distillation processes to transform seawater into UPW by harvesting waste heat from PtX plants.
Are you an ambitious student eager to tackle one of the most pressing challenges in climate change? Do you want to contribute to bridging the gap between Power-to-X technologies and sustainable water use, while working within a truly global, interdisciplinary team spanning Europe and Asia? If so, this PhD project is for you!

Offshore wind turbine-powered water electrolysers have the potential to revolutionize green hydrogen production, fostering both energy independence in Europe and a greener future. By placing electrolysers directly at sea and linking them seamlessly with wind turbines, we can maximize the value of green electricity, simplify supply chains, and avoid costly inefficiencies in grid conversion. Yet, the offshore environment poses challenges: from reliably generating ultrapure water (UPW) amid harsh maritime conditions to managing waste heat without the usual district heating integration, unlocking offshore Power-to-X (PtX) at scale demands innovative, holistic solutions.

In this project, you will develop next-generation nanostructured membranes and novel material systems capable of transforming seawater into UPW. You will join forces with world-class academic and industry partners—including IIT Bombay, GreenLab Skive, Bornholm Energy Island, and leading membrane technology companies—to validate and refine these breakthroughs for real-world PtX applications in both Denmark and India. Through a dedicated PhD alliance between DTU and IIT Bombay, you will also have the opportunity to conduct part of your research in India, enriching your perspective through cross-continental collaboration.

If you’re ready to push boundaries, expand your scientific horizons, and shape the future of sustainable energy production, we invite you to apply and join our team.

Responsibilities and qualifications
We seek a PhD candidate who has a strong background in polymer membrane development for water treatment. Having experience in experimental work at the lab- and pilot-scale (running membrane processes) is an advantage. You are highly motivated and self-driven in what you do. You like getting your hands dirty and, therefore, are capable of understanding analytical and experimental techniques, showing a high degree of independence. You enjoy working in an interdisciplinary environment and are unafraid to ask questions. You enjoy working and communicating your results with a wide group of stakeholders (e.g., engineering companies, municipalities, etc.).

As a PhD student in this project, you will engage in:

(a) Design and synthesise polymer membranes

(b) Characterize membrane performance in terms of material performance and process performance

(c) Optimize membrane design based on membrane process testing at lab-scale and pilot-scale

(d) Close collaboration with an interdisciplinary team

(e) Research and teaching efforts at a section and departmental level as appropriate and relevant

(f) Dissemination of your research through publications and attendance to conferences

(e) Teaching and supervision activities within the field of physical and chemical water treatment technologies

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 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.

Assessment
The assessment of the applicants will be made by Professor Wenjing (Angela) Zhang.

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 fixed term full time

You can read more about career paths at DTU here.

Further information
Further information may be obtained from Prof. Wenjing (Angela) Zhang (email: [email protected]). Please do not send applications to this e-mail address, only online applications as described below will be considered.

You can read more about DTU Sustain at www.sustain.dtu.dk/en

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 January 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:

• 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 30 nationalities.

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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