PhD Scholarship in Development of Cement-Free Living Building Materials for Sustainable Construction - DTU Construct

Danmarks Tekniske Universitet; Ørsted; On-site; DKK 299,000 - 374,000; Full time

Job summary

DTU Construct in Denmark invites applications for a PhD candidate to develop living bio-composites and bio-inks for 3D printing in sustainable construction.

You'll work at the interface of materials science, microbiology and additive manufacturing, collaborating with DTU Bioengineering and international partners such as TU Delft. The position includes international stays and access to state-of-the-art facilities.

Qualifications

• Hands-on experience in fungal cultivation and microbiological techniques (required).
• Experience with microbially induced carbonate precipitation (MICP) technology (preferred).
• Knowledge of microbe–environment interactions and biomaterials.
• Experience in polymer science, hydrogels and 3D printing (preferred).

Responsibilities

• Plan, design, and conduct interdisciplinary experiments in collaboration with team members and international partners.
• Develop 3D-printable bio-ink for sustainable construction applications.
• Generate, process, and analyze experimental data using advanced characterization techniques.
• Publish high-quality research and present findings at international conferences.
• Collaborate across microbiology, materials science, bioengineering and additive manufacturing.

Skills

Fungal cultivation

Microbiological techniques

MICP technology

Biomaterials and hydrogels

3D printing

Education

Two-year master's degree (120 ECTS) or equivalent

Job description

Do you want to launch your scientific career by developing the next generation of living building materials for sustainable construction?

Join DTU Construct as PhD candidate and contribute to pioneering research at the interface of materials science, biotechnology, and additive manufacturing.

As a PhD student, you will investigate fungal-bacterial interactions, develop living bio-composites based on microbial biomineralization, design bio-based hydrogel systems, and explore their integration into extrusion-based 3D printing for sustainable construction applications. The project offers a unique opportunity to work across materials science, microbiology, fungal biotechnology, and bio-fabrication while addressing one of the most pressing challenges in sustainable construction materials.

You will become part of an ambitious and highly interdisciplinary research environment at DTU Construct, collaborating closely with researchers at DTU Bioengineering and internationally with TU Delft, while benefiting from access to state-of-the-art facilities for microbial cultivation, biomaterials synthesis, advanced characterization, and 3D printing. The position also includes international research stays with our collaborators, providing opportunities to develop a broad scientific network and gain hands‑on experience with complementary expertise and facilities.

Responsibilities and qualifications

As a PhD candidate, you will take a leading scientific role in this project, responsible for planning, designing, and conducting experiments in collaboration with team members, supervisors, and other international collaborators.

In detail, your responsibilities will include:

• Designing and conducting interdisciplinary experiments on fungal-bacterial co-cultivation systems
• Developing 3D-printable bio-ink for sustainable construction applications
• Generating, processing, and critically analyzing experimental data using advanced characterization techniques
• Publishing high-quality research in leading international journals and presenting findings at international conferences.
• Working closely with collaborators across microbiology, materials science, bioengineering, and additive manufacturing.

We are looking for a candidate who is curious about fungal and bacterial biology, materials science, and biotechnology.

The ideal candidate has:

• Hands‑on experience in fungal cultivation and microbiological techniques (required)
• Experience with microbially induced carbonate precipitation (MICP) technology (preferred)
• Knowledge of how microbes interact and affect and are affected by their physical-chemical environment (preferred)
• Experience in biomaterials, polymer science, and hydrogel systems (preferred)
• Hands‑on experience with material fabrication techniques, such as 3D printing (preferred)

In addition, you:

• Demonstrate strong scientific curiosity, motivation, creativity, and commitment to research excellence
• Possess the ability to work independently, take initiative, and drive research activities forward
• Show adaptability and a willingness to learn new concepts, techniques, and methodologies
• Have excellent communication skills, with the ability to present and discuss scientific ideas clearly in English
• Thrive in collaborative and interdisciplinary research environments
• Approach research in a structured and responsible manner, with strong attention to detail and commitment to reproducibility
• Bring an open‑minded, enthusiastic, and creative attitude toward exploring new scientific challenges

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.

We offer

DTU is a leading technical university globally recognised 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 characterised by collegial respect and academic freedom tempered by responsibility.

DTU Construct is a vibrant research environment dedicated to shaping the sustainable production and built environment of the future. We bring together experts in design, materials, manufacturing, and sustainability to tackle complex challenges through interdisciplinary collaboration. Our research staff members are driven by curiosity, impact, and a shared commitment to advancing resource‑effective solutions in construction and production. We look forward to welcoming a new colleague who will contribute to transformative projects and help accelerate the transition to a more sustainable and resilient society.

Salary and appointment terms

The appointment will be based on the collective agreement with the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations. Please see DTU’s salary structure for scientific staff: www.inside.dtu.dk/en/human-resources/during-employment/salary/salary-structures.

The period of employment is 3 years. Starting date is 1 February 2027 or according to mutual agreement. The position is a full‑time position.

You can read more about career paths at DTU here.

Further information

Further information may be obtained from Senior Researcher Mehdi Mehrali at [e-mail], Senior Researcher Arnaud Dechesne [e-mail], and Researcher Masoud Hasany [e-mail].

Department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering: www.construct.dtu.dk.

For applicants from abroad, useful information on working in Denmark and at DTU can be found 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.

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 Civil and Mechanical Engineering develops and utilizes science and technical knowledge for the benefit of society and sustainable development. We undertake research, education, innovation, and scientific advice of the highest quality within building design and processes, building construction and safety, building energy and installation, solid mechanics, fluid mechanics, materials technology, manufacturing engineering, engineering design and thermal energy systems.

DTU – For the benefit of society since 1829 DTU is one of Europe’s leading elite technical universities. Through research and education at an international top level, we create solutions to the major societal challenges of our time and help secure Europe’s global leadership in sustainable technological development. Since Hans Christian Ørsted founded DTU almost 200 years ago, our mission has remained the same: We develop and create value through the natural and technical sciences for the benefit of society. DTU has 13,800 students, 1,600 PhD students, and 6,500 employees. We work in an international environment and have an inclusive, stimulating, and informal work culture. DTU has campuses in all parts of Denmark and in Greenland and collaborates with the best universities around the world.

Location Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark

Deadline: 1 October 2026 (23:59 Danish time)