PhD scholarship in Development of Advanced Carnot Battery Technologies DTU Construct

Within the framework of the project Grid-scale Energy Storage: Imperatives for Accelerating the Green Transition (RESTORATIVE) funded by the European Unions Horizon Europes Research and innovation Programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Grant Agreement No. at DTU Construct department of the Technical University of Denmark we are seeking a candidate for a PhD position to research large-scale energy storage technologies specifically the development of methods and models for detailed dynamic modeling and techno-economic analysis of an advanced Carnot Battery technology.

RESTORATIVE consists of 17 PhD students at 7 universities and 4 companies. The project has a total of 16 beneficiary and associated partners from 10 different European countries. All 17 PhD projects fall within the overall theme of grid-scale energy storage technologies but investigate the topic from different perspectives including technological development reliability and security integration and coupling socioeconomic and environmental assessment and policy and regulation.

This PhD project will take place at DTU Construct. Apart from the time at DTU there will be two secondments for the position i.e. one academic secondment of approx. 6 months at Politecnico di Milano Italy and one industrial secondment for 3 months at Kraftblock in Germany.

In addition there will also be common gatherings and trainings with the other 16 PhD students in the doctoral network including 3 summer/winter schools in Denmark and Italy and 2 online workshops.

As a participant in the project you will become part of the Smart Thermal Energy Systems team at DTU Construct with expertise in thermal and thermo-mechanical energy systems. The activities within the project will benefit from synergies with other projects in the group as well as with other activities at the department. The main supervisor will be Professor Ahmad Arabkoohsar and the co-supervisor will be Associate Professor Lasse Røngaard Clausen.

Responsibilities and qualifications
The overall aim is to develop models and approaches (mainly in Matlab Dymola and EES) for design optimization and dynamic modeling of a cutting-edge Carnot Battery technology for efficient multi-generation sector coupling fast response and high RTE.

The key tasks here include:

• Designing the energy storage concept with specifications of the technical details and operational setpoints
• Multiobjective optimization framework under uncertainty factors to reach an ultimately optimal sizing and interactions not only for this storage design but also extendable to other thermo-mechanical energy storage systems
• Dynamic modeling of the system to provide detailed insight into its resilience and effectiveness during part-load operation startup/shutdown and load-changing states
• Techno-economic assessment of the system and benchmarking against other competing technologies

You must have a two-year masters degree (120 ECTS points) or a similar degree with an academic level equivalent to a two-year masters 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 DTUs rules for the PhD education.

Further obligations
The doctoral candidate (DC) is expected to visit the network partners during secondments for a total duration of 9 months (6 months in Italy 3 months in Germany). Additionally the DC is expected to participate in outreach activities including but not limited to participation in public events and campaigns as well as dissemination to popular press.

Furthermore due to the mobility rules of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie program the applicant must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work studies etc.) in Denmark for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before their recruitment date.

Assessment
The scholarship for the PhD degree is subject to academic approval and the candidate will be enrolled in one of the general degree programs at DTU. For information about our enrolment requirements and the general planning of the PhD study program please seeDTUs rules for the PhD education.

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. The allowance will be agreed upon with the relevant union.

The period of employment is 3 years. The start date will be 1 September 2026 or according to mutual agreement.

The minimum salary will be DKKand DKK 1551 as position allowance (pre-tax) depending on the chosen candidates seniority.

You can read more about career paths at DTU here.

Further information
Further information may be obtained from Professor Ahmad Arabkoohsar ().

You can read more about Department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering at If you are applying from abroad you may find useful information on working in Denmark and at DTU at DTU Moving to you have the option of joining our monthly free seminar PhDrelocation 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 than13 May 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:

• A motivation letter (cover letter)
• Curriculum vitae (indicating the places where you have lived/worked throughout the last 3 years for the mobility rules compliance check)
• Grade transcripts and BSc/MSc diploma (in English) including official description of grading scale

You may apply prior to obtaining your masters 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 Civil and Mechanical Engineering (DTU Construct) develops and utilizes science and technical knowledge for the benefit of society and sustainable development. We undertake research education innovation and scientific advice of the highest quality within building design and processes building construction and safety building energy and services solid mechanics fluid mechanics materials technology manufacturing engineering engineering design and thermal energy systems.

DTU For the benefit of society since 1829
DTU is one of Europes 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 Europes 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 13800 students 1600 PhD students and 6500 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.