PhD Scholarship in Water Pollutant Analysis - DTU Sustain
There is an urgent need to investigate drinking water quality and characterize the toxicological and chemical profile of emerging pollutants in our drinking water. If you want to work in an international team, work with forefront methodologies, and contribute to the investigation of persistent, mobile and toxic substances in drinking water, then DTU and Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) offers a joint 3-year PhD fellowship.
Novel non-target chemical analyses have recently revealed that groundwater and drinking water are contaminated from PFAS, pesticide and medicine residues. Currently, several substances lack regulation and drinking water safety standards, creating uncertainty about acceptable groundwater impact and safe drinking water consumption. Non-target chemical analysis is a holistic tool to characterize chemicals but struggles with very persistent and very mobile substances (vPvM) like ultra-short chain PFAS and trifluoroacetic acid. These substances accumulate in groundwater and are difficult to clean up during drinking water production, posing significant concerns for society. Chemical identification in complex samples is time-consuming, necessitating toxicological prioritization.
Developing non-target analysis to capture vPvM chemicals, combined with toxicological effect-directed in-vitro screening is essential. This approach supports comprehensive hazard identification assessments of water quality when complex chemical mixtures are present and can be exploited to evaluate drinking water treatment technologies.
We seek a curious and independent PhD candidate willing to embark on a research project in this area. This 3-year PhD scholarship at DTU is part of a collaborative project with NTNU at the Trondheim campus. Researchers from two Departments at DTU (DTU Sustain and DTU FOOD), as well as two Departments at NTNU (Chemistry and Biology) will supervise and integrate the PhD fellow into several research communities. There will be an enhanced focus on determining vPvM chemicals in both Danish and Norwegian drinking water cases. The PhD scholarship is supported by a DTU Alliance stipend and the Danish Drinking water innovation partnership, InSa-Drikkevand. The project outcomes will have direct impact outside academia thanks to collaborations with stakeholders.
Responsibilities and qualifications
Your overall focus is to investigate drinking water quality and characterize the toxicological and chemical profile of emerging pollutants in our drinking water.
To achieve this you will:
- Develop novel sample preparation and high-resolution mass spectrometry workflows to capture vPvM chemicals in water.
- Optimize effect-directed analysis and implement suitable in vitro assays
- Investigate operational waterworks and if possible test pilot-scale systems such as advanced oxidation and disinfection processes.
- Work together with researchers at multiple departments at DTU and NTNU
Research activities will mainly be carried out at DTU Sustain with research visits in Norway. The project will be supervised by Associate Professor Martin Hansen (DTU Sustain), and co-supervised by Professor Hans Peter Arp (NTNU Chemistry), Senior Scientist Anna Rosenmai (DTU Food), Veerle Jaspers (NTNU Biology), Alexandros Asimakopoulos (NTNU Chemistry) and Terje Svingen (DTU Food).
As a PhD student at DTU and NTNU, you will be involved in teaching activities and co-supervise BSc and MSc student projects related to your PhD project. You will also disseminate the results of your project at national and international conferences and interact with research groups at the forefront of international persistence research.
You are expected to have significant background and interest in Suspect Screening or Non-target Analysis, Environmental Organic Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry, Environmental Microbiology, experience in working with cell cultures or in vitro test and/or the Environmental Assessment of Chemicals.
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.
You must be proficient in English, and knowledge or interest in Scandinavian culture is an advantage. We seek applicants who have demonstrated their ability to work both independently and in teams, and who have successfully navigated the challenges posed by working across different cultures and working environments.
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
We will be using shortlisting based on educational background, experience and preferred qualifications and call a number of applicants for (online) interviews.
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.
You can read more about career paths at DTU here http://www.dtu.dk/english/about/job-and-career/working-at-dtu/career-paths.
Further information
Further information may be obtained from Associate Professor Martin Hansen (williamellisgeoffreyhallmarthan@carroll.dkdtu.dkwilliams.dkthompson-cisneros.dk).
You can read more about The DTU Department of Environmental and Resource Engineering at https://sustain.dtu.dk/ , the DTU National Food Institute at https://www.food.dtu.dk/english/ , the NTNU Department of Chemistry at https://www.ntnu.edu/chemistry , and the NTNU Department of Biology at https://www.ntnu.edu/biology .
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 than15 September 2025 (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
- Published papers or manuscripts in preparation
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 Sustain - Department of Environmental and Resource Engineering**
- is one of the largest university departments specializing in environmental and resource engineering in Europe. The department conducts research, development & scientific advice and provides educational programs and service to society. We are working to develop new environmentally friendly and sustainable technologies, methods and solutions, and to disseminate this knowledge to society and future generations of engineers. The Department has approximately 300 staff from more than 30 nationalities.*
Technology for people
DTU develops technology for people. With our international elite research and study programmes, we are helping to create a better world and to solve the global challenges formulated in the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Hans Christian Ørsted founded DTU in 1829 with a clear mission to develop and create value using science and engineering to benefit society. That mission lives on today. DTU has 13,500 students and 6,000 employees. We work in an international atmosphere and have an inclusive, evolving, and informal working environment. DTU has campuses in all parts of Denmark and in Greenland, and we collaborate with the best universities around the world.