PhD Position in Thermal Energy

Offer Description

Do you want to start your research career by making industrial heat clean, flexible and affordable? At DTU Construct you will work at the forefront of technologies key to decarbonizing industries: high-temperature heat pumps and high-temperature thermal energy storage.

We invite applications for a fully funded PhD position in the Thermal Energy Section of the Department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering at the Technical University of Denmark. The position is part of HeatMinds, a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Doctoral Network funded by Horizon Europe. HeatMinds brings together 6 universities and research institutes and 12 industrial and research partners across Europe to develop industrial high-temperature heat pumps and thermal energy storage.

Your project will develop new Carnot Battery technologies: systems that combine heat pumps based on high temperature thermodynamic cycles together with high-temperature thermal energy storage, such as molten salts and dual-media packed beds. These systems will deliver clean process heat while also giving industry flexibility on the electricity market.

Supervision: Prof. Adriano Sciacovelli and Prof. Anders Christiansen Erlandsson with industrial secondments.

Responsibilities and qualifications

Your overall goal will be to find out how industrial high temperature heat pumps can benefit from integrated thermal energy storage by developing new cost-effective, high-performance hybrid configurations. You will work with fellow doctoral candidates across the network and with industrial partners in Denmark and abroad. Your main tasks will be:

• Develop and Design new architectures comprising cycles using natural working fluids and thermal energy storage, optimised for efficiency, cost, and fast response to electricity price signals
• Carry out multi-objective optimisation and dynamic system analysis of alternative layouts
• Validate results by carrying out experiments and data comparison during industrial secondments, turning the results into innovations with real-world impact (e.g., patents, future commercial solutions)
• Publish in international journals, present at conferences and take part in HeatMinds network training, summer schools and outreach.

You have:

• A solid background in engineering thermodynamics, heat transfer and energy technologies, e.g. conversion or storage systems
• Familiarity with modelling and numerical simulations, for example for MSc thesis or student projects
• Programming skills, preferably in Python, Matlab, Modelica or similar
• Excellent written and spoken English, and the motivation to work in an international, goal-oriented environment.

MSCA eligibility: at the time of recruitment, you must not already hold a doctoral degree. You must also not have resided or carried out your main activities (work, studies, etc) in Denmark for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before your recruitment date.

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 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. Please see DTU’s salary structure for scientific staff: www.inside.dtu.dk/en/human-resources/during-employment/salary/salary-structures.

The PhD salary will be based on the Marie S. Curie compensation scheme conditions and according to the grant agreement. Based on seniority the candidate will receive a minimum of DKK 30.264,08 (base salary) and DKK1580,90 (PhD supplement). In addition, DTU will also pay pension consisting of 18,07%. Finally, it is possible to apply for family allowance.

The period of employment is 3 years. The position is a full-time position. Starting date is anticipated as 1 April 2027, or according to mutual agreement.

You can read more about career paths at DTU here.

Further information

Further information may be obtained from Prof. Adriano Sciacovelli, adrsc@dtu.dk and Prof. Anders Christiansen Erlandsson, acerl@dtu.dk.

You can read more about Department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering at www.construct.dtu.dk.

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 24 November 2026 (23:59 Danish time). Apply online here.

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
• A copy of thesis (if available) or other publications (if available)
• A short critical literature review (max. 3 pages) on high-temperature heat pumps combined with thermal energy storage (e.g. Carnot Batteries): select up to 5 relevant publications and explain your choice, compare their methods & findings, identify possible open research questions, explaining how your background would help you address them. Include at least one figure or table of your own making.

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 Civil and Mechanical Engineering develops and utilises science and technical knowledge for the benefit of society and the 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 technical services, solid mechanics, fluid mechanics, coastal and maritime engineering, materials technology, manufacturing engineering, engineering systems design, design for sustainability, and thermal energy.

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.