Do you want to carry out a PhD project on sustainability of biobased solutions with international front-runners in absolute environmental sustainability assessment? If so, this PhD position might be the right fit for you!

You will assess the potential of biorefineries in a future biobased society that is sustainable in absolute terms.

The position is offered at the Section for Quantitative Sustainability Assessment of the Department of Environmental and Resource Engineering (DTU Sustain). The section spearheads the development of sustainability assessment methods. You will become part of an ambitious and team-based research environment with around 50 international staff members, postdocs, and PhD students.

Responsibilities and qualifications
The successful candidates will contribute to the evaluation of absolute sustainability of biobased systems, from a biorefinery to a whole biobased society. The main tasks are:

• Development of a large-scale model of the carbon material flows in a biobased society (plastics, other biomaterials for consumption, food, biofuels, building materials)
• Evaluation of absolute environmental sustainability performance of fully circular, fully biobased material systems at various scales, from a single biorefinery to fully biobased society, working with a sugar beet pulp refinery as a concrete case
• Identification of configurations that can be sustainable in absolute terms addressing key sustainability challenges such as climate, biodiversity, water use or land use

These tasks require experience in life cycle assessment and/or absolute environmental sustainability assessment. Mathematical modelling skills are of advantage. The candidates are expected to participate in the department’s teaching activities.

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 will be made by Prof. Michael Hauschild and Dr. Mikolaj Owsianiak.

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. Starting date is as soon as possible (and according to mutual agreement). The position is a full-time position.

You can read more about career paths at DTU here http://www.dtu.dk/english/about/job-and-career/working-at-dtu/career-paths.

Further information  
Further information may be obtained from Dr. Mikolaj Owsianiak, email: miow@dtu.dk .

You can read more about DTU Sustain at https://sustain.dtu.dk/en .

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 27 October 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
• A brief summary (maximum half a page) of your command of quantitative sustainability assessment methods

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 Environmental and Resource Engineering (DTU Sustain) is one of the largest university departments specializing in environmental and resource engineering in Europe. The department conducts research, development, scientific advice, and provides educational programs and services to society. We work to develop new environmentally friendly and sustainable technologies, methods and solutions, and to disseminate this knowledge to society and future generations of engineers. The department has approximately 300 employees of more than 30 nationalities.

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.