job description
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The Department of Chemistry offers a 3-year PhD scholarship for experimental and theoretical research on polyelectrolytes. The project will be supervised by Prof. Esben Thormann and is expected to start on April 15 or as soon as possible thereafter. The PhD project will focus on the coupling between polyelectrolytes and their counterions. Polyelectrolytes are polymers with ionic groups attached to their chains accompanied by an equal number of counterions to ensure overall charge neutrality. In hydrated polyelectrolyte systems, these counterions typically dissociate from the polymer chain, and their mobility largely determines key properties of the polymer chain such as hydration, chain conformation, intermolecular interactions, and transport properties. However, if the interaction between counterions and ionic groups is strong enough to form ion pairs, the effective charge density of the polymer chain and the mobility of its counterions are greatly reduced. The goal of this project is to deepen our understanding of ion pairing in hydrated polyelectrolyte systems – knowledge that will be critical to the development of polyelectrolyte-based materials for energy storage and conversion, healthcare materials, and coating technologies.
offer requirements
The PhD project will be carried out in close collaboration with a postdoc, who will be responsible for the synthesis of monomers and polyelectrolytes and their initial characterization. The PhD student will focus on the experimental study of polyelectrolyte-anti-coordination pairs as well as on the development of theoretical models to explain these phenomena. The theoretical work will be carried out in collaboration with the University of Cagliari, Italy, so applicants should be prepared to spend 3 to 6 months in Cagliari during the PhD program. The ideal candidate should hold a Master’s degree in Physical Chemistry, Polymer Chemistry, Soft Matter Science or a related field. Preference will be given to candidates with experience in polymer or ionic systems and/or expertise in characterization techniques such as NMR, conductivity measurements, ellipsometry, various spectroscopic methods, as well as theoretical modeling. Candidates should be highly motivated, able to work independently, and proficient in written and spoken English. Candidates should strive for scientific excellence, demonstrate ambition, and work diligently. Only those with exceptional talent and a strong desire to be the best in their field will be considered. The formal requirements are as follows: You must have a two-year Master’s degree (120 ECTS credits) or a similar degree at an academic level equivalent to a two-year Master’s degree. Approval and admission: PhD scholarships are subject to academic approval and candidates will be admitted to a general degree program at DTU. For information on our admission requirements and general planning of doctoral study programs, please refer to DTU’s rules for doctoral education.
offer benefits/salary
DTU is a leading technical university recognized globally for excellence in research, education, innovation and scientific advice. We offer you a rewarding and challenging job in an international environment. We pursue academic excellence in an environment of respect for colleagues, academic freedom and responsibility. Remuneration and terms of appointment: Appointment will be based on a collective agreement with the Danish Federation of Professional Associations. Stipends will be agreed with the relevant trade unions. The term of appointment will be 3 years. You can find out more about career paths at DTU here. Further information: for further information, please contact Prof. Esben Thormann (www.kemi.dtu.dk/EsbenThormann). For more information about Chemistry at DTU, please visit https://www.kemi.dtu.dk/english/. If you are applying from abroad, you can find useful information about working in Denmark and at DTU in DTU – Moving to Denmark. In addition, you can attend our free monthly seminar “PhD Moving to Denmark and Starting ‘Zoom’ Seminar” to learn about all the practical aspects of PhD moving to Denmark and working at DTU.