Do you want to launch your scientific career as an interdisciplinary researcher working on new emerging technologies? Are you interested in improving your skills in both materials science and environmental assessment and applying/testing them in a real industrial case?

If so, we invite you to apply for a 3-year PhD position at DTU Engineering Technology. Your work will tackle the urgent challenge of reducing the environmental footprint of plastics, working at the intersection of research and real-world application. Alongside developing strategies to measure and enable more recycling of specialty plastics, you will collaborate closely with our industrial partners on the specific topic of recycling waste from 3D printing. This will give you real life input for your modelling and allow you to implement and test your model. Your research will be part of a cross-disciplinary team that analyses the characteristics of recycled materials alongside environmental impacts.

Your specific case will be on waste from 3D printing, which can either be recycled or incinerated. Both data and processes will be informed in collaboration with two companies, one “PLA waste producer”, and the other, a “PLA waste receiver and recycler”.

Responsibilities and qualifications
We are looking for motivated candidates that have an MSc degree in engineering (e.g., environmental or mechanical engineering), materials science, chemistry, or a closely related discipline. Your primary tasks will be to:

• Develop quantitative mechanical, environmental and economic criteria for incineration and recycling as an end-of-life pathway.
• Combine these indicators into a broadly applicable framework for the end-of-life routes of specialty polymers in a range of industries.
• Investigate the feasibility and implementation of a fast and mobile measurement system to help companies make the decision of what pathway to follow for a given batch of waste.

Additionally, you are expected to (i) disseminate your research in academic (i.e., journal publications or conference presentations) and corporate settings (ii) participate in supervising B.Eng., B.Sc., and M.Sc. students and (iii) complete a 1-3 month a research stay abroad.

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. Qualified applicants must also have good communication skills in English, both written and spoken as well as some experience in lab-based research and are expected to contribute to and embrace a collaborative, inclusive culture, engaging actively in inter-disciplinary community building.

Additional qualifications and experience in the following are also viewed positively:

• Life cycle assessment (LCA) or other sustainability assessment method
• Polymer characterization (for example, tensile testing and DSC before and after mechanical recycling of plastics)
• Business case development

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.

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.

The expected starting date is 2026-10-01 (or according to mutual agreement). The position is a full-time position.

You can read more about career paths at DTU here.

Further information
Further information may be obtained from Associate Professor Sebastian Horch (shor@dtu.dk), Assistant Professor Aude Marie Bechu (aube@dtu.dk) or the head of the section, Associate Professor Christian Kim Christiansen (chkch@dtu.dk).

You can read more about DTU Engineering Technology at www.engtech.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. 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 July 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:

• A letter motivating the application (cover letter)
• Curriculum vitae
• Grade transcripts and BSc/MSc diploma (in English) including official description of grading scale
• Reference letter (1-2pg)

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.

About DTU Engineering Technology
Through research in technology implementation and engineering education, we develop tools and methods for successful implementation of technology and for state-of-the-art engineering education. Our activities are within a wide range of engineering fields, covering both technical, organizational, and business aspects of the implementation process.

Our department is diverse in nationalities, personality types, and career paths. We enjoy collegial idea generation, feedback and cooperation in an informal and trustful working environment. The group actively promotes social activities to build a strong community network.

DTU – For the benefit of society since 1829
DTU is one of Europe's leading elite technical universities. Through research and education at an international top level, we create solutions to the major societal challenges of our time and help secure Europe's global leadership in sustainable technological development. Since Hans Christian Ørsted founded DTU almost 200 years ago, our mission has remained the same: We develop and create value through the natural and technical sciences for the benefit of society. DTU has 13,800 students, 1,600 PhD students, and 6,500 employees. We work in an international environment and have an inclusive, stimulating, and informal work culture. DTU has campuses in all parts of Denmark and in Greenland and collaborates with the best universities around the world.