PhD position in Organometallic Chemistry

Københavns Universitet; København; On-site; DKK 336,000 - 432,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Copenhagen invites applications for a PhD position in Organometallic Chemistry within the ERC Starting grant Light-CAT project. The Day group focuses on catalytic methodologies using earth-abundant metals to transform feedstock chemicals into high-value products.

Starting dates are expected 01.02.2027 or soon after. The successful candidate will work in a multicultural group under supervision of Asst. Professor Craig S. Day and Prof. Jiwoong Lee.

Qualifications

• Proficient in English and able to work in an international environment.
• Background in organic synthesis, organometallic chemistry, or related fields.
• Experience in mechanistic chemistry or electrochemistry is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Carry out independent research under supervision in organometallic chemistry.
• Develop homogeneous transition metal-catalysed reactions using earth-abundant metals.
• Contribute to the ERC Light-CAT project and dissemination of results.

Skills

English proficiency

Education

Master's degree or equivalent in Chemistry

Job description

PhD position in Organometallic Chemistry

The Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science at the University of Copenhagen invites applicants for a PhD position in Organometallic Chemistry. The project is part of the research project “Sustainable, earth-abundant transition-metal-catalysed reactions for the synthesis of fine-chemicals”, which is financed by the ERC Starting grant Light-CAT (Ligand-Driven C–H Activation: Sustainable Catalysis by Design), and the research will take place in the group led by Asst. Professor Craig S. Day.

Start dates are expected to be 01.02.2027 or as soon as possible thereafter.

The project

The project will study the development of novel homogeneous transition metal-catalysed reactions utilizing earth-abundant metal catalysts (e.g., Mo, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu). These reactions will aim to transform abundant feedstock chemicals such as CO2 and biomass into high-value products using thermal, electrochemical, and photochemical means. To realize this goal, a mechanistically guided approach to reaction development will be taken that combines kinetics, organometallic synthesis, and method development. This technological breakthrough promises to serve as a cost-effective method to sustainably construct societally relevant molecules that will reduce our reliance on petrochemically derived chemicals.

Who are we looking for?

We are looking for candidates within the field(s) of organic chemistry who must be proficient in English. Applicants can have a background in synthetic organic chemistry, methodology development, organometallic chemistry, mechanistic chemistry, or electrochemistry. All candidates will be assessed in one pool.

Our group and research- and what do we offer?

The Day group is a recently established research group at the University of Copenhagen that is working on cutting-edge research within homogeneous earth-abundant transition-metal catalysis. The research conducted will focus on understanding fundamental organometallic chemistry to inform the rational reaction design of new catalytic methodologies that can be applied to address current challenges in sustainability. These topics range from the synthesis of fine chemicals and pharmaceuticals to the synthesis of new types of plastics.

The PhD candidate will be working alongside Prof. Day and his team and will get consistent feedback, assistance, and support. Prof. Day has led numerous projects published in leading academic journals such as Nature Catalysis, Nature Communications, J. Am. Chem. Soc., Chem. Soc. Rev., and Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. Prof. Day has worked in Canada, USA, Spain, and Denmark and expects to hire candidates to create a vibrant, multicultural group with frequent social activities.

Supervisor is Assistant Professor, Craig S. Day,

Department of Chemistry, [e-mail].

Principal supervisor

isAssociate Professor Jiwoong Lee,Department of Chemistry, [e-mail],

The PhD programme

The PhD programme Depending of 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. Candidates without such qualifications will not be considered.

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 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. Organic Chemistry. For information of eligibility of completed programmes, see General assessments for specific countries and Assessment database .

Terms of employment in the regular programme

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 Finance and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations on Academics in the State. 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.

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.) totaling a workload of 150 working hours per year. A PhD grant portion is currently (2025) DKK 7,086 before tax.

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.

Associations on Academics in the State. 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 in collaborative programs


• 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


• Other relevant professional activities


• Curious mind-set with a strong interest in organic chemistry and peptides

The deadline for applications isOctober 30th 2026, 23:59 GMT +1.

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.

Questions

For specific information about the PhD position, please contact the supervisor (Asst. Professor Craig S. Day,Department of Chemistry, [e-mail]).

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