PhD fellowship/scholarship

PhD opportunity in Chemistry, bone science, and synchrotron imaging at Aarhus University

A PhD fellowship/scholarship is available at the Graduate School of Natural Sciences, Aarhus University, Denmark, within the Chemistry programme. The project is titled “At the border between old and new: cement lines in bone” and focuses on the structure and function of cement lines, the boundary between old and new bone formed during remodeling.

The research is highly interdisciplinary and combines chemistry, physics, biology, materials science, and biomedical engineering. The project will use advanced synchrotron multimodal imaging techniques, including X-ray 2D and 3D imaging, 3D ptychography, X-ray fluorescence, spectroscopy, texture tomography, and possibly in situ mechanical investigations and X-ray diffraction tomography. The study aims to map cement line structure, investigate Zn enrichment, and understand collagen/mineral orientation and mechanical response relative to surrounding bone.

The position is hosted by the Department of Chemistry, Aarhus University, and the work environment is described as open, supportive, and interdisciplinary. The supervisor/contact is Professor Henrik Birkedal.

Eligibility: Applicants must hold a relevant Master’s degree or have completed at least one year of a Master’s degree in chemistry, physics, biophysics, nanoscience, biology, or a related subject. Experience in Python scripting and data analysis, synchrotron experiments, bone science, or biomineralization is preferred.

Funding: This is a funded PhD fellowship/scholarship with salary and employment terms according to the applicable collective agreement. No stipend amount is specified.

Application: The online application system opens on 1 June 2026. Applicants should read the application guide carefully, then apply via the Aarhus University PhD portal, select the August 2026 Call, choose the Chemistry programme, and select the project “At the border between old and new: cement lines in bone (bboncl)” in the Study field. A project description PDF must be uploaded. Deadline: 1 August 2026 at 23:59 CEST.