The Niels Bohr Institute, Faculty of Science at University of Copenhagen is offering a PhD scholarship in X-ray Characterisation of Nano Particles commencing 1 May 2015 or as soon as possible thereafter.

Project description
The Green Chemistry for Advanced Materials (GCAM) project will develop and establish a novel sustainable chemical platform for large scale production of advanced materials. The foundation of GCAM is based on a green chemistry philosophy in chemical/physical research and engineering that encourages the design of products and processes that minimise the use of energy and use/generation of hazardous substances, i.e. Green Process Engineering (GPE). Supercritical fluid (SCF) technologies are expected to contribute significantly to green sustainable chemistry, especially in preparation of functional nanomaterials, and to waste processing and re-use of polymeric materials.

The project is highly interdisciplinary and involves collaborations with iNANO and the Institute of Chemistry, Aarhus University, Danish Technological Institute, Haldor Topsøe, Amager Resurse Center, the Niels Bohr Institute. The project is led by Mogens Christensen, the Institute of Chemistry, Aarhus University.

Specific tasks will cover taking responsibility for x-ray characterisation og nano particles.
Characterisation plays a key role in understanding the structure-function relationship of advanced materials. An understanding of the material structure provides the rationale for the properties, and thus for designing new materials. State-of-the-art instruments at KU, AU, and DTI and at international synchrotron and neutron facilities enable us to measure the shape, size and structure of nano particles (NP) as well as determining their physical and chemical properties. In situ Small angle scattering (SAXS), powder diffraction and total-scattering utilising synchrotron X-rays will be used to explain NP structure and morphology and establish the process parameter window for obtaining the desired materials. SAXS will be used to study the morphology and composition of single nanoparticles. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) will be used for investigating the particle size and morphology.
The working place will be Danish Technological Institute, Høje Taastrup and the Niels Bohr Institute

The PhD project is hosted by the x-ray and neutron scattering group. For more information on the institute, see www.nbi.ku.dk / and www.nano.ku.dk , and for more information on the GCAM project, see www.chem.au.dk.

Supervisors
Prof. Robert Feidenhans’l, Niels Bohr Institute will be supervisor and Dr. Leif Højslet Christensen, Danish Technological institute will be co-supervisor.

Job description
Your key tasks as a PhD student at Science are:

• Manage and carry through your research project
• Take PhD courses
• Write scientific articles and your PhD thesis
• Participate in congresses
• Stay at an external research institution for a few months, preferably abroad
• Teach and disseminate your research

Key criteria for the assessment of candidates

• A master’s degree related to the subject area of the project
• The grade point average achieved
• Professional qualifications relevant to the PhD programme
• Previous publications
• Relevant work experience
• Other professional activities
• Language skills
• Marks obtained during the first year of study on the master programme (only relevant for applicants applying for a 4-year scholarship)

The successful applicant should have a relevant degree in physics, nanoscience or engineering. Experience in x-ray science and knowledge about chemistry is highly beneficial.

It is a requirement that the candidate is able to participate in teaching activities at the Niels Bohr Institute. As a person you should be both self-managed and able to work within a large cross-disciplinary team, which includes physicists, chemists, and industrial collaborators.

Formal requirements
The position is available for a 3-year period for applicants holding a relevant master’s degree or for a 4-year period for applicants who are already enrolled or are accepted to be enrolled at one of the Faculty’s master’s programmes.
At the time of commencement, applicants for the 4-year period must have approximately one year of study remaining before graduating from their MSc programme.

Terms of employment
The position is covered by the Memorandum on Job Structure for Academic Staff.

Terms of appointment and payment accord to the agreement between the Ministry of Finance and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations on Academics in the State.

The starting salary is currently at a minimum DKK 305,291 including annual supplement (+ pension up to DKK 42,171). Negotiation for salary supplement is possible.

Application Procedure
The application, in English, must be submitted electronically by clicking APPLY NOW below.

Please include

• Cover Letter, stating which PhD project you are applying for and detailing your motivation and background for applying for the specific PhD project.
•  CV
• Diploma and transcripts of records (BSc and MSc)
• Other information for consideration, e.g. list of publications (if any),
• Full contact details (Name, address, telephone & email) of preferably 3 professional referees
• Documentation of English language qualifications, cf. general rules and guidelines, p. 5

The applicant will be assessed according to the Ministry of Science Technology and Innovation Executive Order no. 1039 of 27 August 2013

PhD Order

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The University wishes our staff to reflect the diversity of society and thus welcomes applications from all qualified candidates regardless of personal background.

The deadline for applications is 15 April 2015. Applications received later than this date will not be considered.

Questions
For specific information about the PhD scholarship, please contact Professor Robert Feidenhans’l robert@nbi.ku.dk or Leif Højslet Christensen lhc@teknologisk.dk.

General information about PhD programmes at SCIENCE is available at PhD Regulations .

The University of Copenhagen actively influences current and future generations through excellent research, education and co-operation. UCPH is one of the highest ranked universities in Europe and is Denmark’s oldest university, founded in 1479. Today, the University has 40,000 students and 9,000 employees affiliated across six faculties: humanities, law, natural sciences, social sciences, health sciences and theology.