项目介绍

2025年4月11日

Department of Chemistry invites applicants for a PhD fellowship in electrocatalytic C-N coupling. The project is part of the research project “PhD Project in electrocatalytic C-N coupling”, which is financed by the Pioneer Center for Accelerating P2X Materials Discovery (CAPeX).

Attention: The position will take place at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark and include a long research stay at the Catalan Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (ICN2) in Barcelona, Spain.

The position is one of the open positions in the 2025 CAPeX PhD Cohort call. CAPeX is a 13-year and 300 MDKK “Pioneer Center for Accelerating P2X Materials Discovery”, funded by the Danish Ministry of Higher Education and Science, the Danish National Research Foundation, the Carlsberg Foundation, the Lundbeck Foundation, the Novo Nordisk Foundation, and the Villum Foundation. CAPeX is hosted by the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) and co-hosted by Aalborg University (AAU) and unites leading experts from DTU, AAU, University of Copenhagen, Aarhus University, and the University of Southern Denmark with international partners from Stanford University, Utrecht University, and the University of Toronto to form a truly Pioneering Center on P2X. You can read more about the CAPeX research themes and X-trails, our organization, and the other open Ph.D. and postdoc cohort positions at https://capex.dtu.dk/join-us

The project
This project is part of the X3 trail of CAPeX, “Sustainable Commodity and Specialty Chemicals”, led by ICN2-supervisor Professor Maria Escudero Escribano. New chemical processes are needed for sustainable production of commodity chemicals in a post-fossil society. This includes many chemical building blocks containing nitrogen and carbon such as alanine and other amino acids, urea, methylamine, and acetonitrile, to name a few. Direct electrochemical synthesis of these compounds by C-N bond formation is a growing field, but for sufficiently selective and efficient processes, we need better understanding of the catalytic mechanisms.

The PhD candidate’s duties will include synthesis and preparation of electrocatalyst materials, electrochemical testing and product quantification, in-situ and ex-situ materials characterization, and data treatment.  Focus will be on mechanistic insight obtained via model systems such as single crystals, in-situ spectroscopic techniques and electrochemistry – mass spectrometry.

Who are we looking for?
We are looking for candidates within the field(s) of experimental electrochemistry, analytical chemistry, physical chemistry and kinetics, and/or inorganic synthesis and characterization. Applicants can have a background from Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Physics, Nanotechnology, Materials Science and Engineering or Renewable Energy. Applicants should have a solid grasp of thermodynamics, be comfortable thinking quantitatively, and work well in a group setting. Experience with data science using python and/or SQL is an advantage.

Our group and research- and what do we offer?
The position will take place at the University of Copenhagen (1 year) and at the Catalan Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (ICN2) in Barcelona (1 year). Both locations offer creative and stimulating working conditions in dynamic and international research environments.

Copenhagen: supervision will be with asst. Professor Soren B. Scott as part of the Energy Conversion Interfaces Group. Our group is within the Nano Chemistry Section, and we collaborate closely with the other groups in the section, especially those of Prof. Jan Rossmeisl (Theoretical Catalysis), assc. Prof. Kirsten Jensen (Nanomaterial Structure), and asst. Prof. Rebecca Pittkowski (Nanoparticals in Electrocatalysis). Our research facilities include modern laboratories housing potentiostats, x-ray diffraction, gas chromatography – mass spectrometry, inductively coupled plasma – optical emission spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy among other equipment. Additional techniques including electrochemistry – mass spectrometry are available through our CAPeX partners at DTU.

During the time in Copenhagen, the position includes teaching duties.

Barcelona: supervision will be with Professor María Escudero-Escribano, ICREA Professor at ICN2 in Barcelona and Leader of the NanoElectrocatalysis and Sustainable Chemistry (NanoESC) Group. Our research facilities include new laboratories of (spectro)electrochemistry, in-situ spectroscopic and microscopic techniques, and nanofabrication. We combine electrochemical methods (cyclic voltammetry, rotating disc electrodes, gas diffusion electrodes) with in-situ Raman and infrared spectroscopy, scanning electrochemical microscopy and electrochemical scanning tunnelling microscopy and online gas chromatography. In addition, at ICN2, we have access to the core labs, and numerous specialised facilities, services, and equipment, including X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, ICP, as well as a Nanofabrication Facility Lab). A full list can be found at https://icn2.cat/en/industry-services/services. Moreover, our group benefits from an excellent connection with ALBA synchrotron facilities for in-situ and operando chemical, compositional and structural analysis. Some techniques of interest for this project include X-ray spectroscopies such as in-situ X-ray absorption spectroscopy and ambient-pressure X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy as well as in-situ surface X-ray diffraction (SXRD).

Principal supervisor isProfessor Jan Rossmeisl,Department of Chemistry.

The PhD programme
This position is offered as three year full-time study within the framework of the regular PhD programme (5+3 scheme), requiring that you already have an education equivalent to a relevant Danish master’s degree.

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. Electrochemistry, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Physics, Nanotechnology, or Materials Science and 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.

Terms of appointment and payment accord to the agreement between the Danish Ministry of Taxation and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations on Academics in the State. The position is covered by the Protocol on Job Structure.

Responsibilities and tasks in the 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 an extended stay at ICN2, Barcelona, Spain
• 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 (see “Who are we looking for” above)
• Relevant publications
• Relevant work experience
• Other relevant professional activities
• Curious mind-set
• Good language skills

At CAPeX, we value diversity within our applicant pool and encourage individuals from diverse backgrounds to submit their applications. We believe that fostering diversity in the research environment enhances creativity and encourages cross-sectoral collaboration, ultimately contributing to the successful execution of excellent research. Through initiatives like the Villum Foundation and Novo Nordisk Foundation’s Living Labs initiative, we actively foster diversity and strive to improve gender balance. Currently, we are defining the #WomeninCAPeX network, aimed at supporting female talent and leadership in Power2X

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Application and Assessment Procedure

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

Please include: 

1. Motivated letter of application (max. one page) including your motivation for applying for the specific PhD project
2. Curriculum vitae including information about your education, experience, language skills and other skills relevant for the position
3. Original diplomas for Bachelor of Science and 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.
4. Publication list (if any)
5. Reference letters (if available)

Application deadline:  
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
The deadline for applications is 27 April 2025, 23:59 GMT +2.

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 http://employment.ku.dk/faculty/recruitment-process/.

Questions
For specific information about the PhD fellowship, please contact co-supervisor Soren B. Scott, sbs@chem.ku.dk.

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. 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.