Are you motivated by the idea of creating soft materials that can move, sense, and harvest energy, and turning them into wearable technologies?

We are looking for a highly motivated PhD candidate who wants to work at the intersection of soft materials, liquid metals, 3D printing, polymers, and assistive wearable textiles.

We aim to develop a new class of multifunctional, liquid metal-enabled silicone fibers that integrate sensing, actuation, and energy harvesting in a single fiber platform. You will join an international research collaboration between DTU and NC State University (Prof. Michael Dickey), combining DTU’s expertise in silicone-based soft fibers and dielectric elastomer actuators with NC State’s internationally recognized expertise in liquid metal materials and processing.

Responsibilities and qualifications
Your focus will be to develop multifunctional silicone fibers that use liquid metals to enable sensing, actuation, and energy harvesting. You will work experimentally with material formulation, fiber fabrication, and electromechanical characterization. The project will be carried out in an international research environment, including an external stay in Prof. Dickey's group at NC State University, USA.

Your primary tasks will be to:

• Review and continuously follow the state-of-the-art in multifunctional fibers
• Develop stable silicone–liquid metal composite formulation
• Fabricate core-shell silicone fibers through extrusion or 3D printing
• Characterize fiber properties including mechanical, electrical, and rheological properties
• Explore sensing, actuation, and energy-harvesting potential of the developed fibers
• Investigate integration of multifunctional fibers into assistive wearable textiles
• Collaborate with NC State on liquid metal processing and disseminate results through peer-reviewed publications and international conferences

We are looking for a candidate with:

• A background in polymer science, materials science, chemistry, engineering, or similar
• Experimental experience with soft materials, liquid metals, elastomers or composites
• Curiosity for research and motivation to understand mechanisms in depth
• Interest in soft robotics, wearables, sensors, actuators or energy harvesting
• Previous experience with polymer material characterization and hands-on laboratory work
• Ability to work independently and collaborate in an interdisciplinary research environment
• Ability to participate in an external research stay in the USA, subject to relevant travel and visa requirements
• Strong communication skills, positive, open-minded attitude, contributing to an engaging research environment

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 applicants will be made by relevant members of the assessment committee.

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. Please see DTU’s salary structure for scientific staff: www.inside.dtu.dk/en/human-resources/during-employment/salary/salary-structures.

The period of employment is 3 years. The position is full-time.

You can read more about career paths at DTU here.

Further information
Further information may be obtained from Assistant Professor Magdalena Skowyra, email: magsk@kt.dtu.dk.

You can read more about DTU Chemical Engineering at www.kt.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 20 September 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
• Recommendation letter or contact details for references

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 Chemical Engineering conducts research and education within product design, process design and production for the chemical, biotechnological, pharmaceutical, food and energy technology industries. The department works closely with industry and develops technologies and sustainable solutions with relevance for both society and industry.

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.