DTU PhD Scholarship

The Technical University of Denmark (DTU) is offering a PhD scholarship within the BRIGHT programme, which develops protein- and peptide-based biomaterials as sustainable alternatives to fluorinated PFAS polymers. The initial application area is solid-state battery components, where the project addresses the need for materials with defined composition, programmable chemistry, controlled assembly, stability, processability, and performance.

The PhD researcher will use and extend generative molecular dynamics surrogates, such as PLaTITO, to predict the long-timescale behaviour of designed proteins and peptides. The research will focus on conformational persistence, ion transport, interphase stability, and other dynamic properties relevant to solid-state battery materials. Because the computational model is fast, the project will enable high-throughput screening of large candidate libraries and ranking of sequences for experimental validation.

A further objective is to improve the model for under-represented systems, including cross-linked and non-canonical proteins and peptides. The work combines machine learning, molecular simulation, computational chemistry, protein and peptide design, and biomaterials research, with potential relevance to sustainable materials for energy technologies, coatings, electronics, and other high-value applications.

The researcher will collaborate with scientists across BRIGHT’s dry and wet laboratories and with local, national, and international research networks. Experimental validation will connect computational predictions with protein and peptide design, non-canonical amino acid chemistry, cell-free prototyping, fermentation, purification, materials processing, and structure–function characterization. The broader BRIGHT environment links molecular design with biomanufacturing and material testing, with attention to sustainability, manufacturability, cost, and industrial translation.

The position is based at DTU in Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark, within an international technical-university research environment. The PhD researcher will also contribute to scientific publications, conference presentations, public engagement, social media dissemination, and teaching or supervision of MSc and BSc students and research assistants.

The project is part of BRIGHT, the Novo Nordisk Foundation Biotechnology Research Institute for the Green Transition, a DTU-based initiative focused on sustainable materials, microbial foods, and microorganisms for net-zero agriculture.