PhD Scholarship in Quantum Photovoltaics in Twisted 2D Materials

Are you interested in atomically thin materials and curious about how twisting and stacking them can create unconventional photovoltaic effects that emerge without conventional p–n junctions? Do you want to develop expertise at the intersection of 2D materials, nonlinear optics, nanofabrication, and photovoltaic device physics?

At DTU Electro, you will have the opportunity to create artificial quantum materials by assembling 2D crystals into twisted van der Waals heterostructures. You will explore how twist angle and stacking influence light-induced charge transport and investigate how these degrees of freedom can be engineered to generate and control unconventional photovoltaic effects.

The PhD project is part of the Novo Nordisk Foundation NERD program Quantum Interfaces, which explores how interfaces and interactions between low-dimensional materials can be engineered to create new optoelectronic functionalities. 

You will join the Thin-Film Photovoltaics Group at DTU Electro and become part of an ambitious research team comprising two PhD students and three postdoctoral researchers. The team brings together complementary expertise in materials growth, nanoscale fabrication, advanced spectroscopy, nonlinear optics, optoelectronic characterization, and device physics.

Responsibilities and qualifications
Your primary responsibilities as a PhD student include:

• Exfoliate atomically thin 2D crystals and fabricate twisted van der Waals heterostructures using deterministic dry transfer.
• Determine crystal orientation, stacking, and twist angle using optical and nonlinear optical techniques, including second-harmonic generation (SHG).
• Fabricate optoelectronic devices using micro- and nanofabrication techniques.
• Investigate photovoltaic effects in twisted 2D materials using spatially resolved, wavelength-dependent, and polarization-dependent photocurrent measurements.
• Supervise and contribute to MSc and BSc student projects.
• Document and disseminate research through scientific publications and contributions to international conferences.

You should have a strong academic background in physics, nanotechnology, materials science, electrical engineering, photonics, or a related field.

Experience with 2D materials, optical spectroscopy, photovoltaics, electrical transport measurements, semiconductor devices, nonlinear optics, micro- or nanofabrication, or related experimental techniques will be considered an advantage.

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 of the application will be made by Stela Canulescu. 

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. Please see DTU’s salary structure for scientific staff: www.inside.dtu.dk/en/human-resources/during-employment/salary/salary-structures.

The period of employment is 3 years. The starting date is 1 January 2027 (or according to mutual agreement). The position is full-time.

You can read more about career paths at DTU here.

Further information
Further information may be obtained from Stela Canulescu, email: stec@dtu.dk.

You can read more about the Department of Electrical and Photonics Engineering at www.electro.dtu.dk.

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 30 October (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
• List of publications (if applicable)
• A brief letter of interest describing your motivation for the PhD project and highlighting relevant skills and experience.

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.

DTU Electro  
DTU Electro employs more than 300 skilled researchers with competencies in electrical and photonics engineering. As a department, we strive towards creating sustainable energy and a greener internet, as well as strengthening cyber security and health technology. Working with industry and public organizations is one of our top priorities to find and implement new solutions to our society. We aim to offer education, research, and innovation of the highest standard, and our focus on application-oriented research enables us to work across many engineering disciplines and research areas, such as IT and the medical and health sciences. We have a close collaboration with researchers from all over the world, just as we collaborate with industry and public authorities about the dissemination of solutions based on electrical and photonics engineering as their key enabling technologies**.**

DTU – For the benefit of society since 1829
DTU is one of Europe's leading elite technical universities. Through research and education at an international top level, we create solutions to the major societal challenges of our time and help secure Europe's global leadership in sustainable technological development. Since Hans Christian Ørsted founded DTU almost 200 years ago, our mission has remained the same: We develop and create value through the natural and technical sciences for the benefit of society. DTU has 13,800 students, 1,600 PhD students, and 6,500 employees. We work in an international environment and have an inclusive, stimulating, and informal work culture. DTU has campuses in all parts of Denmark and in Greenland and collaborates with the best universities around the world.