PhD Position in Organometallic Chemistry and Earth-Abundant Metal Catalysis at the University of Copenhagen
Job Description
The University of Copenhagen’s Department of Chemistry invites applications for a PhD position in homogeneous catalysis with earth-abundant transition metals such as molybdenum, iron, cobalt, nickel and copper, turning feedstocks like CO2 and biomass into high-value products. The project is funded by a Sapere Aude DFF Research Leader grant.
At a glance
- Position: PhD in organic/organometallic chemistry, Department of Chemistry
- Project: Sustainable, earth-abundant transition-metal-catalysed reactions for the synthesis of fine chemicals
- Supervisors: Assistant Professor Craig S. Day (supervisor); Associate Professor Jiwoong Lee (principal supervisor)
- Start: Expected 1 January 2027 or as soon as possible thereafter
- Apply: 30 September 2026, 23:59 GMT+1 (as stated on the posting)
About the PhD project
- Develop new homogeneous transition-metal-catalysed reactions using earth-abundant metals
- Convert abundant feedstocks such as CO2 and biomass into valuable products by thermal, electrochemical and photochemical means
- Take a mechanism-guided approach combining kinetics, organometallic synthesis and method development
- Join the recently established Day group, working on topics from fine chemicals and pharmaceuticals to new plastics
A Danish PhD combines supervised research with about 30 ECTS of PhD courses, a research stay at another group, and some teaching or dissemination, ending in a PhD thesis. Positions are advertised with a fixed project and supervisor, and applicants apply to that specific project.
What University of Copenhagen is looking for
- A background in organic chemistry, for example synthetic organic chemistry, methodology development, organometallic or mechanistic chemistry, or electrochemistry
- Proficiency in English
- For the 3-year programme: a degree equivalent to a relevant Danish master’s; candidates without it will not be considered for that option
Pay and location
Salary, pension and terms of employment follow the agreement between the Danish Ministry and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations (AC); the posting gives no figure. The position is based in Copenhagen, Denmark.
How to apply
Apply through the official University of Copenhagen page. The closing date is 30 September 2026, 23:59 GMT+1 (as stated on the posting). Apply through the University of Copenhagen job portal using the “Apply now” link on the official posting, which lists the documents to include.
See all our PhD positions, or browse more research jobs on ResearchJobs.in.
Hiring institution: University of Copenhagen
Official advertisement: employment.ku.dk
How to prepare for this application
- Organometallic fundamentals: revise elementary steps such as oxidative addition and reductive elimination with first-row metals.
- Mechanistic tools: kinetics, spectroscopy and isolating intermediates.
- CO2 and biomass: read recent catalytic methods using these feedstocks.
- Electro- and photochemistry: any experience here is a plus for this group.
- Motivation: connect your synthetic experience to sustainable chemistry.
About the University of Copenhagen
The University of Copenhagen, founded in 1479, is Denmark's oldest and largest university. In Denmark, PhD students are normally employed on full-time salaried contracts, with pay and terms set by national collective agreements, and the standard PhD lasts three years after a master's degree.
