Digital Twins Neutron Scattering - DTU PhD Lyngby

Are you passionate about how to train university students for neutron-based investigation at the European Spallation Source in Lund? Do you want to research how students learn via digital twins to replace hands-on training? Do you want to engage in a career within didactics of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) education?

This PhD project is a part of the ACCESS project, Augmenting the STEM classroom by ESS digital twins. The ACCESS project is funded by the Novo Nordisk Foundation, and it is a collaboration between DTU – Technical University of Denmark, University of Copenhagen (UCPH) and European Spallation Source. The European Spallation Source (ESS) in Lund (SE) is a future large-scale research facility for neutron-based investigation of materials in a broad sense.

The aim of this PhD project is to research what university students from both DTU and UCPH learn from using digital twins of ESS instruments. What knowledge, skills, and competences do students acquire from using digital twins? How can engagement with digital twin instruments prepare students for using the actual instruments? To which extent can digital twins replace hands-on training?

The overall strategic objective of the ACCESS project is to develop even better education to train the scientists and engineers of the future. In addition to this PhD position, the ACCESS project includes three postdoctoral positions.

Responsibilities and qualifications

ACCESS will modify existing digital twins of ESS instruments to aid university STEM students in becoming competent users of neutron facilities. The digital twins will allow students to perform virtual experiments. ACCESS will make digital twins for ESS instruments on imaging (ODIN), inelastic scattering (BIFROST), small-angle scattering (LOKI) and diffraction (DREAM).

You will be employed at DTU but will research the learning of students from both DTU and UCPH. Likewise, you will be working together with passionate teachers and educational developers from both UCPH and DTU.

As part of the PhD project, a 3-6 month stay at an international university (e.g., in Europe, USA, or Australia) is expected with the purpose of performing field studies and data analysis with one of the leading groups in the field.

Qualified applicants must have:

• A BSc in physics followed by a master’s degree in physics, engineering, material science, educational science, or similar.
• Basic knowledge of teaching and learning in higher learning, student motivation, and didactics.
• An interest in developing high-quality university teaching and education.
• Ability to work independently and plan and carry out complicated tasks.
• Good communication skills in English, both written and spoken.
• Furthermore, good communication skills in Danish, both written and spoken will be preferred.

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

We offer

Salary and appointment terms

Starting date is 1 September 2026 (or according to mutual agreement). The position is a full-time position.

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Further information

You can read more about DTU Learning Lab at https://learninglab.dtu.dk and DTU Energy at https://www.energy.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

one PDF file

• A letter motivating the application (cover letter)
• Curriculum vitae
• Grade transcripts and BSc/MSc diploma (in English) including official description of grading scale
• A short text (max. 1 A4 page) where you outline your
  

  research vision

  for the investigation of student learning via digital twins of neutron scattering instruments

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.

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