SDU Innovation and Design Engineering (IDE) as part of the Department of Technology and Innovation (ITI), Faculty of Engineering (TEK) at the University of Southern Denmark (SDU) invites candidates to apply for one or more fully funded 3-year PhD position.

The (IDE) Research Unit

SDU Innovation and Design Engineering is a young, dynamic, and growing research unit. Research-based teaching plays a considerable part in our identity, and we run three educational programmes. In our approach to working with society, industry, and policymakers, we are a team-oriented, knowledge-sharing, and outgoing research unit. We strive to push the boundaries of disciplines and continually seek to be the best version of ourselves, creating value both within and for society.  

Project context 

The scholarship is a collaborative effort focusing on industrial design and optimisation of product assembly, quality inspection, and assembly process optimisation. It is expected to be a cross-disciplinary collaboration between SDU Innovation and Design Engineering, SDU Robotic Engineers, and Danish manufacturers. 

The PhD candidate’s research focuses on analysing assembly work processes and robotic tasks from a manufacturing perspective to optimise product assembly. The candidate will gain theoretical knowledge and practical product assembly and quality management. 

The position is available as of 1 August 2025, or as soon as possible thereafter. The workplace is the SDU Campus Odense in Denmark, with some travel required within Denmark. Mastering the Danish language at a proficiency level is a requirement.

Qualifications
The successful candidate holds a Master of Science in Engineering Science, preferably focusing on Innovation and Product Development, with excellent CAD skills and can collaborate in cross-disciplinary teams. The preferred candidate has a strong interest in advanced manufacturing of mechanical and electrical products and competencies in applying life cycle assessment (LCA) data to derive decision support relevant to industry and/or academia.

Required qualifications: 

• A Master of Science degree, preferably with a focus on Engineering Product Development and Innovation or similar (equivalent to a Danish master's degree) 
• A strong motivation for advanced manufacturing and the ability to develop relevant theories and methodologies.
• Strong competencies in product assembly/disassembly, manufacturing, modularisation and platform design. 
• Experience with Digital Advanced Product Modelling using CAD design, simulations, and mathematics.
• A strong motivation for collaborative projects within academia and industry
• Proficiency in Danish is required due to collaboration with Danish Industry.
• Proficiency in English, either demonstrated through formal education or a Master's degree conducted in English.

Preferred qualifications:

• Specialised understanding of product development and quality testing
• Experience with statistics, energy consumption analysis, and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA).
• An interest in working together with robotic engineers and safety specialist in robotic control systems

Contact information

Further information about this position is available from the Head of Unit, SDU Innovation and Design Engineering, Associate Professor, Lykke Margot Ricard, e-mail: Lmri@iti.sdu.dk, phone: (+45) 65 50 86 81.

If you experience technical problems, please contact hcm-support@sdu.dk. 

Application procedure

Before applying the candidates are advised to read the Faculty information for prospective PhD students and the SDU information on how to apply.

Assessment of the candidates is based on the application material, and an application must include: 

• Motivated application. 
• Curriculum Vitae.
• Master’s and bachelor’s degree certificates or equivalent, including transcripts of grades (copy of original/official English translation).  
• Completed TEK PhD application form for 5+3 applicants. Find the form at the Faculty website.
• Completed TEK PhD form for calculation grade point average. Find the form at the Faculty website. 
• An official document describing the grading scheme of the awarding universities (if not Danish). 
• Only for applicants from programmes that evaluate thesis/examination project by approved/not approved: An official written assessment of the thesis or dissertation project from the grade giving institution. The statement must clearly state that the candidate has been among the top 30 pct. in the graduation class for the study programme.
• List of publications and maximum 2 examples of relevant publications (in case you have any publications).
• References may be included, you're welcome to use the form for reference letter at the Faculty website.
• A statement/documentation of other qualifications relevant to the position may also be included.

UPLOAD GUIDE: Motivated application shall be uploaded as ‘Cover letter’ (max. 5 MB), Curriculum Vitae shall be uploaded as ‘Resume’ (max 5 MB). All other documents shall be uploaded as ‘Miscellaneous documents’ (max 10 files of max 50 MB per file). 

All documents must be in English and PDF format. CPR number (civil registration no.) must be crossed out. All PDF-files must be unlocked and allow binding and may not be password protected.

The application deadline is June 10, 2025, at 11.59 PM / 23.59 (CET/CEST) 

Assessment and selection process

Applications will be assessed by an assessment committee. Shortlisting may be applied, and only shortlisted candidates will receive a written assessment. Read about shortlisting at SDU.  Interviews and tests may be part of the overall evaluation.

Read about the Assessment and selection process.  

Conditions of enrollment/employment

Appointment as a PhD fellow is a 3-year salaried position, and the monthly gross salary incl. pension is 36.138DKR. If you have relevant postgraduate experience, you may be placed on a higher salary step.

The preferred start date is August 2025.  

Applicants must hold a master’s degree (equivalent to a Danish master's degree) at the time of enrollment and employment. Employment is contingent on enrollment approved by the PhD School. Enrollment will be in accordance with Faculty regulations and the Danish Ministerial Order on the PhD Programme at the Universities (PhD order). Employment will be in accordance with the collective agreement between the Ministry of Finance and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations for academics in the state with the associated circular on the job structure for academic staff at Danish universities and the provisions for PhD fellows as described herein as well as the Protocol on PhD fellows signed by the Danish Ministry of Finance and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations (AC). Further information about salary and conditions of employment. The person employed in the position may, based on a specific individual managerial evaluation, be exempted from time registration, also known as a “self-organizer”.

-

The University of Southern Denmark wishes our staff to reflect the surrounding community and therefore encourages everyone, regardless of personal background, to apply for the position. SDU conducts research in critical technologies, which, due to the risk of unwanted knowledge transfer, are subject to a number of security measures. Therefore, based on information from open sources, background checks may be conducted on candidates for the position.

Further information for international applicants about entering and working in Denmark. You may also visit WorkinDenmark for additional information.

Further information about The Faculty of Engineering.