PhD scholarship in Conversion of Hydrocarbons to Hydrogen and High-value Carbon Materials – DTU Chemical Engineering

Hydrogen, as an important chemical feedstock and a CO2-free fuel, is produced primarily from steam methane reforming, which is a mature technology with a low hydrogen production cost but accompanied by high CO2-emissions. A promising alternative approach for hydrogen production is methane pyrolysis converting methane into hydrogen and carbon materials. The process can be driven by green electricity and is considered as a scalable and cost-effective approach for CO2-free hydrogen production. The produced solid carbon materials can have versatile applications and provide additional economic benefits to the process. 

This PhD project is aimed at exploring the high-temperature conversion of mixed hydrocarbons into hydrogen and high-value carbon materials. The focuses will be on understanding the synergetic effect of hydrocarbons, the utilization of carbon and carbon-metal catalyst, and the strategies for producing high-value carbon materials. 

We are looking for a highly motivated and dedicated PhD student who enjoys working on experimentation and performing research on high-temperature and catalysis fields. The PhD project will be carried out at the CHEC Research Centre in DTU Chemical Engineering. We offer a highly creative, ambitious and supportive work environment.

Your main responsibilities will be to:

• Develop a high-temperature lab-scale fixed bed reactor to study the pyrolysis of hydrocarbons using carbon and carbon-metal catalysts 
• Study the effect of carbon and carbon-metal catalysts and process conditions on methane pyrolysis 
• Investigate the synergistic effect of hydrocarbons on hydrogen and carbon production 
• Propose and evaluate strategies for producing high-value carbon materials 
• Explore the continuous carbon-catalysed conversion of hydrocarbons in an entrained flow reactor 

We expect you to have:

• A strong foundation in chemical, mechanical, or other relevant engineering disciplines
• Experience in laboratory work, and a practical and hands-on mentality 
• Capability in gaining deep and systematic knowledge in multiple disciplinary research
• Good communication skills in oral and written 
• Ability to work both independently and in a team

Relevant research experience, such as in high-temperature processes and heterogeneous catalysis, is considered as an advantage for the PhD position. 

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 the applicants will be made by Associate Professor Hao Wu and Professor Anker Degn Jensen. 

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. The position is a full-time position and expects to start no later than 1 July 2025. 

You can read more about career paths at DTU here.

Further information 
Further information may be obtained from Associate Professor Hao Wu  and Professor Anker Degn Jensen . 

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 7 April 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

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.

The Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering at DTU is a leader in innovative teaching and research, built on core technical subjects and engineering scientific disciplines. The teaching and research cover separation processes, reaction engineering, dynamics and process regulation, process and facility planning, unit operations, heat transmission, fluid mechanics and applied thermodynamics. The Department enjoys very close relations with international partners, and especially a wide range of industrial companies.   

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.