PhD scholarship in High-Speed Hyperspectral and Super-Resolution Terahertz Imaging – DTU Electro

Are you interested in pushing terahertz (THz) imaging beyond today’s limits in speed, bandwidth, and spatial resolution?

At DTU Electro, you will work at the interface of ultrafast THz photonics, nonlinear optical detection, coherent imaging, and machine learning to develop a new generation of high-speed hyperspectral THz imaging technology.

The PhD project is part of the DFF-funded INSPIRING project (High-speed hyperspectral and super-resolution terahertz imaging). INSPIRING will combine broadband THz-to-near-infrared upconversion with CMOS-array detection to enable high-speed THz imaging. Your main role will be to establish the imaging platform and develop hyperspectral and machine-learning methods for super-resolution imaging and material identification.

You will work in an international, interdisciplinary team at DTU Electro. The project includes a planned 3–6-month research stay in Prof. Xi-Cheng Zhang’s group at the University of Rochester, USA.

Responsibilities and qualifications
Your research will focus on high-speed coherent THz imaging with machine learning.

You will:

• Develop and operate a broadband coherent THz imaging platform using optical rectification and/or laser-induced plasma THz sources.
• Implement wide-field imaging based on THz-to-NIR upconversion and CMOS focal-plane-array detection.
• Acquire and analyze time-domain hyperspectral THz data with a target bandwidth above 10 THz.
• Apply machine-learning methods, including CNN and autoencoder-type architectures, for super-resolution reconstruction and material identification.
• Study semiconductors, polymers, multilayer structures, and industrial test samples, and collaborate with project partners in Denmark and abroad.
• Publish your results in peer-reviewed journals and present them at international conferences.

We are looking for a highly motivated and curious candidate with a strong background in experimental photonics, optics, applied physics, electrical engineering, or a closely related field. Experience with THz spectroscopy, ultrafast laser systems, nonlinear optics, or optical imaging is highly desirable. Experience with scientific programming, data analysis, image processing, or machine learning will be considered an advantage. You should have a strong interest in experimental research and be comfortable working with complex optical setups as well as analyzing large multidimensional datasets. We value creativity, independent problem-solving, and the ability to work effectively in an interdisciplinary and international research environment. You should also have good communication skills and be able to present and communicate your scientific results clearly in written and spoken English.

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 Associate Professor Binbin Zhou, Professor Peter Uhd Jepsen, and Associate Professor Francesco Da Ros.

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. Please see DTU’s salary structure for scientific staff: www.inside.dtu.dk/en/human-resources/during-employment/salary/salary-structures.

The period of employment is 3 years. The start date is 1 January 2027 (or by mutual agreement). The position is a full-time position.

You can read more about career paths at DTU here.

Further information
Further information may be obtained from Associate Professor Binbin Zhou at zhou@dtu.dk.

You can read more about DTU Electro at www.electro.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 30 November 2026 (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 Electro
DTU Electro employs more than 300 skilled researchers with competencies in electrical and photonics engineering. As a department, we strive towards creating sustainable energy and a greener internet, as well as strengthening cyber security and health technology. Working with industry and public organizations is one of our top priorities to find and implement new solutions to our society. We aim to offer education, research, and innovation of the highest standard, and our focus on application-oriented research enables us to work across many engineering disciplines and research areas, such as IT and the medical and health sciences. We have a close collaboration with researchers from all over the world, just as we collaborate with industry and public authorities about the dissemination of solutions based on electrical and photonics engineering as their key enabling technologies.

DTU – For the benefit of society since 1829
DTU is one of Europe’s leading elite technical universities. Through research and education at an international top level, we create solutions to the major societal challenges of our time and help secure Europe’s global leadership in sustainable technological development. Since Hans Christian Ørsted founded DTU almost 200 years ago, our mission has remained the same: We develop and create value through the natural and technical sciences for the benefit of society. DTU has 13,800 students, 1,600 PhD students, and 6,500 employees. We work in an international environment and have an inclusive, stimulating, and informal work culture. DTU has campuses in all parts of Denmark and in Greenland and collaborates with the best universities around the world.