PhD scholarship in Holistic approaches for monitoring pollutant emissions from urban wet weather discharges - DTU Sustain

If you want to help improving water quality in urban areas and to contribute to the transformation into water wise cities, then DTU Sustain has a scientific challenge for you. At DTU Sustain we are looking into new approaches for monitoring wet-weather emissions from urban areas, combining the latest development in monitoring approaches and digital solutions with knowledge on environmental impacts

We are looking for a curious and independent PhD candidate willing to investigate one of the most challenging areas of environmental engineering (water quality modelling) across two continents. Indeed, this 3-year PhD scholarship is supported by the Sino-Danish Center for Education and Research (SDC) and the project will be carried out together with the University of the Chinese Academy of Science (UCAS) in Beijing. 

The project outcomes will have direct impact outside academia thanks to the collaboration with HOFOR, the water utility company of the Greater Copenhagen area, which will support and test the monitoring protocols that will be developed during the project. The project will run in parallel with the activities of the HORIZON Urban M2O project, which will develop AI-enhanced monitoring technologies which might be investigated in the PhD project.

Responsibilities and qualifications
The overall objective of the PhD project is to develop new monitoring protocols which, acknowledging the variability in urban wet-weather discharges (UWWD), will exploit the latest developments in cost-effective monitoring technologies to achieve a more effective water quality protection.

The project will consider a wide range of pollutants emitted from both combined and sewer systems and their corresponding impact. The project will identify the most appropriate monitoring approaches for each threat to natural waters by combining knowledge on expected environmental impacts, variability of pollution levels, and available monitoring technologies. 

To achieve this, you will 

• Use advanced statistical techniques to analyze big datasets (both measured and modelled) of water quality from wet-weather discharges obtained from case studies in Denmark and China, including the ongoing Urban M2O Horizon project 
• Identify knowledge gaps in the existing literature on chemical risk assessment of UWWD emissions, collaborating with our colleagues from the Environmental Contamination & Chemicals section at DTU Sustain in proposing new toxicity testing protocols.
• Develop, test and apply stochastic models to assess UWWD impacts on receiving water bodies by explicitly accounting for data scarcity and discharge variability. This will require the use of open-source programming languages (e.g. Python, R)
• Discuss with relevant stakeholders (utilities and environmental authorities) on possible improvements of UWWD monitoring protocols
• support potential field activities and monitoring campaign in both Denmark and China

You are expected to have, or rapidly develop, good programming and data management skills, supported by a good understanding of environmental chemistry and statistics, and urban water systems. You must be proficient in English, and knowledge of or interest in the Chinese language and culture is an advantage.

During the PhD project, research activities will be carried out at the Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences (RCEES) of the Chinese Academy of Science for a period of at least 9 months. The project will be supervised by Ass. Prof Luca Vezzaro (DTU Sustain), and co-supervised by Prof. Yuansong Wei (RCEES) and Assistant Prof. Mariane Schneider (DTU Sustain).

As a PhD student at DTU Sustain, you will also be involved in teaching activities (including the SDC Water and Environment MSc program) and co-supervise BSc and MSc student projects related to your PhD project. You will also disseminate the results of your project at national and international conferences and will interact with research groups at the forefront of international research in the area of urban drainage.

We seek applicants who have demonstrated their ability to work both independently and in teams, and who have successfully navigated across the challenges posed by working across different cultures and working environments.

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 applicants will be made by the supervisor team consisting of DTU Sustain supervisors and two Head of Section from DTU Sustain.

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.

You can read more about career paths at DTU here.

Starting date is as soon as possible in 2025, no later than December 1st. The place of work is DTU Lyngby Campus as well as RCEES in Beijing. The position is a full-time position.

Further information 

Further information may be obtained from Luca Vezzaro, DTU Sustain, luve@dtu.dk

https://www.dtu.dk/Person/luca-vezzaro?id=31113&entity=profile

You can read more about DTU Sustain at https://sustain.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 7 September 2025 (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

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 Sustain - Department of Environmental and Resource Engineering - is one of the largest university departments specializing in environmental and resource engineering in Europe. The department conducts research, development & scientific advice and provides educational programs and service to society. We are working to develop new environmentally friendly and sustainable technologies, methods and solutions, and to disseminate this knowledge to society and future generations of engineers. The Department has approximately 300 staff from more than 30 nationalities.

Technology for people
DTU develops technology for people. With our international elite research and study programmes, we are helping to create a better world and to solve the global challenges formulated in the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Hans Christian Ørsted founded DTU in 1829 with a clear mission to develop and create value using science and engineering to benefit society. That mission lives on today. DTU has 13,500 students and 6,000 employees. We work in an international atmosphere and have an inclusive, evolving, and informal working environment. DTU has campuses in all parts of Denmark and in Greenland, and we collaborate with the best universities around the world.