Postdoc in Environmental Engineering: PFAS Destruction and Technology Scale-Up - DTU Sustain

A one-year postdoc position in the field of sustainable PFAS treatment is available at DTU Sustain within the project funded by Innoexplorer program (Innovationsfonden), with an expected start date of June 01, 2026, or as soon as possible thereafter.

Responsibilities and qualifications
Your overall focus will be to strengthen the department’s expertise in sustainable water treatment with a focus on PFAS collection and destruction. You will conduct research on a new green photochemical PFAS degradation process, investigating the mechanisms behind radical formation and interfacial reactions with PFAS, leading to their destruction. You will disseminate results in publications and conferences, explore market opportunities and partnerships, and validate the scale-up of the process. There is also potential for you to become a founder of a spin-out company based on this technology, so experience in entrepreneurship or business development is considered a plus.

As a formal qualification, you must hold a PhD degree (or equivalent) in environmental engineering, chemistry, or related fields, with experience in water treatment, photochemistry, or process development. 

The ideal candidate is independent, collaborative, a strong communicator in English, and motivated to translate research into innovative, scalable solutions.

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 terms of employment 
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 12 months. The expected start date is 1 June 2026, or as soon as possible thereafter.

You can read more about career paths at DTU here.

Further information 
Further information may be obtained from Professor Yifeng Zhang (yifz@dtu.dk), and the section head Wenjing (Angela) Zhang (wenz@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.

Application procedure 
Your complete online application must be submitted no later than 18 March 2026 (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:

• Application (cover letter)
• CV
• Academic Diplomas (MSc/PhD – in English)
• List of publications 

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 Sustain - Department of Environmental and Resource Engineering - 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 service to society.  We are working 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 staff from 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.