PhD Fellowship in Analytical Chemistry (University of Copenhagen)

The Section for Environmental Chemistry and Physics invites applicants for a PhD fellowship in advanced bio-oil analytical chemistry. The project is part of the research project “UPBIO”, which is financed by EUDP (link). Start date is (expected to be) the 1 August 2025 or as soon as possible thereafter. The project The successful candidate will join the UPBIO project, which aims to advance the understanding and chemical characterization of advanced bio-oils derived from lignocellulosic biomass and municipal solid waste. This research is critical for the commercialization of bio-oil upgrading processes. Below, intended research objectives are listed, but the list is not exclusive. We expect the qualified candidate to further define the plan for the PhD within the first three months of employment. Research Objectives: To develop and validate consistent sampling, subsampling and sample pretreatment procedures. To develop and validate analytical workflows. The successful candidate will implement and refine bulk and advanced analytical methods for the detailed chemical characterization of bio-oil feeds and upgraded products. The analysis will focus on GC-based characterisation available at Topsøe but with an option for other advanced techniques, such as LC, SFC and multidimensional separation techniques (GC×GC- and LC×LC or LC×SFC-MS) for more detailed chemical characterization on smaller sets of samples. To apply and further optimize data analytical workflows. A comprehensive database will be created, documenting the key chemical and physical properties of advanced bio-oils. The qualified applicant will furthermore support the development of a graphical user interface (GUI) for chromatographic and mass spectrometric data processing. To upscale analytical workflows for high-throughput analysis (e.g., 20 samples a week). This could cover: Selecting appropriate sample preparation, e.g., online-SPE, headspace, SPME, derivatization or LLE Establishing high-throughput platforms for the rapid assessment of bio-oil compositions Developing semi-automated and validated data processing tools and workflows for one- (1D) and two- (2D) dimensional chromatography data Correlating bulk analysis with the more advanced methods and pilot data Who are we looking for? We are looking for candidates within the field of analytical chemistry who are enthusiastic about interdisciplinary collaboration with scientists and engineers from Topsoe and other UPBIO partners, as well as with data scientists. Ideal applicants should have a strong chemistry or analytical chemistry background with experience with chromatography, mass spectrometry, and untargeted data science workflows. Proficiency in chemometric methods and/or python programming will be an advantage. Candidates are expected to be enthusiastic and adaptable to working in an interdisciplinary environment. About us You will become part of the research group in Analytical Chemistry, which is a part of the Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of SCIENCE at the University of Copenhagen in Frederiksberg (Copenhagen). We are a very dynamic group of approximately 30 people working on various aspects of analytical chemistry, from targeted approaches to chemical fingerprinting of a wide range of sample matrices. We offer creative and stimulating working conditions in an international research environment. Our research facilities include modern laboratories and advanced analytical instrumentation. TOPSOE is a leading global provider of advanced technology and solutions for the energy transition. Built on decades of scientific research and innovation, we are working with customers and partners to drive energy resiliency and to achieve their sustainability goals. We offer world-leading solutions for transforming renewable resources into fuels and chemicals, and we provide technologies needed to produce low-carbon and conventional fuels and chemicals as well as ensuring clean air. The organic analytical laboratory is state-of-the-art, comprising 20 scientists and research technicians that provide analysis of both liquids and gasses. The successful candidate is expected to spend approximately 50% of the time at TOPSOE R&D, located in Lyngby. Principal supervisor: Professor Jan H. Christensen, Section for Environmental Chemistry and Physics, jch@plen.ku.dk , phone: +4535332456. The PhD programme Depending on your level of education, you can undertake the PhD programme as either: Option A: A three year full-time study within the framework of the regular PhD programme (5+3 scheme), if you already have an education equivalent to a relevant Danish master’s degree. Option B: An up to five year full-time study programme within the framework of the integrated MSc and PhD programme (the 3+5 scheme), if you do not have an education equivalent to a relevant Danish master´s degree – but you have an education equivalent to a Danish bachelors´s degree. Option A: Getting into a position on the regular PhD programme Qualifications needed for the regular programme To be eligible for the regular PhD programme, you must have completed a degree programme, equivalent to a Danish master’s degree (180 ECTS/3 FTE BSc + 120 ECTS/2 FTE MSc) related to the subject area of the project, e.g. chemistry, environmental science or chemical engineering. For information of eligibility of completed programmes, see General assessments for specific countries and Assessment database. Terms of employment in the regular programme Employment as PhD fellow is full time and for maximum 3 years. Employment is conditional upon your successful enrolment as a PhD student at the PhD School at the Faculty of SCIENCE, University of Copenhagen. This requires submission and acceptance of an application for the specific project formulated by the applicant. The terms of employment and salary are in accordance to the agreement between the Ministry of Finance and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations on Academics in the State (AC). The position is covered by the Protocol on Job Structure. Option B: Getting into a position on the integrated MSc and PhD programme Qualifications needed for the integrated MSc and PhD programme If you do not have an education equivalent to a relevant Danish master´s degree, you might be qualified for the integrated MSc and PhD programme, if you have an education equivalent to a relevant Danish bachelor´s degree. Here you can find out, if that is relevant for you: General assessments for specific countries and Assessment database. Terms of the integrated programme To be eligible for the integrated scholarship, you are (or are eligible to be) enrolled at one of the faculty’s master programmes in Chemistry or Environmental Sciences. Students on the integrated programme will enroll as PhD students simultaneously with completing their enrollment in this MSc degree programme. The duration of the integrated programme is up to five years, and depends on the amount of credits that you have passed on your MSc programme. For further information about the study programme, please see: www.science.ku.dk/phd, “Study Structures”. Until the MSc degree is obtained, (when exactly two years of the full 3+5 programme remains), the grant will be paid partly in the form of 48 state education grant portions (in Danish: “SU-klip”) plus salary for work (teaching, supervision etc.) totalling a workload of at least 150 working hours per year. A PhD grant portion is DKK 6,243. When you have obtained the MSc degree, you will transfer to the salary-earning part of the scholarship for a period of two years. At that point, the terms of employment and payment will be according to the agreement between the Ministry of Finance and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations on Academics in the State (AC). The position is covered by the Protocol on Job Structure. Responsibilities and tasks in both PhD programmes Complete and pass the MSc education in accordance with the curriculum of the MSc programme (ONLY when you are attending the integrated MSc and PhD programme) Carry through an independent research project under supervision Complete PhD courses corresponding to approx. 30 ECTS / ½ FTE Participate in active research environments, including a stay at another research institution, preferably abroad Teaching and knowledge dissemination activities Write scientific papers aimed at high-impact journals Write and defend a PhD thesis on the basis of your project We are looking for the following qualifications: Professional qualifications relevant to the PhD project Relevant publications Relevant work experience Other relevant professional activities Curious mind-set with a strong interest in analytical chemistry and advanced bio-oils Good language skills Application and Assessment Procedure Your application including all attachments must be in English and submitted electronically by clicking APPLY NOW below. Please include: Motivated letter of application (max. one page) A preliminary PhD plan (1-2 pages) Curriculum vitae including information about your education, experience, language skills and other skills relevant for the position Original diplomas for Bachelor of Science or Master of Science and transcript of records in the original language, including an authorized English translation if issued in another language than English or Danish. If not completed, a certified/signed copy of a recent transcript of records or a written statement from the institution or supervisor is accepted. Publication list (if possible) Reference letters (if available) Application deadline: The deadline for applications is 1 June 2025, 23:59 GMT +2. We reserve the right not to consider material received after the deadline, and not to consider applications that do not live up to the abovementioned requirements. The further process After deadline, a number of applicants will be selected for academic assessment by an unbiased expert assessor. You are notified, whether you will be passed for assessment. The assessor will assess the qualifications and experience of the shortlisted applicants with respect to the above mentioned research area, techniques, skills and other requirements. The assessor will conclude whether each applicant is qualified and, if so, for which of the two models. The assessed applicants will have the opportunity to comment on their assessment. You can read about the recruitment process at https://employment.ku.dk/faculty/recruitment-process/. Questions For specific information about the PhD fellowship, please contact the principal supervisor. General information about PhD study at the Faculty of SCIENCE is available at the PhD School’s website: https://www.science.ku.dk/phd/. The University of Copenhagen wishes to reflect the surrounding community and invites all regardless of personal background to apply for the position. APPLY NOW Part of the International Alliance of Research Universities (IARU), and among Europe’s top-ranking universities, the University of Copenhagen promotes research and teaching of the highest international standard. Rich in tradition and modern in outlook, the University gives students and staff the opportunity to cultivate their talent in an ambitious and informal environment. An effective organisation – with good working conditions and a collaborative work culture – creates the ideal framework for a successful academic career. Contact Jan H. Christensen E-mail: jch@plen.ku.dk Info Application deadline: 01-06-2025 Employment start: 01-08-2025 Working hours: Full time Department/Location: PLEN If you apply for this position please say you saw it on Physicaloxy

The Section for Environmental Chemistry and Physics invites applicants for a PhD fellowship in advanced bio-oil analytical chemistry. The project is part of the research project “UPBIO”, which is financed by EUDP (link).

Start date is (expected to be) the 1 August 2025 or as soon as possible thereafter.

The project

The successful candidate will join the UPBIO project, which aims to advance the understanding and chemical characterization of advanced bio-oils derived from lignocellulosic biomass and municipal solid waste. This research is critical for the commercialization of bio-oil upgrading processes. Below, intended research objectives are listed, but the list is not exclusive. We expect the qualified candidate to further define the plan for the PhD within the first three months of employment.

Research Objectives:

    To develop and validate consistent sampling, subsampling and sample pretreatment procedures.
    To develop and validate analytical workflows. The successful candidate will implement and refine bulk and advanced analytical methods for the detailed chemical characterization of bio-oil feeds and upgraded products. The analysis will focus on GC-based characterisation available at Topsøe but with an option for other advanced techniques, such as LC, SFC and multidimensional separation techniques (GC×GC- and LC×LC or LC×SFC-MS) for more detailed chemical characterization on smaller sets of samples.
    To apply and further optimize data analytical workflows. A comprehensive database will be created, documenting the key chemical and physical properties of advanced bio-oils. The qualified applicant will furthermore support the development of a graphical user interface (GUI) for chromatographic and mass spectrometric data processing.
    To upscale analytical workflows for high-throughput analysis (e.g., 20 samples a week). This could cover:
        Selecting appropriate sample preparation, e.g., online-SPE, headspace, SPME, derivatization or LLE
        Establishing high-throughput platforms for the rapid assessment of bio-oil compositions
        Developing semi-automated and validated data processing tools and workflows for one- (1D) and two- (2D) dimensional chromatography data
        Correlating bulk analysis with the more advanced methods and pilot data

Who are we looking for?

We are looking for candidates within the field of analytical chemistry who are enthusiastic about interdisciplinary collaboration with scientists and engineers from Topsoe and other UPBIO partners, as well as with data scientists. Ideal applicants should have a strong chemistry or analytical chemistry background with experience with chromatography, mass spectrometry, and untargeted data science workflows. Proficiency in chemometric methods and/or python programming will be an advantage. Candidates are expected to be enthusiastic and adaptable to working in an interdisciplinary environment.

About us

You will become part of the research group in Analytical Chemistry, which is a part of the Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of SCIENCE at the University of Copenhagen in Frederiksberg (Copenhagen). We are a very dynamic group of approximately 30 people working on various aspects of analytical chemistry, from targeted approaches to chemical fingerprinting of a wide range of sample matrices. We offer creative and stimulating working conditions in an international research environment. Our research facilities include modern laboratories and advanced analytical instrumentation.

TOPSOE is a leading global provider of advanced technology and solutions for the energy transition. Built on decades of scientific research and innovation, we are working with customers and partners to drive energy resiliency and to achieve their sustainability goals. We offer world-leading solutions for transforming renewable resources into fuels and chemicals, and we provide technologies needed to produce low-carbon and conventional fuels and chemicals as well as ensuring clean air. The organic analytical laboratory is state-of-the-art, comprising 20 scientists and research technicians that provide analysis of both liquids and gasses.

The successful candidate is expected to spend approximately 50% of the time at TOPSOE R&D, located in Lyngby.

Principal supervisor: Professor Jan H. Christensen, Section for Environmental Chemistry and Physics, jch@plen.ku.dk , phone: +4535332456.

The PhD programme

Depending on your level of education, you can undertake the PhD programme as either:

Option A: A three year full-time study within the framework of the regular PhD programme (5+3 scheme), if you already have an education equivalent to a relevant Danish master’s degree.

Option B: An up to five year full-time study programme within the framework of the integrated MSc and PhD programme (the 3+5 scheme), if you do not have an education equivalent to a relevant Danish master´s degree – but you have an education equivalent to a Danish bachelors´s degree.

Option A: Getting into a position on the regular PhD programme

Qualifications needed for the regular programme
To be eligible for the regular PhD programme, you must have completed a degree programme, equivalent to a Danish master’s degree (180 ECTS/3 FTE BSc + 120 ECTS/2 FTE MSc) related to the subject area of the project, e.g. chemistry, environmental science or chemical engineering. For information of eligibility of completed programmes, see General assessments for specific countries and Assessment database.

Terms of employment in the regular programme
Employment as PhD fellow is full time and for maximum 3 years.

Employment is conditional upon your successful enrolment as a PhD student at the PhD School at the Faculty of SCIENCE, University of Copenhagen. This requires submission and acceptance of an application for the specific project formulated by the applicant.

The terms of employment and salary are in accordance to the agreement between the Ministry of Finance and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations on Academics in the State (AC). The position is covered by the Protocol on Job Structure.

Option B: Getting into a position on the integrated MSc and PhD programme

Qualifications needed for the integrated MSc and PhD programme

If you do not have an education equivalent to a relevant Danish master´s degree, you might be qualified for the integrated MSc and PhD programme, if you have an education equivalent to a relevant Danish bachelor´s degree. Here you can find out, if that is relevant for you: General assessments for specific countries and Assessment database.

Terms of the integrated programme
To be eligible for the integrated scholarship, you are (or are eligible to be) enrolled at one of the faculty’s master programmes in Chemistry or Environmental Sciences.

Students on the integrated programme will enroll as PhD students simultaneously with completing their enrollment in this MSc degree programme.

The duration of the integrated programme is up to five years, and depends on the amount of credits that you have passed on your MSc programme. For further information about the study programme, please see: www.science.ku.dk/phd, “Study Structures”.

Until the MSc degree is obtained, (when exactly two years of the full 3+5 programme remains), the grant will be paid partly in the form of 48 state education grant portions (in Danish: “SU-klip”) plus salary for work (teaching, supervision etc.) totalling a workload of at least 150 working hours per year.
A PhD grant portion is DKK 6,243.

When you have obtained the MSc degree, you will transfer to the salary-earning part of the scholarship for a period of two years. At that point, the terms of employment and payment will be according to the agreement between the Ministry of Finance and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations on Academics in the State (AC). The position is covered by the Protocol on Job Structure.

Responsibilities and tasks in both PhD programmes

    Complete and pass the MSc education in accordance with the curriculum of the MSc programme

(ONLY when you are attending the integrated MSc and PhD programme)

    Carry through an independent research project under supervision
    Complete PhD courses corresponding to approx. 30 ECTS / ½ FTE
    Participate in active research environments, including a stay at another research institution, preferably abroad
    Teaching and knowledge dissemination activities
    Write scientific papers aimed at high-impact journals
    Write and defend a PhD thesis on the basis of your project

We are looking for the following qualifications:

    Professional qualifications relevant to the PhD project
    Relevant publications
    Relevant work experience
    Other relevant professional activities
    Curious mind-set with a strong interest in analytical chemistry and advanced bio-oils
    Good language skills

Application and Assessment Procedure

Your application including all attachments must be in English and submitted electronically by clicking APPLY NOW below.

Please include:

    Motivated letter of application (max. one page)
    A preliminary PhD plan (1-2 pages)
    Curriculum vitae including information about your education, experience, language skills and other skills relevant for the position
    Original diplomas for Bachelor of Science or Master of Science and transcript of records in the original language, including an authorized English translation if issued in another language than English or Danish. If not completed, a certified/signed copy of a recent transcript of records or a written statement from the institution or supervisor is accepted.
    Publication list (if possible)
    Reference letters (if available)

Application deadline:

The deadline for applications is 1 June 2025, 23:59 GMT +2.

We reserve the right not to consider material received after the deadline, and not to consider applications that do not live up to the abovementioned requirements.

The further process
After deadline, a number of applicants will be selected for academic assessment by an unbiased expert assessor. You are notified, whether you will be passed for assessment.

The assessor will assess the qualifications and experience of the shortlisted applicants with respect to the above mentioned research area, techniques, skills and other requirements. The assessor will conclude whether each applicant is qualified and, if so, for which of the two models. The assessed applicants will have the opportunity to comment on their assessment. You can read about the recruitment process at https://employment.ku.dk/faculty/recruitment-process/.

Questions
For specific information about the PhD fellowship, please contact the principal supervisor.

General information about PhD study at the Faculty of SCIENCE is available at the PhD School’s website: https://www.science.ku.dk/phd/.

The University of Copenhagen wishes to reflect the surrounding community and invites all regardless of personal background to apply for the position.
APPLY NOW

Part of the International Alliance of Research Universities (IARU), and among Europe’s top-ranking universities, the University of Copenhagen promotes research and teaching of the highest international standard. Rich in tradition and modern in outlook, the University gives students and staff the opportunity to cultivate their talent in an ambitious and informal environment. An effective organisation – with good working conditions and a collaborative work culture – creates the ideal framework for a successful academic career.
Contact
Jan H. Christensen
E-mail: jch@plen.ku.dk
Info
Application deadline: 01-06-2025
Employment start: 01-08-2025
Working hours: Full time
Department/Location: PLEN