PhD scholarship in Development of High Temperature Heat Pumps with Thermal Energy Storage Technical University of Denmark in Denmark

DTU Construct at the Technical University of Denmark is offering a fully funded PhD scholarship in the development of high-temperature heat pumps with thermal energy storage. The project sits in the Thermal Energy Section of the Department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering and is part of HeatMinds, a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Doctoral Network funded by Horizon Europe.

The research focuses on technologies that can decarbonize industrial heat supply while improving flexibility and affordability. The PhD project will explore Carnot Battery concepts that combine high-temperature heat-pump cycles with high-temperature thermal energy storage, including molten salts and dual-media packed beds. The aim is to develop new hybrid configurations that deliver clean process heat and can respond to electricity market signals.

You will work on the design of new architectures using natural working fluids, carry out multi-objective optimisation and dynamic system analysis, and validate results through experiments and data comparison during industrial secondments. The position also involves publication in international journals, conference presentations, and participation in the HeatMinds network training, summer schools, and outreach activities.

Supervision is provided by Prof. Adriano Sciacovelli and Prof. Anders Christiansen Erlandsson, with industrial secondments as part of the project. The network brings together universities, research institutes, and industrial partners across Europe, offering a strong collaborative and international research environment.

Applicants should have a two-year master's degree or equivalent and a solid background in engineering thermodynamics, heat transfer, and energy technologies. Experience with modelling and numerical simulations is expected, as well as programming skills in Python, Matlab, Modelica, or similar tools. Excellent English and motivation to work in an international, goal-oriented environment are essential. MSCA rules apply: you must not already hold a doctoral degree and must not have spent more than 12 months in Denmark during the 36 months prior to recruitment.

The scholarship is fully funded under the MSCA compensation scheme. The appointment is for 3 years, full time, with an anticipated start date of 1 April 2027. The application deadline is 24 November 2026 at 23:59 Danish time. To apply, candidates must submit all materials as one PDF through the online DTU application portal.

Required application documents include a cover letter, CV, transcripts, BSc/MSc diploma with grading scale, thesis or publications if available, and a short critical literature review on high-temperature heat pumps combined with thermal energy storage. The review should discuss up to five publications, compare methods and findings, identify open research questions, and explain how the applicant’s background can contribute to the research.

This is an opportunity for a strong early-stage researcher interested in thermal energy, industrial decarbonization, heat pump systems, and energy storage technologies in a leading technical university environment in Denmark.