DTU Tenure Track Researcher on Nanoreactors for Operando Visualizations of Nanoparticle Catalysis at the Atomic-Scale – Center for Visualizing Catalyt

Would you thrive in a world-class team addressing grand challenges in catalysis science?

A research position is now open for experimental research in advanced nanoreactors and operando electron microscopy for nanoparticle catalysis at the Center for Visualizing Catalytic Processes (VISION).

Responsibilities and qualifications
You will engage with VISION’s development and application of nanoreactors for single nanoparticle catalysis under thermal reaction conditions. Specifically, you will be responsible for

• Development and preparation of microfabricated nanoreactors loaded with single or few nanoparticles for thermal catalysis of chemical reactions in gas phase.
• Operando studies of single nanoparticles using high spatiotemporal-resolution transmission electron microscopy techniques.
• Advancing new ultrasensitive and quantitative methods for investigating gas-surface interactions on nanoparticles in nanoliter reaction volumes.
• Relating the three-dimensional surface structure, dynamics and catalytic functions of single nanoparticles at the atomic-scale.
• Developing the understanding of atomic mechanisms and rates in catalytic processes to aid stabilizing uniquely active nanoparticles as catalysts for sustainable chemical processes.
• Supervision of students, PhD students and postdocs, managing VISIONs nanoreactor team and serving as a “collective memory” to ensure continued advancement of nanoreactors for operando electron microscopy in catalysis.

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) in experimental physics within the field of heterogeneous catalysis and have documented experience on developing MEMS-based devices for ultrasensitive catalytic measurements. This includes extensive experience with design and cleanroom fabrication of MEMS devices, 2D-materials handling and manipulation (graphene and hBN in particular), controlled nanoparticle deposition and characterization using surface science techniques including both AFM, SEM, and XPS.

In addition, you must have comprehensive experience with TEM techniques including aberration-corrected high-resolution imaging, diffraction, ETEM, EFTEM and EELS. It is critical, that you have command of these TEM techniques under the lowest possible electron-dose conditions and that you provide examples of how beam effects have been addressed and mitigated in your prior work.

You must also document experience with chemical kinetic modeling and use of statistical methods in quantification of EELS data, in particularly.Prior experience with advancing EELS measurements of captive gas (of nanoliter volumes within MEMS structures) is a big advantage, and so is experience testing for trace-amounts of contamination/impurities on MEMS structures to iron out false-positives in catalytic experiments. Experience in Python and LabView programming for developing new codes for data analysis is also needed.

Finally, you must be able to communicate clearly, be out-reaching and service-minded as well as be creative, patient and always be seeking new and improved methods and procedures.

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

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.

Starting date is 1 April 2026 (or according to mutual agreement). The position is a full-time position.

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.

Further information
Further information may be obtained from by contacting Professor Peter Vesborg or Professor Stig Helveg.

You can read more about Center for Visualizing Catalytic Processes (VISION) at https://vision.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 6 February 2026 (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.

The Center for Visualizing Catalytic Processes (VISION) is funded by the Danish National Research Foundation and located at DTU Physics. VISION is developing and applying a new unique platform for visualizing catalytic nanoparticles and reactions at the atomic-level by integrating cutting-edge electron microscopy, microfabricated nanoreactors, nanoparticle synthesis and computational modelling. This approach enables new, direct operando observations that are urgently needed to advance mechanistic insight into catalytic processes at the atomic-scale.

VISION’s activities are centered around a new one-of-a-kind electron microscope, housed in DTU’s new "Climate Challenge Laboratory" building. The new laboratory hosts the VISION center, the Surface Physics and Catalysis section, the CatTheory section and the newly established Pioneer Center, CAPeX, as a vibrant, collaborative research environment with internationally leading scientists in the fields of catalysis and Power-to-X.

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.

Location
Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark

Apply Before
2026-02-06T22:59:00+00:00