PhD Fellowship in Chemistry
University of Copenhagen
Denmark

The Department of Chemistry invites applicants for a PhD fellowship in nanochemistry and ultrafast spectroscopy. The project is part of the research project “Subcellular multiplex imaging with ultrabright fluorescent nanoparticles”, which is financed by NovoNordisk. The PhD position is co-financed by the Sino-Danish Center (SDC).

Start date is (expected to be) 1 December or as soon as possible thereafter, and no later than 31 December 2025.

The project

As a PhD candidate, you will explore the fundamental photoinduced processes in next-generation low-dimensional materials—including fully organic fluorescent nanoparticles,1-3 transition metal dichalcogenides,4-6 metal nanoclusters,7 metal halides, and quantum dots—using state-of-the-art ultrafast optical spectroscopy techniques. The research will focus on understanding charge carrier generation, transport, recombination dynamics, and energy transfer mechanisms. These insights will drive the development of highly efficient materials for advanced biomedical imaging applications, with potential extensions to light-emitting devices, photodetectors, and energy conversion technologies.

Our research project is highly interdisciplinary including collaborations with physicists, chemists, medical researchers, and biologists in the industry and at universities. Throughout the project, the candidate will be trained to be truly an interdisciplinary researcher in a creative and cross-disciplinary environment.

A period of 6 months of the project will be carried out in Institute of Semiconductor, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.

The PhD student will have the opportunity to pursue a double degree, subject to the rules and regulations of both the University of Copenhagen and the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (UCAS). This arrangement offers a unique academic experience across two leading institutions. For more information about the double degree framework, please visit the (SDC) website. (https://sdc.university/research/for-phd-supervisors/).

Who are we looking for?

We are looking for a talented, highly motivated, and creative PhD candidate with a strong interest in low-dimensional optical materials and advanced optical spectroscopies. The ideal applicant will have a background in one or more of the following fields: Physics, Physical Chemistry, Materials Science, Nanoscience, Optical Spectroscopy, or Solid-State Physics. Experience with ultrafast spectroscopy, femtosecond pump-probe technique, photophysics, or optical characterization of nanomaterials is highly desirable. Familiarity with programming for instrument control and data analysis—using platforms such as Python, MATLAB, or LabVIEW—is considered a strong asset.

Our group and research- and what do we offer?

Light induced processes make the world bright and colourful. Furthermore, innovative ways of utilizing such processes have broad application possibilities in modern technology such as: bioimaging, solar cells, communication and photocatalysis.

Our group studies both the fundamental and applied aspects of the interactions between light and materials. In particular, we explore functions, underlying photophysics and photochemistry of fluorescent molecular materials and semiconductor nanomaterials.

We develop fluorescent materials and methods for bioimaging applications. We use femtosecond optical spectroscopy to reveal fundamental photophysical processes in these materials and provide a thorough understanding and guidance for developing new materials with improved performance. We carry our interdisciplinary research projects by collaborating with physicists, chemists, medical researchers, and biologists in the industry and at universities.

We offer a creative and exciting research atmosphere at the vibrant border between chemistry, physics and biomedicals. The PhD fellowship is given in accordance with Danish legislation and will typically run for 3 years. The salary is set accordingly to Danish Union Contracts which are competitive on an international scale.

Further information can be obtained via email to Associate Professor Junsheng Chen: junsheng.chen@chem.ku.dk

Further information about the research group can be found at: https://chem.ku.dk/research_sections/nanochem/jc-group/

Further information about the Nano-Science Center can be found at: https://nano.ku.dk/ and Department of Chemistry at: https://chem.ku.dk/

The group is a part of Nano-Science Center and the Department of Chemsitry, Faculty of Science, University of Copenhagen. We are located in Copenhagen.

We offer creative and stimulating working conditions in dynamic and international research environment.

• Principal supervisor is Associate Professor Junsheng Chen, Nanochemistry Section, The Department of Chemistry, University of Copenhagen. E-mail: Junsheng.chen@chem.ku.dk
• Co-supervisor is Professor Zhongming Wei, Institute of Semiconductor, Chinese Academy of Sciences. E-mail: zmwei@semi.ac.cn

The PhD programme

Qualifications needed for the programme
To be eligible for the regular PhD programme, you must have completed a degree programme, equivalent to a Danish master’s degree (180 ECTS/3 FTE BSc + 120 ECTS/2 FTE MSc) related to the subject area of the project, e.g. physical chemistry, solid-state physics, nanoscience, physics, and materials science. For information of eligibility of completed programmes, see General assessments for specific countries and Assessment database.

Terms of employment in the regular programme
Employment as PhD fellow is full time and for maximum 3 years.

Employment is conditional upon your successful enrolment as a PhD student at the PhD School at the Faculty of SCIENCE, University of Copenhagen. This requires submission and acceptance of an application for the specific project formulated by the applicant.

Terms of apy the Protocol on Job Structure. Respointment and payment accord to the agreement between the Danish Ministry of Taxation and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations on Academics in the State. The position is covered by the Protocol on Job Structure. 

Responsibilities and tasks in both PhD programmes

• Complete and pass the MSc education in accordance with the curriculum of the MSc programme

 (ONLY when you are attending the integrated MSc and PhD programme)

• Carry through an independent research project under supervision

• Complete PhD courses corresponding to approx. 30 ECTS / ½ FTE
• Participate in active research environments, including a stay at SDC, Beijing, China.
• Teaching and knowledge dissemination activities
• Contribute to the educational activities of the master’s programmes at SDC.
• Write scientific papers aimed at high-impact journals
• Write and defend a PhD thesis on the basis of your project

We are looking for the following qualifications:

• Professional qualifications relevant to the PhD project.
• Relevant publications.
• Relevant work experience.
• Other relevant professional activities.
• Curious mind-set with a strong interest in optical spectroscopy, fluorescence, nanomaterials.
• Good language skills, the successful candidates must have excellent English skills, both written and oral.

Application and Assessment Procedure

 Your application including all attachments must be in English and submitted electronically by clicking APPLY NOW below.

Please include: 

1. Motivation letter of application (max. one page).
2. Project research proposal (based on the references provided in the project description section).
3. Curriculum vitae including information about your education, experience, language skills and other skills relevant for the position.
4. Original diplomas for Bachelor or Master and transcript of records in the original language, including an authorized English translation if issued in another language than English or Danish. If not completed, a certified/signed copy of a recent transcript of records or a written statement from the institution or supervisor is accepted.
5. Master thesis (if available).
6. Publication list (if possible).
7. Reference letters (if available).

Application deadline:

The deadline for applications is 30 August 2025, 23:59 GMT +2.

We reserve the right not to consider material received after the deadline, and not to consider applications that do not live up to the abovementioned requirements.

The further process
After deadline, a number of applicants will be selected for academic assessment by an unbiased expert assessor. You are notified, whether you will be passed for assessment.

The assessor will assess the qualifications and experience of the shortlisted applicants with respect to the above mentioned research area, techniques, skills and other requirements. The assessor will conclude whether each applicant is qualified and, if so, for which of the two models. The assessed applicants will have the opportunity to comment on their assessment. You can read about the recruitment process at https://employment.ku.dk/faculty/recruitment-process/.

Interviews with selected candidates are expected to be held in week 39.

Questions
For specific information about the PhD fellowship, please contact the principal supervisor.

[General information about PhD study at the Faculty of SCIENCE is available at the PhD School’s website: https://www.science.ku.dk/phd/].

The University of Copenhagen wishes to reflect the surrounding community and invites all regardless of personal background to apply for the position. 

References:

(1) Chen, J.; Fateminia, S. M. A.; Kacenauskaite, L.; Baerentsen, N.; Gronfeldt Stenspil, S.; Bredehoeft, J.; Martinez, K. L.; Flood, A. H.; Laursen, B. W. Ultrabright Fluorescent Organic Nanoparticles Based on Small-Molecule Ionic Isolation Lattices. Angew. Chem., Int, Ed. Engl. 2021, 60 (17), 9450-9458. DOI: 10.1002/anie.202100950.

(2) Stenspil, S. G.; Chen, J.; Liisberg, M. B.; Flood, A. H.; Laursen, B. W. Control of the fluorescence lifetime in dye based nanoparticles. Chem Sci 2024, 15 (15), 5531-5538. DOI: 10.1039/d3sc05496a.

(3) Kacenauskaite, L.; Stenspil, S. G.; Olsson, A. H.; Flood, A. H.; Laursen, B. W. Universal Concept for Bright, Organic, Solid-State Emitters-Doping of Small-Molecule Ionic Isolation Lattices with FRET. J Am Chem Soc 2022. DOI: 10.1021/jacs.2c08540.

(4) Xin, K.; Li, L.; Zhou, Z.; Zhang, C.; Yang, J.; Deng, H.-X.; Zhang, J.; Liu, J.; Liu, K.; Liu, C.; et al. Epitaxial growth of quantum dots on van der Waals surfaces. Nature Synthesis 2024, 3 (9), 1176-1183. DOI: 10.1038/s44160-024-00562-0.

(5) Wang, X.; Xiong, T.; Zhao, K.; Zhou, Z.; Xin, K.; Deng, H.-X.; Kang, J.; Yang, J.; Liu, Y.-Y.; Wei, Z. Polarimetric Image Sensor and Fermi Level Shifting Induced Multichannel Transition Based on 2D PdPS. Adv Mater 2022, 34 (2), 2107206. DOI: 10.1002/adma.202107206.

(6) Yu, Y.; Shen, T.; Long, H.; Zhong, M.; Xin, K.; Zhou, Z.; Wang, X.; Liu, Y.-Y.; Wakabayashi, H.; Liu, L.; et al. Doping Engineering in the MoS2/SnSe2 Heterostructure toward High-Rejection-Ratio Solar-Blind UV Photodetection. Adv Mater 2022, 34 (43), 2206486. DOI: 10.1002/adma.202206486.

(7) Liu, S.; Cerretani, C.; Dostál, J.; Kloz, M.; Vosch, T.; Chen, J. Excited-State Pathways in Near-Infrared Emitting DNA-Stabilized Silver Nanoclusters with Different Geometries. Nano Lett 2025. DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.5c01754.