Postdoctoral Fellow – Geochemistry, Mineralogy or Materials Science: CO2 conversion to solids - Transforming waste to new, valuable products
Geochemistry, Mineralogy, Petrology & Volcanology (GMPV)
Geosciences Instrumentation and Data Systems (GI)
Postdoctoral Fellow – Geochemistry, Mineralogy or Materials Science
CO2 conversion to solids: Transforming waste to new, valuable products
Technical University of Denmark
We are developing a fast, cheap, environmentally friendly way to mineralise CO2, to make stable, useful products. We invite enthusiastic applicants to join our team.
We are building a cross disciplinary research group and will hire a Postdoctoral Fellow or Research Associate, with expertise in geochemistry or mineralogy or materials science or other, who has experience in X-ray diffraction analysis (for example, with Rietveld refinement) and geochemical speciation calculations (such as with PHREEQC or a similar code).
We are running several projects in parallel, ranging from fundamental investigations of mineral-water-gas properties, through developing predictive models and new experimental methods and instrumentation, to design creative and cost effective CO2 trapping processes. The need is urgent, the task is challenging and a multidisciplinary approach is essential - so our group consists of highly motivated scientists and engineers, including chemists, physicists, nanoscientists, geoscientists, engineers and innovation experts. Our group includes members at all academic levels, from bachelor students to experienced scientists and engineers.
Our goals are to develop a local method for mineralising CO2, to convert it back to solid, where it will remain stable on the long term. Even with the very best alternative energy sources and conversion of CO2 into products, current air and ocean CO2 levels will need 1,000 to 10,000 years to return to preindustrial levels. To reduce climate change and ocean acidification, CO2 must be converted to solid and put back into the Earth, where it came from in the first place.
The job
We expect that your background in materials characterisation and solution composition modelling will contribute to the efforts of our cross disciplinary team, for whom the aim is to understand solid-fluid (water and gas) interactions of natural materials and the effect of organic compounds on them. The team will merge data from traditional techniques with results from state-of-the-art, ultrahigh resolution instruments and modelling at scales ranging from atoms to meters. Our goals are to gain very fundamental, new knowledge about how nature works and to apply it in a reactor, to convert CO2 and waste solids to a valuable product for use in new, low CO2 construction materials and to form a company.
Our expectations of you
We are looking for a curious, enthusiastic colleague who has an interest in nature, enjoys solving problems and working together, to meet the projects’ goals. We expect you to have a PhD and a strong background in fluid-mineral interaction, i.e. experience with X-ray diffraction of natural materials and geochemical speciation modelling.
Flexibility is essential. We are looking for a team player who can also work independently, who is motivated to help make, and be part of, a dynamic research environment and who has a positive, supportive and creative outlook. Good communication and personal interaction skills and fluent English are essential.
We offer
DTU is among the leading technical universities of Europe and the top in the Nordic countries. The CO2 projects unite researchers from several DTU departments as well as national and international researchers from a number of fields. The atmosphere in the research group is friendly and supportive, allowing us to produce groundbreaking results, essential for society. Our aim at a startup company is well supported by DTU’s focus on technology for people.
Salary and appointment terms
Appointment will be based on the collective agreement with the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations. Salary will be determined by your qualifications and in agreement with the relevant union.
The position is full time and starts as soon as possible but we are prepared to wait for the right candidate. The position is initially for 2 years. The workplace is the DTU Lyngby Campus.
To apply
To be considered for this position, your application must include all requested parts, preferably in a single pdf file. It must include:
- a cover letter (1 or 2 pages) explaining how you are perfect for the position, using your background as examples;
- your CV, including employment history, research and teaching experience with dates, scientific highlights, ORCID identifier and other relevant information about you as a scientist and a person;
- publication list in proper reference list format; mark as many as 5 articles that you consider to represent your best work and write 2 or 3 lines about each of them, describing why you chose these papers (do not include the actual papers in your application);
- your course list and grades from your university education;
- the name, email and phone number for 3 personal references (do not include letters of reference).
For questions: Prof. Susan Stipp, stipp@dtu.dk. The application deadline is Monday, 22 October 2025 (Danish time). Please combine all parts of your application into a single pdf file and submit it on the DTU jobs website:
https://www.dtu.dk/english/about/job-and-career/vacant-positions
The electronic form of the announcement, with an “apply” button can be found at:
https://efzu.fa.em2.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/CandidateExperience/en/sites/CX_2001/jobs/preview/5895/?keyword=geochemistry&mode=job-location
All interested candidates, irrespective of gender, age, race, disability, religion and ethnic background are encouraged to apply.
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 vision to develop and create value using science and engineering to benefit society. That vision lives on today. DTU has 13,400 students and 5,800 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.
Information in job description